What Was Freedom Summer?
Clip: Season 26 Episode 6 | 3m 35s
They called it "a campaign that may have no parallel since the days of Reconstruction."
In 1964, a group of civil rights organizations hosted The Mississippi Summer Project, a campaign that would later become known as "Freedom Summer." "It is very important to me that I play my role in civil rights for the U.S. and most of all for myself," wrote one volunteer. "Freedom Summer" premieres on American Experience PBS on June 24 at 9/8c.
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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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What Was Freedom Summer?
Clip: Season 26 Episode 6 | 3m 35s
In 1964, a group of civil rights organizations hosted The Mississippi Summer Project, a campaign that would later become known as "Freedom Summer." "It is very important to me that I play my role in civil rights for the U.S. and most of all for myself," wrote one volunteer. "Freedom Summer" premieres on American Experience PBS on June 24 at 9/8c.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Anita Walton Moore - "The Librarian"
Video has Closed Captions
"We knew that we were working to do better, and that one day it would be better." (6m 19s)
Bad Things Were Going to Happen
Watch a clip from "Freedom Summer," premiering June 24, 2014. (1m 47s)
Barney Frank - "The Politician"
Video has Closed Captions
"I felt morally empowered, but it was very scary." Freedom Summer premieres June 24, 2014. (5m 6s)
Charles McLaurin - "The Foot Soldier"
Video has Closed Captions
"We were asked to leave. We did not, and we were arrested and locked up for the night." (7m 48s)
Daisy Harris Wade - "The Voter"
Video has Closed Captions
Determined to secure the right to vote for herself and for future generations. (4m 20s)
Video has Closed Captions
"The line was drawn in the sand for blacks and whites... I decided to cross that line." (5m 31s)
Fannie Lou Hamer's Powerful Testimony
Watch "Freedom Summer" on American Experience PBS on June 24, 2014. (3m 40s)
Freedom Summer Extended Preview
Shattering the foundations of white supremacy in a segregated state. June 24 on PBS. (1m 45s)
Shattering the foundations of white supremacy. Freedom Summer premieres on June 24, 2014. (30s)
Shattering the foundations of white supremacy. Freedom Summer premieres on June 24, 2014. (23m 27s)
Herbert Randall - "The Photographer"
Video has Closed Captions
“There will always be a need to document the struggle.” Freedom Summer premieres June 24. (5m 55s)
How Many Beatings Have You Taken?
Watch a clip from American Experience "Freedom Summer," premiering June 24, 2014. (1m 44s)
Video has Closed Captions
"We began to rethink some of the attitudes that we had lived with." Premiering June 24. (6m 42s)
Julius Lester - "The Folk Singer"
Video has Closed Captions
"If somebody can threaten your life they own you. They own your soul." June 24, 2014. (7m 32s)
Watch a clip from "Freedom Summer" premiering June 24, 2014 on American Experience PBS. (3m 33s)
Video has Closed Captions
"We accomplished some things, but we didn't do the whole job." Freedom Summer, June 24 (5m 20s)
"Miss Mississippi" Finds Trouble
"Freedom Summer" premieres on American Experience PBS June 24 at 9/8c. (3m 27s)
Watch a clip from American Experience "Freedom Summer," premiering June 24, 2014. (2m 15s)
Pete Seeger and Freedom Summer
We interviewed Pete Seeger last April for the upcoming doc Freedom Summer, coming June 24. (1m 56s)
Watch a clip from "Freedom Summer" premiering June 24, 2014 on American Experience PBS. (2m 6s)
Roscoe Jones - "The Preservationist"
Video has Closed Captions
"The kids need to know history. Black and white, they need to know history." June 24, 2014 (6m)
"I am going to find the answer. If this means driving every back road... I will do it." (2m 51s)
The State of Mississippi in 1964
Watch a clip from "Freedom Summer" premiering June 24, 2014 on American Experience PBS. (2m 57s)
"Freedom Summer" premieres on American Experience PBS June 24 at 9/8c. (5m 16s)
Watch a clip from "Freedom Summer" premiering June 24, 2014 on American Experience PBS. (4m 38s)
Watch a clip from "Freedom Summer" premiering June 24, 2014 on American Experience PBS. (3m 4s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.