Tag Archives: civil rights

Pete Seeger’s on Wall Street

Posted on October 22, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Ninety-two years old, Pete Seeger walked nearly forty blocks to join Occupy Wall Street and sing.    He needs canes to walk these days, but he played the banjo, sang, and brought along Arlo Guthrie, grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, and other … Continue reading →

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Freedom Rides, 50 years on

Posted on May 16, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Fifty years ago this month, the Freedom Riders put their bodies on the line to test their right to integrated interstate travel and accommodations. Starting tonight, PBS is running a compelling documentary of the events, featuring interviews with many of … Continue reading →

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Martin Luther King Day and Dead Heroes

Posted on January 18, 2011 by David S. Meyer

Martin Luther King died young enough and dramatically enough to be turned into an American hero, but it was neither his youth nor his death that made him heroic. In his rather brief public life, beginning in Montgomery at 26, … Continue reading →

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The Lunch Counter

Posted on October 2, 2010 by David S. Meyer

A piece of the actual Woolworth’s lunch counter from Greensboro has a place at the National Museum of American History, in Washington, DC. When I visited this past August, the Smithsonian was running a simulation of the nonviolence training sessions … Continue reading →

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Tweet the Revolution?

Posted on October 2, 2010 by David S. Meyer

People either seem to overestimate or underestimate the potential impact of internet-based social media on social and political change.  I think it’s because they are confused about just what something like Facebook is replacing. As example:  Malcolm Gladwell ( New … Continue reading →

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