11 TV Hill: New Era of Activism in the Civil Rights Movement
Updated: 11:30 AM EST February 28, 2021
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JASON: VOTES AND ACTION FROM A RENEWED MOVEMENT FOR EQUALITY. HOW THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HAS DEVELOPED. AND THE YOUNG ACTIVISTS WHO KEEP THE CHARGE. TODAY YOUR MARCH ORDERS FOR THIS GENERATION. HELLO EVERYBODY. I am Jason Newton. WELCOME TO 11 TV HILL. AS WE CLOSE THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE. And from that point of view, it seems pretty promising in terms of leadership. This morning we discuss how the face of the movement has evolved. JOINING NOW IS VICE PRESIDENT OF BALTIMORES NAACP, JOSHUA HARRIS. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. JASON: THE IDEA THIS TALKS ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHERE THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST PAIR OF YEARS. WE WANT TO COME TO YOU BECAUSE THE NAACP HAS BEEN INTRODUCED INTO US. IT IS PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE LAND. They had to evolve like everyone else. Tell me right away with our young people about the development of the NAACP. >> THAT’S A BIG QUESTION. The NAACP is an organization that has been around for more than a century. MANY PEOPLE THINK OF IT AS AN OLD PEOPLE ORGANIZATION. WHAT WE WATCHED BACK TO KILLING TRAYVON MARTIN, MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXCITING AND STARTING THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE DREAM DEFENDERS OR THE MILLION HOODIES MOVEMENT THAT IN ST. LOUIS AFTER KILLING MICHAEL BROWN. MANY PEOPLE FILLED WITH ENERGY, FIRED AND READY TO MAKE CHANGE. Often times I think as one of those young people we have overlooked the possibility of organizations like the NAACP and so many others that have been lying around for a long time and have infrastructure that is there. I found it exciting to take a leadership role in the city of Baltimore, like the president did. FANNIE LOU HAMER IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE – REASONS WE KNOW WHO DR. MARTIN WITH THE KING JR. IS. She urged him to be a leader in place of the traditional big six. It’s exciting to see that. PRESIDENT LITTLE WORKED ON AN INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT ONLY INCLUDE PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS BUT IN THE LEADERSHIP OF WHAT WE DO. JASON: I’ve talked to young people and they described and our car is approaching the civil rights movement. – A LA CARTE APPROACH TO THE MOVEMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS. If you are an artist you can help the community through us and you do – art and you do that. If you are an activist, you march. PEOPLE TAKE HASHTAGS AND LIKE I DID MY PART AND GO ON. HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT FROM YOUR VIEWPOINT? You’re all about action. Did it make you think a little more outside the box? JOSHUA: I think that during this pandemic and overall we have thought about the process and everyone has a role to play in the movement. If you are good at social media we need people to spread the word and get the word out. Without reaching out to people to inform them of the problems that are occurring, it is null and void. THERE IS THE ACTION SIDE. Yesterday President KLEIN IN ANNAPOLIS was checking against board and legislation that would be harmful to the African-American community. THIS IS DIRECT ACTION. YOU HAVE PEOPLE DOING NETWORKS. Everyone has a role to play. IF YOU ARE A COMMUNITY PERSON, YOU CAN TOUCH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ORGANIZE AND COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE, AND THAT’S YOUR ROLE. UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THESE PARTS ARE REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATIONS OF EFFECTIVE CHANGES. The pandemic has forced many organizations to adapt to technology as I am sure that learning how to do these interviews and being socially distant is important for you too. We were able to hold our meetings successfully and have at least 40 to 50 constant members who virtually showed up to our meetings. It was a challenge, but it is necessary. You need to learn how to adapt to meet people where they are. JASON: Tell me about the need to have young voices like yours in leadership positions and lead the meetings too. JOSHUA: I think it’s extremely important. YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THE ENERGY TO FIGHT. THEY ARE READY FOR A FIGHT AT ANY TIME AND OUR ELDERLY HAVE THE WISDOM TO SAY THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT THIS TIME. IF YOU HAVE TO FIGHT, SEND THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE BEFORE THE FIGHT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, IT WAS GRANTED BY PEOPLE AGES 14 TO 30. DR. König died at the age of 30. IT WAS GUIDED BY THE MOVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE. If we look at the population wisely, the majority of the people who are affected by this policy are 18 to 35 years old. THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION. Often times, you may not be as engaged or excited to see young people having the opportunity to speak at various organizations such as the NAACP and others in leadership positions. It’s extremely critical. JASON: I want you to tell me what the country went through with all the demonstrations we saw across the country. I feel like the conversation has started. During Black History Month, we talked a lot about the tribes of the black community. Do you feel that this was an attempt to deepen the conversation at dining tables and street corners as well as in the town halls? Tell me what your thoughts were when you saw the people band together for the past couple of years during the rainbow. JOSHUA: I think it was really some kind of RENATE – resuscitation or resuscitation of the movement. Because of technology and social media, more people have become aware. IF YOU ARE NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE MOVEMENT AND DO NOT WATCH THE NEWS OR STAY INFORMED, YOU WILL BE DIFFICULT TO REACH YOU. We know that the majority of the population has access to social media. THAT WAS A TOOL TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION AND GET THE WORD. THINGS LIKE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD PINED ON THE CAMERA AND WHICH AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES KNOW IT WAS NOT RECORDED? I am excited that the future will see this and see coalition form and people who care about justice and stick together to fight for it. JASON: It’s good to see the young people who band together with you and do some of their own things too. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. >> THANK YOU. I’m not sure I’m looking at the young people. Jason:
11 TV Hill: New Era of Activism in the Civil Rights Movement
Updated: 11:30 AM EST February 28, 2021
This Sunday, 11 TV Hill hears the voices and actions of a renewed movement for equality: How the civil rights movement has evolved with the young activists leading the indictment and their marching orders for this generation. When we close Black History Month, we look to the future. And it looks like it looks pretty promising in terms of leadership. We discuss with Joshua Harris, Vice President of the NAACP Baltimore (video above) how the face of the movement has changed nationwide. It is now the young people who are rising up and triggering action nationwide. 11 TV Hill held a discussion with Elijah Miles and Tasin Muhammad of The Tendea Family and Essence Bennett, President of the Student Government Association at Coppin State University. What needs to be done now for Black Baltimore? How do young people shape today’s civil rights movement? Black History MonthOver the last month 11 news celebrated the triumphs and tragedies of the African American experience in Baltimore and beyond. Lisa Robinson has been sharing these stories with us all month. Here’s a look at some of the stories she told. Baltimore Church is working to correct the wrongs of their racist past through redress. Enoch Pratt’s exhibition shows the vision of women’s suffrage. The Baltimore photographer’s vision behind the exhibition at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum Black AmericansMore Black History Month stories from 11 news items
BALTIMORE –
This Sunday, 11 TV Hill hears the voices and actions of a renewed movement for equality: How the civil rights movement has evolved with the young activists leading the prosecution and their marching orders for this generation.
When we close Black History Month, we are looking to the future. And it looks like it looks pretty promising in terms of leadership.
We discuss with Joshua Harris, Vice President of the NAACP Baltimore (video above) how the face of the movement has evolved.
America’s youth are rising up and triggering action across the country
It is now the young people who stand up and cause action across the country. 11 TV Hill discussed the next steps with Elijah Miles and Tasin Muhammad from The Tendea Family and the President of the Student Government Association at Coppin State University, Essence Bennett.
What needs to be done now for Black Baltimore?
How young people shape today’s civil rights movement
Black history month
Last month, 11 News paid tribute to the triumphs and tragedies of the African American experience in Baltimore and beyond. Lisa Robinson has been sharing these stories with us all month. Here are some of the stories she told.
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