Saluting the Girls of the Civil Rights Motion

By Last updated Apr 4, 2021

Released 03-31-21

Submitted by Comcast Corporation

“Everything was separate. … “Know your place and stay in it.” Black children were educated so early in life. The world is not the same – it is not the same for all people. “

I often wonder if civil rights activist Maude Burroughs Jackson knows how much her story has influenced my own sense of place as a young black woman in America today. Growing up, I attended a mostly white high school in New Jersey, where I was almost exclusively the only color student in class.

The Arkansas National Guard escorted Carlotta Walls LaNier and a member of the Little Rock Nine on the grounds of Little Rock Central High School in September 1957. (Ed Clark / The LIFE Image Collection via Getty Images)

The US history class was the most challenging for me – not because of the course material, but because of what it was missing. Black history classes were little more than Rosa Parks, Dr. King, slavery and oppression – all important parts of our history. My family, sisterhood, and other social connections filled in the gaps. Today I am so proud of my work at Comcast because it gives me a platform to tell the stories of so many women – like Little Rock Mayor Lottie Shackelford, anti-discrimination warriors like Josie Johnson, and student human rights activists like my Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Sister, Judge Brenda Hill Cole. These names may not be familiar to many – they weren’t in my textbooks – but we all benefit from their work and legacy of civil rights.

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin at a 2018 interview recording for Voices of the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta.

As a production assistant for public programs, I help third-party organizations share their stories through Comcast Newsmakers. and I’m proud to be working on Comcast NBCUniversal’s award-winning Voices of the Civil Rights Movement, which features over 17 hours of firsthand historical narration and accounts, including the stories of Mayor Shackelford, Mrs. Johnson, and Judge Cole. Voices honors the leaders and everyday people who campaigned for racial justice in America from the 1950s and 1960s until today. The platform is available to Comcast customers on Xfinity X1, Flex and Stream and is free and inaccessible to the general public at CivRightsVoices.com.

To commemorate Women’s History Month, we collect the often untold stories of exceptional women who have campaigned for civil and human rights in all areas of American life. Here are three that I’m particularly proud of.

Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, 19, after being arrested for protest in 1961. (AP / Mississippi Department of Archives and History, City of Jackson)

I’ll never forget to meet Carlotta Walls LaNier, a member of Little Rock Nine, at a 2017 Comcast Black Employee Network event. I was extremely humble to be in the presence of a woman who played a vital role in desegregation at school and not only was the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine, but also the only girl in the group, the historic Little Rock Graduated from Central High School. The photo of Ms. Walls LaNier being brought to the school by National Guard forces constantly reminds me of her bravery and resilience as a young black woman. I have developed a personal relationship with Ms. LaNier over the past few years and I will forever cherish the impact she has had on my life.

Also in our collection is Shirley Franklin, Atlanta’s First Mayor. I met Mayor Franklin at a Voices production in Atlanta in the summer of 2018. I vividly remember how she walked through the door and immediately felt her presence in the room. As I listened to her tell her story, from working with Former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson and Former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young to the First Mayor of Atlanta, I was amazed by her strong work ethic, perseverance and hers Courage impresses the most. Not many women were involved in politics at the time – let alone black women – and knowing that she made up her mind to run her city really inspires me.

And you will be amazed at the story of the student activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, who dedicated herself to protest in solidarity with her black colleagues in the 1960s. As the civil rights movement began to accelerate, she attended a Presbyterian youth meeting. There she met several student protesters involved in sit-ins. Ms. Trumpauer Mulholland chose to join the civil rights movement, take part in “Freedom Rides” to endure violence while sitting at the lunch counter at Woolworth in Jackson, Miss., And facing jail for her role in the peaceful racial justice demonstration.

Ashley Parrish, production assistant at Comcast Local Media Development, shakes hands with Mayor Franklin during a 2018 interview recording for Voices of the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta.

Each of these women – and the powerful lessons they share – have influenced me profoundly. I take inspiration from knowing that many of these women stood up for what was right when they were younger than I am today – often when the outcome of their actions has been largely uncertain. While Voices interviews are being recorded, I sit behind the curtain and take detailed notes. I always get carried away with the emotions in the room – happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and gratitude. Our respondents had immense difficulties – and yet something in them gave them the determination to overcome them – and they did.

When I think about these remarkable women, I see myself and my own potential in their stories – and I couldn’t be more proud to work for a company that makes diverse storytelling and coding a priority. I enjoy my work because I know that Voices informs and inspires viewers of all ages and backgrounds.

When I think back to my US history class, I now more than ever recognize the need for Voices as a free educational platform for everyone. I hope that any young black woman who takes the time to learn from the content will honor the Voices civil rights leaders who have boldly led and redefined what it means to “know your place”. Our place is a welcome voice at the table that adds value to our teams at all career levels, pursues all of our ambitions and is inspired by the strength of so many women who paved the way.

Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company with two main businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the largest video, high-speed Internet and telephone providers in the country for private customers under the XFINITY brand and also offers these services to companies. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television broadcasting groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts.