March 31, 2023 -
Michael Simmons has been a longtime Black organizer working across regions and movements, from…
March 31, 2023 -
Dan Berger, a scholar of the Black Power movement, has written a remarkable intergenerational story about the Simmons family's long involvement in the Black freedom struggle, from Zoharah's and Michael's SNCC organizing and human rights work to Aishah's anti-rape activism. The title comes from lyrics to a civil rights anthem that for them has been more than a slogan — it's been a guide to a life of service to the people.
March 30, 2023 -
The nonprofit Electronic Registration Information Center was formed and is led by a bipartisan group of state election officials to help member states maintain accurate voter rolls. Seven states have quit ERIC in the past year as the far right has spread disinformation about it, but Republican election officials in a number of Southern states have reaffirmed their commitment to the group.
March 30, 2023 -
A coalition of advocacy groups recently released a report offering ideas on ways to protect and promote democracy in the state. Some of these proposals have since been incorporated into legislation that’s been introduced at the General Assembly.
March 22, 2023 -
Millions of dollars from the federal COVID-19 economic stimulus bill remain on the table in Southern communities, offering an ongoing opportunity to press leaders to prioritize equitable distribution.
March 22, 2023 -
Earlier this year, Louisiana regulators signed off on LCMC Health System's acquisition of three Tulane University hospitals in New Orleans. Documentarian Jason Kerzinski spoke with Tulane nurses about the deal, and they said they fear not only for their own jobs but for the safety of patients in what will now be the city's hospital duopoly.
March 17, 2023 -
On March 10 and 11, more than 150 people gathered to celebrate Southern Exposure, the award-winning journal published by the Institute for Southern Studies from 1973 to 2011, and to reflect on its legacy for movements today.