January 20, 2014: The Untold Story of Black Women and the Birth of Feminism

Today's show falls on the holiday celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Kate Raphael opens the program with a thought provoking commentary about the Civil Rights movement today and other freedom struggles. Click here to listen to Women's Magazine. 59:50 min

Black Women Led Birth of N.O.W.

Daisy Bates speaks during the Aug. 23, 1963, March on Washington. Bates, mentor to the Little Rock Nine, was the only woman to speak at the event 50 years ago in which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Source Times Record: Online Edition

In the first part of our show today we'll listen to a fascinating history put together by Fran Luck of WBAI's Joy of Resistance for Sprouts, a national weekly program.  Luck tells the story of how black women activists, frustrated by being shut out of the 1963 March on Washington, led the charge to form the National Organization for Women. Link for Sprouts is http://pacificanetwork.org/?page_id=289 Look for Black Women Led Birth of N.O.W. to hear this segment.

Freedom Rider Jean Denton Thompson

Mugshot of Jean Denton Thompson on May 24, 1961 in Jackson, MS. Photo from Mississippi State Department of Archives and History's Sovereignty Commission

And then, we'll listen to a first-hand account by Freedom Rider Jean Denton Thompson, about what it was like to be inside that world-changing moment. Our original interview with Jean Denton-Thompson is at:

http://kpfawomensmag.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-7th-today-on-womens-magazine.html