Ann Pope Journey To Freedom

Anne Pope was raised in Shubuta, Mississippi, a town that was the site of several lynchings from the infamous “Hanging Bridge.” Shubuta was segregated, but Anne grew up protected by family, teachers, and members of her Baptist church. As a young woman she moved to Albany. Black people could vote in Albany, she learned, but they were paid five dollars to vote for Democratic candidates. Anne was a leader in the NAACP, serving as head of the local chapter for several years. She always stressed the importance of voting. “Your vote is your voice,” she insisted.

The Journey to Freedom project has recorded the stories of women and men from the Capital Region of New York who participated in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Many traveled to the segregated Deep South. Others were active in their home communities. All worked to advance social justice. Their stories highlight the powerful impact that regular folks can have in effecting change, and the importance of documenting the histories of everyday heroes.

Siena College professor Dr. Paul Murray and co-producer educator Donald Hyman worked with videographers Kirk Daniels and Zebulon Schmidt to record and make publicly available the histories of 15 activists. Attendees of this webinar will learn the history of this project, its development process, and ways they can undertake similar projects in their home communities.