Civil Rights and Black American History

This website contains at least 73 audio programs that relate directly to the American Civil Rights movement and 34 that relate to Black American History. Mainline churches have often been intentional in working in these fields, and many of their audio programs reflect this work.

These subjects were also a focus of the “Night Call” radio program, which ran from 1965-1969. The nightly show was created by The United Methodist Church, and produced in conjunction with the National Council of Churches, and the Urban League, along with other faith partners.

One of the programs in these areas is selected randomly on the right side of this page. On this site, you’ll find dozens of key figures represented, giving speeches or appearing on a radio program.

To find all the programs, go to our Audio Programs page and use the search system drop-downs:

Subject: look for Civil Rights, African-American, or any other subject you wish.

Selected Speakers: find speakers like Ralph Abernathy, Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael, Stephen Carter, Shirley Chisholm, Kenneth Clark, Eldridge Cleaver, John Conyers, Bill Cosby, Ruby Dee, Jocelyn Elders, Dick Gregory, Vincent Harding, Reginald Hawkins, Dorothy Height, Roy Innis, Jesse Jackson, A. D. King, James Lawson, Chester Lewis, Joseph Lowery, Ralph McGill, Frank Robinson, Frankie Robinson, Nina Simone, Cecil Williiams, and Andrew Young.

Randomly-chosen Civil Rights and Black American History Program:

Description: This address was made to "The Hungry Club Forum" in Atlanta, Georgia. Note: This recording is from a radio broadcast provided by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The open of this program is a short audio segment from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Andrew J. Young (1932-) speaks after his first year in Congress, addressing the Hungry Club Forum at the Butler Street YMCA in Atlanta, Georgia. Andrew Young is a minister and civil rights activist from Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Young was executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and an ally of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1973-1976, and was Ambassador to the United Nations in the administration of President Jimmy Carter. He later served as mayor of Atlanta from 1982-1989, and was instrumental in securing bid for the 1996 Olympic Games.

Length: 29:16
Recording Date: January 16, 1974
Recorded at: The Hungry Club Forum at the Butler Street YMCA in Atlanta, Georgia.