Why Bogalusa Matters: Educational Brochure
Bogalusa is a small Louisiana town of about 12,000 people and a paper mill that still dominates the landscape and the economy. While few people outside of Louisiana have heard of Bogalusa today, in the 1960s, Bogalusa became a flashpoint for the national civil rights struggle when members of Bogalusa’s Black community stood up to defend themselves and fight for their equal rights in the face of an extremely powerful local Ku Klux Klan and a hostile white police department. The Bogalusa Civil Rights Movement made headlines in The New York Times, Ebony and Life, and eventually forced the intervention of the U.S. president and the Department of Justice.
To raise awareness about the history of the Bogalusa Civil Rights Movement, the Hicks Foundation, in partnership with the Tangipahoa African American Heritage Museum & Veterans Archives, has created “Why Bogalusa Matters,” an educational brochure that can be used as both a teaching tool and a guide for visitors who want to explore some of Bogalusa’s major civil rights sites. A PDF copy is available for download on this website, or contact us to request copies.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Grant #MH-00-18-0036-18. The Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) supports and empowers America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. The institute envisions a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this archive do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
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With your help, we can create the Bogalusa Civil Rights Museum and keep the legacy alive