Exhibitions
"He left, through the power of his camera and with a quick eye, images that will educate and sensitize unborn generations." — John Lewis, Civil Rights Leader and U.S. Congressman
In the 1950s and 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the charismatic leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), joined with civil rights leaders including James Farmer, Roy Wilkins, A. Phillip Randolph, and John Lewis to lead peaceful demonstrations and conduct nonviolent acts of civil disobedience publicizing the need for equal rights, including a national voting rights law. The media coverage of their peaceful demonstrations, which were at times met with violent opposition, helped garner widespread support necessary for the passage of voting rights legislation. The three marches opened the door for the signing of the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965.
In 1965, renowned photojournalist James “Spider” Martin was the youngest freelance photographer at the Birmingham News, where he covered everything from Alabama football to country club social events. Witnessing the violent treatment of peaceful protestors had a profound effect on Martin’s career. His images of Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, galvanized public opinion in support of the protesters. Martin joined the historic march from Selma to Montgomery later that month in two capacities: as a member of the media and as a participant in the struggle for racial equality.
Through Martin’s camera and the words of Congressman John Lewis, former head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), March to Freedom follows a determined group of marchers, both black and white, as they tried on three different occasions to take their cause to the steps of the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery.
March to Freedom is an exhibition by the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin and the LBJ Presidential Library, presented in partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Martin’s photographs from March 1965 are part of the Briscoe Center’s extensive photojournalism holdings.
Language | English |
Content | 30 framed, black-and-white photographs
Narrative text panels Video presentation (CD) |
Space Requirements | 120 linear feet of wall space |
Shipping Weight and Dimensions | Travels in 2 anvil crates
|
Rental Fee* | $750* |
Rental Period | 6 weeks |
*Rental fees are based primarily on the cost of shipping. Prices may vary based on current fuel surcharges or venue location within the state of Texas. Out-of-state rentals are priced on an individual basis. Please call for a rental fee quote specific to your venue.
A press release is available for promoting this exhibition at your venue. Please contact the exhibitions coordinator to request a draft press release. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the exhibitions coordinator to process your request.
A publicity image is available for promoting this exhibition at your venue. Please contact the exhibitions coordinator to request an electronic file of this image. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the exhibitions coordinator to process your request.
Logo files are also available for download from the logo page.
Call 512.440.1991 or email
exhibitions@humanitiestexas.org.
Texas City Museum
Texas City, TX
02/16/2024 - 03/29/2024
Vanishing Texana Museum
Jacksonville, TX
01/31/2025 - 02/28/2025
Irving Archives and Museum
Irving, TX
01/29/2026 - 03/19/2026
On Display