WGLT McHistory Series

McHistory: Passing the Civil Rights Act

February 28th, 2019

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website here

McHistory goes back in time to explore big moments and small stories from McLean County history. McHistory episodes can be heard periodically on WGLT's Sound Ideas.

Amidst the civil rights movement, one Bloomington clergyman traveled south of the Mason-Dixon line to register blacks to vote.

The Rev. Ernest Norquist sent stories of his work down in Mississippi to The Pantagraph, documenting life in the perpetual picket just days before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

For this last day of Black History Month, GLT is reviving its occasional series McHistory in partnership with the McLean County Museum of History. GLT’s Mary Cullen produced the series. You’ll hear the voices of Bill Kemp and Joe McDonnell with the museum.

In this episode, we hear about Norquist’s experience registering blacks to vote in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Bill Kemp

Librarian

Contact Bill