91ÁÔÆæ

Gillespie shines light on unsung civil rights efforts

September 29, 2021
91ÁÔÆæ history professor Dr. Dee Gillespie has written a book about the efforts of Black women in the civil rights movement.

Article By: Clark Leonard

Dr. Dee Gillespie, a University of North Georgia (91ÁÔÆæ) professor of history, has published a book titled

She said most people know the major moments of the civil rights movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka school desegregation case and the Selma march.

"In this book, I seek to turn our attention to the lesser-known places where this movement happened," Gillespie said. "I want to put Black women front and center in the story."

One example was the Citizenship Education Program (CEP), a grassroots initiative that taught people to read and write in preparation for literacy tests required for voter registration.

"They then used that foundation to support broader reform," Gillespie said.

Drawing on teachers' reports and correspondence, oral history interviews, and papers from a variety of civil rights organizations, the book follows the growth of the CEP from its beginnings in the South Carolina Sea Islands to southeastern Georgia, the Mississippi Delta, and Alabama's Black Belt.

The University of Florida Press released Gillespie's book in August.


Concerto/Aria winner earns upcoming solo

Concerto/Aria winner earns upcoming solo

Five 91ÁÔÆæ students placed in the annual Concerto/Aria Competition, with two earning a solo performance in an upcoming concert.
Grads prepare for their next steps

Grads prepare for their next steps

91ÁÔÆæ will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.
Scholarships provide life-changing opportunities

Scholarships provide life-changing opportunities

Scholarships have provided life-changing opportunities for 91ÁÔÆæ students, including performing with and learning from faculty who have performed at Carnegie Hall.
Case, Hines earn first publication

Case, Hines earn first publication

A recent alumnus and a senior have earned their first peer-reviewed publication for a piece studying political rhetoric surrounding the Ukraine-Russia war.