The Virginia Tourism Corporation has launched a new Virginia Civil Rights podcast series spotlighting the Commonwealth’s role in the Civil Rights Movement and amplifying the voices of individuals and communities who helped shape the fight for equality.

The Virginia-focused episodes are part of the nationally recognized U.S. Civil Rights Trail Podcast, a narrative-style series that examines pivotal moments in history through firsthand accounts, expert commentary and historical context. 

The Virginia Civil Rights podcast explores key events in Farmville, Fredericksburg, Danville and Richmond, sharing stories of everyday citizens whose courage and resilience drove lasting change. The series features people who lived the history alongside historians and scholars who continue to study its impact. 

“Virginia’s civil rights story is essential to understanding the broader U.S. Civil Rights Movement,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Through this podcast, we are honoring the individuals who stood up for justice, often at great personal cost, while inviting listeners to engage more deeply with the places and stories that shaped our shared history. These narratives are powerful reminders that Virginia’s communities played a critical role in advancing civil rights in our nation.” 

The Moton Museum in Farmville is among the organizations represented in the series. 

“We were thrilled to have participated in the podcast,” said Cainan Townsend, executive director of the Moton Museum. “People often do not associate civil rights history with the Commonwealth of Virginia, but I hope these episodes illuminate these stories and demonstrate the crucial role Virginia played in the fight for equality.” 

Three Virginia-centered episodes anchor the series. 

Teen activism takes center stage in “Students Take a Stand,” which recounts how Barbara Johns led a protest at her segregated Farmville school, an act that helped change legal history in Virginia and beyond. The episode features Joan Johns Cobbs, Claude Jones Cobbs, Skip Griffin, Cainan Townsend and Gary Flowers, with locations in Farmville and Richmond. 

From classroom walkouts to department store sit-ins, “The Movement Arrives” traces how individuals in Fredericksburg sparked meaningful change. Voices in the episode include Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater, Lateefah Muhammad, Mary Malone, Clarence Todd and Gaila Sims. 

Violence and resistance are examined in “The Price of Protest,” which looks at Bloody Monday, a public library protest and organized marches in Danville that were met with backlash. The episode features Karice Luck-Brimmer, Sherman Saunders, Cassandra Newby-Alexander and Robert Vinson. 

The Virginia Civil Rights podcast series is available through the U.S. Civil Rights Trail Podcast on major platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and iHeartRadio. More information is available at virginia.org/VACivilRightsTrail.