Iowa Civil Rights History

William Morris stands out as a contributing author within the pages of the renowned Iowan publication, "Outside In: African-American History in Iowa, 1838-2000." His distinctive contribution resonates through Chapter 5 of this work, entitled "Black Iowans in Defense of the Nation: 1863 to 1991." Generously, William engaged in a conversation with me, shedding light on his literary contributions, his insights into the experiences of Iowa's black veterans, and other subjects.Learn more about William S. Morris check out his websitewww.williamsmorris.orgSupport the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

Judge Romonda Belcher was appointed to the bench on August 20, 2010, becoming the first African American female Judge in the state of Iowa. Born in Plymouth, North Carolina, she earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from Howard University in 1990 and her juris doctorate from Drake University Law School in 1995. Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

Arabella Mansfield became the first woman lawyer in the United States to be admitted to practice law in Henry County Iowa in 1869. She studied law for two years in her brother's law office in Mount Pleasant Iowa to prepare for the bar exam. Despite her admission to the bar, she never practice law instead she spent her professional life teaching. She was a professor of English at Iowa Wesleyan College and later, dean of the school of art and music at De Pauw University in Indiana. She died in 1911 at age 65. Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

Stephen Keyes is sitting in Fort Dodge Iowa Correctional Facility serving a life sentence without parole. Steve was sentenced to prison on October 27th, 1997 after being convicted of two counts of first degree murder of his wife Sandra and his 2yr old son Josh, the two died as the result of the tragic house fire that happened on December 26, in 1996. His legal team -  The Iowa Wrongful Conviction Division & Drake Law School’s Legal Clinic-Wrongful Conviction and the Midwest Innocence Project believes Steve was wrongfully convicted and they are working to free him..Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

Fort Des Moines located in Des Moines Iowa, was the first place in the united states where black men were being trained to be officers in the US Army. Fort Des Moines was also the first place in the United States to train women of all races to be in the military.I travelled to Des Moines to have a conversation with a Des Moines native Jeff Kluever who is a board member of the now Fort Des Moines Museum and understand the history of Fort Des Moines. Jeff is also a student of civil war.Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

Roxanne Conlin is like a rose that bloomed from concrete. As the eldest of six siblings, she endured a traumatic upbringing in a household plagued by violence, where her father's alcoholism led him to inflict both mental and physical abuse on her mother and children. Nevertheless, Roxanne persevered and rose to become a prominent and influential civil rights attorney in Iowa.Book Referenced to this episode: Unstoppable The Nine Lives of Roxanne Barton Conlin Author: William B. FredricksSupport the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

More than a decade before the Civil Rights sit-ins of the 1960s and six years prior to Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat, Edna Griffin, a prominent civil rights leader in Iowa, had already made a significant impact. Griffin compelled the notorious Katz drug store in Des Moines, Iowa, to halt its discriminatory practices toward Black customers. This event marked an important moment in Iowa's civil rights history, demonstrating the power of grassroots activism in effecting change.In 1948, Edna Griffin and two of her friends were denied service at the Katz drugstore. Griffin sued Katz later that year and won the case. Katz appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court but lost again. This landmark legal victory was a significant moment in the history of civil rights in Iowa, and it helped to pave the way for further advances in the struggle for equality.In this episode, I sat down with Stanley Griffin Jr, a son of Edna Griffin, to talk about his mother, father, and life growing up as Griffin.Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

The town of Buxton, IA was seen as a utopia by many Black Americans who migrated to the town to work at the coal miners. Black and white families lived, worked and played together and their children went to the same schools. White residents included immigrants from Sweden and elsewhere, and they existed peacefully with the African-Americans throughout the community’s history.Buxton was the town that  supported African-American doctors, lawyers and other professionals, with everything integrated in the town, black people in Buxton were shield from all the atrocities that other blacks were facing during the Jim Crow and segregation era. They were living in a utopia world. Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

In this 2nd episode, My guest Kent Sissel, discuss more about the life, family, and the contribution of Alexander Clark to the state of Iowa and the country. Alexander G. Clark was born on Feb 25. 1826 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, to John Clark, a former slave, and Rebecca Darnes Clark. He was a barber, lawyer, diplomat, and activist.Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

February 25 is the birthday of Muscatine’s famous residents, probably the most famous Black Iowan of the 19th century.Alexander G. Clark was born on Feb 25. 1826 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, to John Clark, a former slave, and Rebecca Darnes Clark. He was a barber, lawyer, diplomat, and activist.In the late 70s, Kent Sissel bought Clark’s home in Muscatine Iowa in order to save it from a City demolition that was underway. Mr. Sissel has been owning and living in that house for 40yrs.  In this episode, I talked with Kent Sissel, the preservationist of the  Alexander Clark house and who is arguably to be the best historian of Alexander G. Clark in the country. Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

The Tuskegee Airmen was the first African American flying unit in the U.S. military, who fought during World War II. They were trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama. This was the only training facility for Basic and Advanced Flight Training for Black pilots of the U.S. Army Air Force.Out of the 1,000 black pilots who were trained at Tuskegee Army airfield, 12 of them came from the state of Iowa.  These 12 men were William V. Bibb, James E. Bowman, Russell L. Collins, Maurice V. Esters, Joseph P. Gomer, Robert L. Martin      George R. Miller, Clarence A. Oliphant, Robert M. Parkey, Luther H. Smith, Thurman E. Spriggs,  and Robert W. Williams        In this episode, I talked to Bill Spriggs, The son of one of the Iowa Tuskegee airmen, “Thurman Spriggs”. We talked about his father's contribution to the state of Iowa and the nation.Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

When Merry Brown the tattoo artist and the owner of Studio 65 received a call to help a new client to cover his tattoos, Merry didn’t know what to expect. When that client showed up to his appointment and showed Merry what he wanted to be covered, Merry had mixed feelings; shocked and happy about the fact that this new client wanted to cover his tattoos.Terry is a former member of a white supremacy gang. From the time he was a little boy he was taught to hate all races that weren't white and not mixed with other races. That hate grew stronger as Terry spent most of his life in the American prison system, where race mixing is a violation that could get a prisoner killed. For almost 50yrs of his life, Terry segregated himself from other races and didn’t care for them to say the least. All that changed when Terry met Emily Minear, a therapist/counselor at Prairie Ridge who challenged Terry’s thought patterns. Those exercises of thinking differently and integrating with other races led Terry to slowly start to question everything he was taught and everything he learned and believed in his entire life. I had a great pleasure sitting down with Terry and his tattoo artist/friend/counselor Merry Brown to talk about Terry’s life journey, his struggles in this new life, his family, his regrets, and his future.Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

When Merry Brown the tattoo artist and the owner of Studio 65 received a call to help a new client to cover his tattoos, Merry didn’t know what to expect. When that client showed up to his appointment and showed Merry what he wanted to be covered, Merry had mixed feelings; shocked and happy about the fact that this new client wanted to cover his tattoos.Terry is a former member of a white supremacy gang. From the time he was a little boy, he was taught to hate all races that weren't white and not mixed with other races. That hate grew stronger as Terry spent most of his life in the American prison system, where race mixing is a violation that could get a prisoner killed. For almost 50yrs of his life, Terry segregated himself from other races and didn’t care for them, to say the least.All that changed when Terry met Emily Minear, a therapist/counselor at Prairie Ridge who challenged Terry’s thought patterns. Those exercises of thinking differently and integrating with other races led Terry to slowly start to question everything he was taught and everything he learned and believed in his entire life.I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Terry and his tattoo artist/friend/counselor Merry Brown to talk about Terry’s life journey, his struggles in this new life, his family, his regrets, and his future.Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

James Jordan's house is located at 2001 Fuller Rd, in West Des Moines Iowa it is one of the Iowa Underground Railroad houses that is still standing and was one of John Brown's freedom trails. The house was built and owned by James Jordan.James Jordan was a Complicated man like most men of his time. He was born in  West Virginia in 1813 and moved to Iowa in 1845,  he was once a slave catcher and became an abolitionist he was a member of the Polk County Underground Railroad. He was an Iowa state lawmaker, also he was a federal lawbreaker, as he was breaking a fugitive slave act, also helping his friend John Brown to break the same law. He lived in this house until his death in 1893.Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

On September 21, 2005, the court asked a 19-yr old Kenneth Nixon if he had anything to say to the court before he was sentenced to life in prison for 2 counts of murder, 4 counts of attempted murder, and 1 count of arson. Ken told the judge and the court “your honor, you are about to sentence an innocent man to prison for the rest of his life for the crime he didn’t commit”.The judge and the court didn’t take those words seriously, they probably heard them so many times before. Those words will come back to haunt that same judge almost 16yrs later. Because, after Ken spent 15yrs and 9 months behind prison walls, he was released after proving that he was innocent, and was telling the truth all along. Ken was released from prison on February 18th, 2021, and his convictions were vacated. When Ken came to Iowa to talk to the Midwest innocence project, I got a chance to sit down and talk to him about his journey and what the future looks like.For more information on Ken’s case please check out law.umich.eduAlso, Ken has an organization called “Organization of Exonerees” if you would like to support his movement, please go to fundly.com Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

The Henderson Lewelling House also known as Lewelling Quaker Museum (LQM) is located in Salem, Iowa about 20 miles from the Missouri border.  Henderson Lewelling was born in a Quaker family in 1809 in North Carolina, later his family moved to Indiana. In 1837 he moved his wife Elizabeth and 4 children to Salem, Iowa. As an abolitionist, Henderson Lewelling represented the more radical side in his opposition to slavery.  Salem Quakers experienced a schism between radical members and the moderates and eventually ejected Henderson Lewelling from the faith.In 1843, along with other members of the Salem Monthly Meeting, they established the Abolition Friends Monthly Meeting.In this final episode; My guests, David and Cathy Helman at the Lewelling Quaker Museum in Salem, Iowa continued the discussion on the life and the contribution Mr. Lewelling had to the Civil Rights in the state of Iowa.For more information about Lewelling Quaker Museum, please  Check out their website; www.lewelling.orgSupport the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

The Henderson Lewelling House also known as Lewelling Quaker Museum (LQM) is located in Salem, Iowa about 20 miles from the Missouri border.  Henderson Lewelling was born in a Quaker family in 1809 in North Carolina, later his family moved to Indiana. In 1837 he moved his wife Elizabeth and 4 children to Salem, Iowa.  As an abolitionist, Henderson Lewelling represented the more radical side in his opposition to slavery.  Salem Quakers experienced a schism between radical members and the moderates and eventually ejected Henderson Lewelling from the faith.In 1843, along with other members of the Salem Monthly Meeting, they established the Abolition Friends Monthly Meeting. In this episode; My guests, David and Cathy Helman at the Lewelling Quaker Museum in Salem, Iowa sat down with Erick Nganyange to discuss the life and the contribution Mr. Lewelling had to the Civil Rights in the state of Iowa.For more information about Lewelling Quaker Museum, please  Check out their website; www.lewelling.orgSupport the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

When the issue of slavery became the most contentious issue in the country, the courage to act was put to a test, Iowans had a choice, either to stand on the sideline and watch or to act. Some Iowans chose to act.  Abolitionists were people who detested the institution of slavery and wanted to end it immediately. In this episode; Dave Holmgren a historian from the Iowa Historical Society of Des Moines discusses some of the prominent Iowa abolitionists of the 19th century.  He also discusses some members of legislatures who were abolitionists at night and legislature during the day.  Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

In 1993  James Clark, Johnny Brown, Marvin Steward, Bebe Davis, Thomas Levi Sr, and Thomas Moore from  Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids Iowa came up with the idea to start the African - American Museum in the state of Iowa. They wanted to preserve, exhibit and teach black history in the state of Iowa. Since its inception, the Museum has had 4 executive directors. The current director LaNisha Reese Cassell is number 4 on that list and she is the first and the only woman to hold that position in almost 30yrs of the museum's existence.In this episode, I had the privilege to talk to LaNisha about the past, present, and future of the museum and the role the museum plays in advancing the civil rights movement. The African American Museum of Iowa is standing at 55 12th Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.Support the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast

Founded in 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa.  Spark Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every student in the community is able to obtain books that they are personally interested in, free of cost. Spark is also, focusing on reducing the reading achievement gap between high and low-income students and summer reading loss by ensuring every student has the opportunity to build their very own personal library. In this episode, I got the opportunity to talk to the founder of Spark Foundation, Mr. Akil Clark, our conversation was centered around the past, present, and future of the Spark Foundation. The fight to reduce/eliminate the illiteracy problem among young black boys and how to inspire children to read. To find more about spark go to https://www.sparkfndn.org/ or check them out on their Facebook pageSupport the Show.Thank you for listening.For any questions, suggestions, recommendations, or corrections on any historical facts; please contact Host: Erick Nganyange Email: iacivilrightshistorypodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Facebook @ Iowa Civil Rights History Podcast