American Radioworks' State of Siege: Mississippi Whites and the Civil Rights Movement

Radioworks takes a historical look at the state of Mississippi during the battle for integration.

In honor of Black History Month, WXXI presents State of Siege: Mississippi Whites and the Civil Rights Movement, airing Sunday, February 27 at 10 p.m. on AM1370/FM-HD 91.5-2. Mississippi occupies a distinct and dramatic place in the history of America's civil rights movement. No state in the South was more resistant to the struggle for black equality. No place was more violent. While the history of civil rights activists has been well documented in radio and television, the stories and strategies of their white opponents are more hidden. Drawing on newly discovered archival audio and groundbreaking research on the civil rights era, State of Siege brings to light the extraordinary tactics whites in Mississippi used to battle integration and the lasting impact of that battle in American politics today.

American RadioWorks is the highly acclaimed documentary unit that provides in-depth reporting on education and opportunity.