Florida State University Civil Rights Institute

04/28/2025

02/18/2025

Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute hosted “Lincoln Motion Picture Company: A Historical Lens on By Right of Birth” to celebrate Black History Month at the Askew Student Life Center on February 3, 2025.

“Lincoln Motion Picture Company: A Historical Lens on By Right of Birth” was hosted by the Civil Rights Institute and a part of the 2025 Black History Month Student and Community Engagement Program. The event was co-hosted by the Askew Student Life Center, the College of Social Work, FSU Student Agencies & Institutes, and the Montague Collection. After the screening of By Right of Birth, there was a community discussion with the curators of the Montague Collection and a reception displaying select pieces of their collection and more information about the Lincoln Motion Picture Company.

"Race films were a powerful tool in rewriting the narrative of Black identity in American cinema, and the Montague Collection ensures that this history is preserved and shared with future generations,” said Ted Ellis, director of the Civil Rights Institute. “This event was not just about watching a film; it was about reclaiming and celebrating our cultural legacy and American history.”

To read the full story, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/fsus-civil-rights-institute-celebrates-black-history-month-with-montague-collection.

01/24/2025

UPDATE: Due to weather and closures, FSU’s Civil Rights Institute's Martin Luther King Junior Celebration “Memories of A Living King” has been postponed to a later date (and will not occur on Saturday, January 25). We'll announce details as soon as they become available.

01/06/2025

Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute will host the second annual Martin Luther King Junior celebration titled “Memories of A Living King” on Saturday, January 25, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the FSU Alumni Center (1030 W. Tennessee St.).

This year’s event honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s enduring legacy through a unique blend of art, performance, and community engagement. Its objectives are to memorialize Dr. King's contributions to the global community, educate and demonstrate the American Civil Rights Movement through the arts, and garner broad community input into the strategic direction of the FSU Civil Rights Institute.

“Memories of a Living King is a heartfelt celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s enduring legacy, blending the power of art with the richness of his achievements,” said Ted Ellis, director of the Civil Rights Institute. “Through creative expression, this tribute inspires future generations to further his dream of justice, equality, and unwavering hope.”

To read more, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/fsus-civil-rights-institute-to-host-marin-luther-king-junior-celebration-memories-of-a-living-king.

11/15/2024

Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute participated in the City of Tallahassee’s Bicentennial Festival Weekend Spectacular on Saturday, November 9.

The Bicentennial Festival commemorates Tallahassee’s 200-year anniversary (1824-2024) and was one of the many events celebrating the anniversary this year. The festival was an opportunity to learn about the important contributions that shaped our shared history, and it had presentations from multiple pillars of the Tallahassee community for the public to enjoy.

“The FSU Civil Rights Institute played a pivotal role in honoring the legacy of Florida Civil Rights Champions by organizing a powerful exhibition for the Tallahassee Leon County Bicentennial,” said Ted Ellis, director of the Civil Rights Institute. “This showcase not only highlighted the achievements of those who fought for justice but also educated the community on the profound impact these individuals had on civil rights history in Florida.”

To read more, visit https://cosspp.fsu.edu/civil-rights-institute-participates-in-city-of-tallahassees-bicentennial-festival/.

10/24/2024

We're sorry to announce that the event originally rescheduled for tonight has been postponed. Keep an eye out for a new date!

The conversation today between Nikki Giovanni and Fred Moten has been postponed to a later date.

10/24/2024

The rescheduled conversation between Nikki Giovanni and Fred Moten will no longer take place today and will be rescheduled for a later date. Details will be provided as they are available.

Visit https://cosspp.fsu.edu/cri/going-to-mars for updated info.

10/21/2024

Happening this week! Be sure to come out for a conversation of a lifetime!

The rescheduled event with Nikki Giovanni and Fred Moten will now take place on October 24 at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to come to the Student Union (Ballroom E) to hear the Princess of Black Poetry and the MacArthur Foundation Fellow engage in conversation about their work in poetics, film, theory, music, and other art forms inside academe and around the globe over the past six decades.

For more information about the event, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/cri/going-to-mars/.

10/18/2024

Join us at the Parkview at Cascades on November 9 for a full day commemorating and celebrating Tallahassee’s rich history and culture. Get ready for presentations, delicious food, live music, entertainers of all ages, and a heritage walk at the park.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the important contributions that shape our shared history. It will be a great day of networking and coming together as a community to enjoy the first day of Bicentennial festivities, which will be an unforgettable experience!

At 9:30 am, the Florida State University’s Civil Rights Institute will kick off the celebration by giving an inspiring presentation of a traveling exhibit reflecting on the struggles, triumphs, and progress made during the last two centuries, recognizing 40 individuals of different backgrounds who have made significant contributions to the civil rights movement in Tallahassee-Leon County and across the state.

Register for the event by visiting bit.ly/CRI-Bicentennial. To view the full schedule of the event, visit tallahasseeleoncounty200.com/event/bicentennial-festival-weekend-spectacular/2024-11-09.

10/18/2024

Meet Nath-Eddy Moody, a third-year doctoral student majoring in organic and materials chemistry with FSU Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry who won the Florida Education Fund’s McKnight Doctoral Fellowship in 2023. Learn more about his involvement with the Florida State University Kennemur Group and his research involving synthesizing novel polymers from renewable resources which has important applications for the plastics industry, here: fla.st/2JKGJKDF

10/16/2024

The rescheduled event with Nikki Giovanni and Fred Moten will now take place on October 24 at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to come to the Student Union (Ballroom E) to hear the Princess of Black Poetry and the MacArthur Foundation Fellow engage in conversation about their work in poetics, film, theory, music, and other art forms inside academe and around the globe over the past six decades.

For more information about the event, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/cri/going-to-mars/.