Citizens in the Present editor reflects on civil rights legacy

As the work of civil rights leaders was celebrated during the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, many—including President Obama—reflected on the differences between youth activists today and those in the 60s.

Maria de los Angeles Torres, professor of Latin American and Latino studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago tackled this issue, among others, during a discussion on WBEZ radio in Chicago. Torres is also co-editor of Citizens in the Present, which focuses on modern day roles of young people in public and political discourse.

In a segment on WBEZ-FM’s “Afternoon Shift” program Torres discussed how the March on Washington and the civil rights movement of the early ’60s influenced her as a young Cuban immigrant living in Texas. She said that the movement’s examples of protest and organizing inspired her to political action as a student at Robert E. Lee High School.


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