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- Uncommon Courage: The Viola Liuzzo story
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- David Person
“Uncommon Courage: The Viola Liuzzo Story” tells the story of Viola Liuzzo, the white housewife from Detroit who was murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1965 after the Selma-to-Montgomery March. Historians believe she is the only white woman martyred for the cause of voting rights.
This documentary features interviews with Mary Stanton, Pulitzer-nominated author of “From Selma to Sorrow: The Life and Death of Viola Liuzzo;” Leroy Moton, the black man who was riding in the car with Mrs. Liuzzo when she was murdered; Pulitzer-prize winning historian Taylor Branch; Dr. Frederick Reese, a pastor, civil rights activist and educator who lives in Selma and other experts and observers of the Selma experience. Through interviews, music and sound it explains who Mrs. Liuzzo was, what motivated her to go to Selma, what her efforts meant to the civil rights and women’s rights movements, and how her death impacted both movements.
Originally commissioned by WLRH-FM in Huntsville, Ala., “Uncommon Courage: The Viola Liuzzo Story” was broadcast in 2003 by approximately 70 affiliates of Public Radio International in 2003.
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Piece Description
“Uncommon Courage: The Viola Liuzzo Story” tells the story of Viola Liuzzo, the white housewife from Detroit who was murdered by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1965 after the Selma-to-Montgomery March. Historians believe she is the only white woman martyred for the cause of voting rights. This documentary features interviews with Mary Stanton, Pulitzer-nominated author of “From Selma to Sorrow: The Life and Death of Viola Liuzzo;” Leroy Moton, the black man who was riding in the car with Mrs. Liuzzo when she was murdered; Pulitzer-prize winning historian Taylor Branch; Dr. Frederick Reese, a pastor, civil rights activist and educator who lives in Selma and other experts and observers of the Selma experience. Through interviews, music and sound it explains who Mrs. Liuzzo was, what motivated her to go to Selma, what her efforts meant to the civil rights and women’s rights movements, and how her death impacted both movements. Originally commissioned by WLRH-FM in Huntsville, Ala., “Uncommon Courage: The Viola Liuzzo Story” was broadcast in 2003 by approximately 70 affiliates of Public Radio International in 2003.
Broadcast History
Distributed by PRI to its affiliates in 2003.
Timing and Cues
PROGRAM TITLE:
UNCOMMON COURAGE: THE VIOLA LIUZZO STORY
TOTAL PROGRAM LENGTH:
57:42
00:00:00 INCUE: PRI TAG, "FROM PRI, PUBLIC RADIO INTERNATIONAL ..."
00:19:00 OUTCUE: "... ON TELEVISION."
MUSIC BED --- 00:19:01-00:21:14
00:21:15 INCUE: PROGRAM/PRI ID: "THIS IS UNCOMMON COURAGE ..."
00:45:36: OUTCUE: "...(CURTIS MAYFIELD SINGING) ... THEY SAY DON'T WORRY ..."
MUSIC BED --- 00:45:37-00:48:00
00:48:01 INCUE: PROGRAM/PRI ID: "THIS IS UNCOMMON COURAGE ..."
00:57:42: OUTCUE: PRI LOGO
Musical Works
COMPOSER, Song Title, (Name of CD)
TRADITIONAL, “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round.”
(From the Smithsonian Folkways CD: Sing For Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Its Songs.)
TRADITIONAL, “We Are Soldiers.”
(From the Smithsonian Folkways CD: Sing For Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Its Songs.)
CURTIS MAYFIELD, “Woman’s Got Soul.”
(From the Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions CD: The Anthology)
BEN HARPER, “Oppression.”
(From the Ben Harper CD: Fight For Your Mind.)
CURTIS MAYFIELD, “People Get Ready.”
(From the Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions CD: The Anthology)
JOHN COLTRANE, “Alabama.”
(From the CD: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Malcolm X.)
TRADITIONAL, “I’m On My Way.”
(From the Smithsonian Folkways CD: Sing For Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Its Songs.)
E. DRAKE, “NO RESTRICTED SIGNS.”
(From The Golden Gate Quartet CD: Swing Down, Chariot.)
BEN HARPER, “I Want To Be Ready.”
(From the Ben Harper CD: The Will to Live.)
CURTIS MAYFIELD, “(Don’t Worry) If There’s a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go.”
(From the Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions CD: The Anthology)
JIM CROCE, “Which Way.”
(From the Tommy Sims CD: “Peace and Love.”
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Michael Johnson
Posted on July 22, 2006 at 12:37 AM | Permalink
Review of Uncommon Courage: The Viola Liuzzo story
The Viola Liuzzo story is a portrait of the only pro-ported white woman killed in the civil rights movement, told through a biographer, her friends and others who were present during the 1965 Selma civil rights marches. There's a lot of music in this hour, music that adds editorial comment that is unnecessary and adds a note of treacle to the entire hour, but doesn't manage to dull a compelling story of how far one individual will go to defends the rights of others.