Freedom Summer was a paradigm shift in America’s deep South in 1964.
Thousands of young Americans, black and white, poured into Mississippi that summer for a massive black voter registration movement.
They were young, idealistic, and motivated. Most were there for the summer only, but their brief presence shone a bright light on the injustices of the day.
One of those bright and eager volunteers was a young woman who would later become a well-known actress, Denise Nicholas.
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Best known for her roles in the TV series “Room 222” and “In The Heat of The Night“ Nicholas was also featured in dozens of other TV shows and movies.
And finally, in 2005 she reached back for those memories of 1964 in writing her debut novel, a book called Freshwater Road. It was about an idealistic young woman named Celeste arriving in Mississippi in 1964 to do the work of Freedom Summer.
She and I talked about her book when she was on an author tour.
So here now, from 2005, Denise Nicholas.
Denise Nicholas is 81 now.