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First Ladies Who Risked Their Lives for Civil Rights

• Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2021
• Time: 5:00 pm
• Location: Online

George Floyd’s tragic death ignited a national discussion on the state of race relations and the barriers that still exist for many in this country. In crisis situations, Americans normally look to political leaders for direction, words of comfort, empathy, and solutions. Often overlooked are the words and deeds of a powerful group of non-elected public figures—first ladies—to confront controversy. Join National Archives Foundation Executive Director Patrick Madden and panelists, Dr. Diana Carlin, Anita McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith as they examine the long complicated history of first ladies on civil rights from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama.

The program will begin at 5:00 p.m. (ET).

Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote and programs presented in conjunction with the exhibit are made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of Unilever, Pivotal Ventures, Carl M. Freeman Foundation in honor of Virginia Allen Freeman, AARP, AT&T, Ford Motor Company Fund, Facebook, Barbara Lee Family Foundation Fund at the Boston Foundation, Google, HISTORY ®, and Jacqueline B. Mars. Additional support for National Outreach and Programs provided by Denise Gwyn Ferguson, Maggie and Robert Boroujerdi, BMO Financial Group, The Hearst Foundations, Maris S. Cuneo Foundation, FedEx, Bernstein Family Foundation, and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation/Ambassador Fay-Hartog Levin (Ret.).