This month marks 60 years since the original 13 Freedom Riders--among them, a 21-year-old John Lewis--set out on two buses from Washington, D.C. to challenge the segregation of public transportation. In the weeks following their May 4, 1961 departure, the Freedom Riders were threatened, arrested, and attacked by violent mobs throughout the Deep South. They attracted the attention of the nation and the world, inspiring hundreds more riders from across the country to join their movement and in Mississippi that summer. To mark this anniversary, the Obama Foundation spoke with veterans of the Freedom Rides. In this clip, hear from Luvaghn Brown.

Luvaghn Brown on how the Freedom Rides impacted the trajectory of his life

This audio track is a part of a larger story on Daniel Fairley II, 2023 United States Leader. Read the full article on Obama.org.

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Obama Leader reflects on how President Obama's call to service has impacted his life

This audio track is a part of a larger story on Kori Coleman, 2023 United States Leader. Read the full article on Obama.org.

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In honor of Latinx Heritage month, we sat down with Mateo Zapata, a Chicago-based photographer documenting the public health crisis, the ways it is disproportionately affecting his community, and the systemic inequality it has brought to light. We spoke about how his heritage has influenced his work, and the message he hopes young people take from his images—that when the world stopped, it was people of color who kept it turning. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Luvaghn Brown on how the Freedom Rides impacted the trajectory of his life

Obama Foundation

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