The epicenter of the Civil Rights struggle in Shreveport was located on the “Mother Road” for the Civil Rights Movement in Shreveport, where mass meetings and strategy sessions were held during the 1960s.Little Union Baptist Church was guided during that period by Reverend Claude Clifford McClain, who remained the congregation’s pastor for 32 years.
It’s often said that sound and music are powerful forces that can impact the mind, mood, and body. The Civil Rights Movement has been described as “the greatest singing movement this country has experienced,” coined by Guy Carawan, a major contributor to the movement, especially in the south.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s the NAACP faced the “Red Scare” when many politicians and civic leaders believed communists were everywhere in the United States. Because the NAACP influenced many activists, particularly in the South, Congress became paranoid and began to believe the NAACP was a communist organization. As a result, the NAACP was outlawed.
Established in 1847, Oakland Cemetery is Shreveport's oldest public burial ground and is also considered Shreveport’s oldest park. It was placed on the National Historic Register in 1977 and provides a fascinating record of the early history of this often lawless river city. Many of the city’s pioneers lie within its gates. From paupers to business tycoons, people from all walks of life are represented in Oakland. Politicians, philanthropists, and business leaders rest near lawmen, soldiers, and madams to form a “who’s who” of early Shreveport. For those interested in Shreveport's history, there’s no better place to find it than within the walls of Oakland Cemetery.
Built in the 1929 and designed by architect Samuel Weiner, the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium is one of the city's most important landmarks. It is so significant, in fact, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. Its significance lies in its its Modernistic architecture and for the role it played in popularizing and shaping country music. In terms of architecture, the building features an elaborate decorative brick and limestone exterior. Notable interior decorative elements include bas-relief panels and an Egyptian-styled entrance opening to the lobby. The auditorium has over 3000 seats and features a decorative ceiling. As for the building's association with American music, it was here that many famous talented American artists got there start—including stars such as Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash—on a radio show called "Louisiana Hayride," which ran from 1948-1960. Many of these artists would go on to perform at the Grand Ole Opry show in Nashville, Tennessee. In this way, the show served as a springboard to stardom and it became known as the "cradle of the stars." Today, the auditorium remains a vibrant entertainment venue. the building was dedicated to the soldiers of World War I on Veterans’ Day, which was known at that time as Armistice Day. In its early years, the auditorium played host to the military by serving as barracks for the troops and housing the early aircraft warning system known today as radar. In terms of architecture, the building
This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.
Get a QR Code for this tour
You will tour the epicenter of Shreveport's struggle for Civil Rights and learn about how the song 'We Shall Overcome' became the theme of the movement. Also learn about MLK's Citizenship Workbook project with the SCLC, visit Oakland Cemetery, and see the auditorium where Sam Cooke played just after he was arrested in Shreveport.
