As a child in Jackson, Miss., Luvaghn Brown understood the indignities of discrimination only too well.

I grew up in a segregated environment. I was always angry about it but I didnt know what to do, said Brown, 68, in a phone interview from his home in Westchester County, N.Y.

On Sunday, Brown will join Terry Hickerson, Lew Zuchman and Stu Wechsler as part of a Michener Art Museum exhibit spotlighting what it means to be American.

The four will discuss their experiences as Freedom Riders and civil rights activists during the 1960s and beyond.

Brown was 16 when he graduated high school in 1961 and started hanging around a local cafe, where he heard people talking about the struggle.

I kinda listened, but the whole concept of nonviolence ... I wasnt sure that made sense to me, Brown said.

Still, the stirrings of the civil rights movement struck a chord with the teen, who tolerated routine insults such as whites-only restaurants, movies and not being allowed to try on clothing in stores.

The whole environment was one of oppression, explained Brown, a retired director of risk management for a financial firm.

He and his friend decided to push back. They walked into Jacksons segregated Woolworths lunch counter and took their seats. After refusing to leave, the young men were arrested.

From that point on, I was involved, Brown said. We were all freedom fighters.

Read more:

Freedom Riders took great risks