As a child in Jackson, Miss., Luvaghn Brown understood the indignities of discrimination only too well. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The four will discuss their experiences as Freedom Riders and civil rights activists during the 1960s and beyond. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
I kinda listened, but the whole concept of nonviolence ... I wasnt sure that made sense to me, Brown said. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The whole environment was one of oppression, explained Brown, a retired director of risk management for a financial firm. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
From that point on, I was involved, Brown said. We were all freedom fighters. <\/p>\n
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Freedom Riders took great risks<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a child in Jackson, Miss., Luvaghn Brown understood the indignities of discrimination only too well. I grew up in a segregated environment Continue reading