The History They Didn't Teach Us | The Birth of the NAACP

🎙️ Episode 20 The History They Didn't Teach Us | The Birth of the NAACP What really happened in Springfield, Illinois, in 1908? How did one of the darkest moments in American history lead to the birth of the NAACP? And why does that history still matter today? In this episode of Our Truth. Our History. Our Story., Rita Coburn travels to Springfield, Illinois, to explore the events surrounding the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, the birth of the NAACP, and the enduring legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois. Along the way, she reflects on hearing Nikole Hannah-Jones speak at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and examines why journalists, historians, and truth tellers remain essential to our democracy. History isn't simply about the past. It's about the choices we make today, the stories we choose to tell, and the future we're building together. In This Episode The 1908 Springfield Race Riot and why it changed America How the violence in Springfield led to the birth of the NAACP W.E.B. Du Bois and the creation of The Crisis magazine Why Springfield remains one of the most important civil rights landmarks in American history Rita's visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Reflections after hearing Nikole Hannah-Jones speak about Juneteenth and American history Why supporting journalists, historians, and independent voices matters How history helps us understand our present and shape our future Featured People W.E.B. Du Bois Ida B. Wells Nikole Hannah-Jones Abraham Lincoln Featured Locations Springfield, Illinois Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Historic sites of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot Books Mentioned The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois Black Reconstruction in America by W.E.B. Du Bois The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones Links & Resources 🎙 Our Truth. Our History. Our Story Podcast https://www.ritacoburn.com/ths-podcast 🎬 W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause https://www.ritacoburn.com/web-du-bois ▶️ Watch the Official Trailer    • W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause | Offic...   📚 Nikole Hannah-Jones https://www.nikolehannahjones.com/ Subscribe If you enjoyed this episode: Subscribe to Our Truth. Our History. Our Story. Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Leave a review. It helps others discover the show. Share this episode with someone who wants to better understand American history. Join the conversation in the comments. Join the Conversation What part of American history do you think we weren't taught, and why does it matter today? History belongs to all of us. And what we do with that history will shape the generations that follow. I'm Rita Coburn. Thanks for listening to Our Truth. Our History. Our Story. 🎬 About the Series Our Truth, Our History, Our Story (Our THS) explores the people, ideas, and cultural forces shaping Black history and storytelling. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker Rita Coburn, the series features conversations and reflections that connect our past to the present while inspiring a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. 👥 Production Credits Host: Rita Coburn Executive Producer: Andrew T. Carr Producers: Christine Coburn Whack, H. Lee Whack Produced by RCW Media Productions, Inc. © 2026 RCW Media Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.