FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Branda Johnson
Media@alvalues.org
Montgomery, AL — July 18, 2025 — Alabama Values, in partnership with Sankofa Servants, Inc., is proud to support the unveiling of a historic marker commemorating the Southern Courier—a radical voice for justice, during the civil rights movement, that lifted up the stories of Black communities the mainstream chose to overlook. The public is invited to attend the ceremony on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the site of the Courier’s former headquarters, the Frank Leu Building (79 Commerce Street at Bibb Street in downtown Montgomery).
Founded in 1965 by students from Harvard and Yale law schools, the Southern Courier was created to cover race relations, education equity, and social justice in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. At a time when white-controlled media ignored the experiences of Black communities in the South, the Courier stood as one of the most courageous and truth-telling publications of the Civil Rights era. Contributors included none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the Courier’s photographers, including Jim Peppler, documented rare and iconic moments from King’s travels and funeral.
Rev. Dr. Viola Bradford, a Montgomery resident and the Courier’s first Black and youngest reporter, is spearheading the event. Recruited at just 14 years old while attending George Washington Carver High School, Dr. Bradford went on to become bureau chief in Troy, Alabama by age 18, and later wrote the first journalism curriculum at Alabama State University.
“The Courier exposed the Southern way of life and its people—the good, the bad, and the ugly,” said Dr. Bradford. “It told the stories of communities of color and the poor with honesty and compassion.”
Saturday’s program will feature Courier co-founders Ellen Lake and Stephen Cotton, former staff members, city officials, educators, community leaders, and journalism students. Representatives from the Alabama Historical Association, which sponsored the historical marker, will also participate.
Alabama Values Executive Director Anneshia Hardy emphasized the deeper meaning behind the event.
“The Southern Courier didn’t just report the news—it disrupted the silence,” said Hardy. “It dared to tell the truth about the South from the people living it. At Alabama Values, we carry that same spirit. We’re a grassroots communications organization, using narrative to tell the stories others try to bury. Honoring the Courier is personal—it reminds us that truth-telling has always been a tool of resistance.”
The Southern Courier photo archives—over 10,000 images, including iconic photos of Dr. King—were donated by Peppler to the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The complete newspaper collection is housed at Tuskegee University.
As Alabama continues to confront narratives of erasure, this marker serves as a testament to the courage of truth-tellers and young people who used journalism as a tool for justice.
Event Details:
Frank Leu Building | 79 Commerce Street, Montgomery, AL
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 10:00 AM
Free and open to the public
For media inquiries or to request interviews, please contact Branda Johnson at media@alvalues.org.
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About Alabama Values:
Alabama Values is a grassroots communications organization working to raise awareness and increase engagement around community issues in Alabama. They work directly with grassroots civic organizations advocating to build power and break down barriers to civic participation for communities across the state.
About Sankofa Servants, Inc.:
Sankofa Servants, Inc. is a community-driven organization dedicated to preserving cultural history, promoting justice through education, and empowering future generations through service and storytelling.