American Experience

Freedom Summer

Season 26 Episode 6 | 1h 52m 17s

The story of 10 memorable weeks in 1964 known as Freedom Summer, when more than 700 student volunteers from around the country joined organizers and local African Americans in a historic effort to shatter the foundations of white supremacy in Mississippi - then one of the nation’s most viciously racist, segregated states.

Aired: 06/24/14 | Expires: 07/26/23 | Rating: NR

For Season 26 of American Experience, exclusive corporate funding is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, major funding by The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS stations. Additional funding for Freedom Summer provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, The Yawkey Foundations and The Documentary Investment Group: Robert & Marjie Kargman and The Brian A. McCarthy Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this film do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment For The Humanities.

Watch Preview

Extras From This Episode

• Anita Walton Moore - "The Librarian"

  Clip: S26 Ep6 | 6m 19s

• Bad Things Were Going to Happen

  Clip: S26 Ep6 | 1m 47s

• Barney Frank - "The Politician"

  Clip: S26 Ep6 | 5m 6s

More Episodes

• Freedom Summer

  S26 Ep6 | 1h 52m 17s

More History Shows

• Antiques Roadshow

  ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is part adventure, part history lesson, and part treasure hunt!

• Finding Your Roots

  Join Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in Finding Your Roots on PBS!

• Lucy Worsley Investigates

  Lucy Worsley re-investigates some of the most dramatic chapters in British history.

• Tutankhamun: Allies & Enemies

  Explore King Tutankhamun's life and legacy.

• American Masters

  Discover insightful profiles of important figures in America's artistic and cultural life.

• Secrets of the Dead

  Uncover the untold stories and secrets of iconic historical moments to rewrite history.