Gillespie shines light on unsung civil rights efforts
Dr. Dee Gillespie, a University of North Georgia (¹û¶³´«Ã½) professor of history, has published a book titled
She said most people know the major moments of the civil rights movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka school desegregation case and the Selma march.
"In this book, I seek to turn our attention to the lesser-known places where this movement happened," Gillespie said. "I want to put Black women front and center in the story."
One example was the Citizenship Education Program (CEP), a grassroots initiative that taught people to read and write in preparation for literacy tests required for voter registration.
"They then used that foundation to support broader reform," Gillespie said.
Drawing on teachers' reports and correspondence, oral history interviews, and papers from a variety of civil rights organizations, the book follows the growth of the CEP from its beginnings in the South Carolina Sea Islands to southeastern Georgia, the Mississippi Delta, and Alabama's Black Belt.
The University of Florida Press released Gillespie's book in August.
Regional book fair amplifies literacy efforts
¹û¶³´«Ã½ and the Dahlonega Literary Festival will welcome readers, writers, educators, students, and community members from across the region for the North Georgia Regional Book Fair on Sept. 12.
Woofer Quartet takes top honors at festival
The ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Woofer Quartet brought home first prize in the chamber music competition at the 23rd annual International Euphonium Tuba Festival, held June 14–20 at Emory University.
Students earn awards at literary festival
Three ¹û¶³´«Ã½ students garnered accolades for their submissions at the 2026 Southern Literary Festival at UT Chattanooga.
Estes shines at Air Assault School
¹û¶³´«Ã½ cadet Alyssa Estes earned her Air Assault wings and ruck march champion honors July 21 at The Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.