Judy Richardson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Judy Richardson
Born	Tarrytown, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Swarthmore College Antioch College
Occupation	Activist, filmmaker
Known for	Students for a Democratic Society, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

Judy Richardson is an American documentary filmmaker and a civil rights activist. She helped fight for equal rights for all people. She also taught about African American history at Brown University.

Early Life and School

Judy Richardson was born in Tarrytown, New York. She went to Washington Irving Jr. High. In 1962, she started college at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She received a full scholarship to attend.

Working for Civil Rights

Joining the Movement

During her first year at Swarthmore College in 1962–1963, Judy joined a group called the Swarthmore Political Action Committee (SPAC). This group was connected to Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

Judy Richardson was an early member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). She worked with SNCC from 1963 to 1966. During this time, Ella Baker, a famous civil rights leader, was her mentor.

Helping Communities

In 1963, Judy traveled on weekends with other SPAC volunteers. They helped the community in Cambridge, Maryland, to end segregation in public places. This means they helped make sure everyone, no matter their race, could use the same restaurants and facilities. The Cambridge Movement was led by Gloria Richardson.

In 1963, Judy also joined a sit-in organized by SNCC in Atlanta. A sit-in is a peaceful protest where people sit down and refuse to leave. Later, Judy joined the SNCC staff in Atlanta. She worked closely with important leaders like James Forman, Ruby Doris Smith-Robinson, and Julian Bond.

Working in Mississippi and Alabama

In 1964, Judy moved to Mississippi during the Freedom Summer. This was a big effort by SNCC to help African Americans register to vote in Mississippi. She worked with other activists like Amzie Moore, Bob Moses, Curtis Hayes, and Hollis Watkins.

Judy also worked on SNCC projects in Lowndes County, Alabama. She was there with Stokely Carmichael (also known as Kwame Ture) and others. She also worked in Southwest Georgia. In 1965, Judy became the office manager for Julian Bond during his successful campaign for the Georgia House of Representatives. She also helped organize a "Freedom School" in the North. This school brought together young activists from SNCC's projects in both the North and the South.

Drum and Spear Bookstore

In 1968, Judy Richardson and other former SNCC staff members opened Drum and Spear Bookstore in Washington, D.C.. This was shortly after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. It grew to be the largest Black bookstore in the United States. Judy was the children's editor for Drum and Spear Press.

She explained that the "drum" in the name meant "communications within the diaspora." This refers to how Black people around the world connect and share ideas. The "spear" suggested "whatever else might be necessary for the liberation of the people." In 1970, Judy wrote an essay about racism in Black children's books. It was published in a journal by Howard University.

Later Years and Recognition

Judy Richardson continued her education at Columbia University. She earned her degree from Antioch College. In 2012, she received an honorary degree from Swarthmore College and gave a speech at their graduation ceremony.

In 2019, Judy was the main speaker for National History Day. In September 2020, she was featured on the USA Today Storytellers Project Live.

Today, Judy Richardson is on the board of directors for the SNCC Legacy Project. This group works to save and share the history of Black activism. On January 12, 2024, Congressman Jamie Raskin recognized Judy as a Local Hero. He interviewed her for his YouTube series.

Films and Books

Documentary Films

Starting in the late 1970s, Judy Richardson became a key researcher and producer for the TV series Eyes on the Prize. This was a 14-hour documentary series about the history of the American civil rights movement. It was shown on PBS in 1987 and 1990. The series was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1988.

Later, Judy co-produced another documentary called Malcolm X: Make It Plain in 1994. This film won an Emmy and a Peabody Award.

Judy also worked as a senior producer for Northern Light Productions. She produced historical documentaries for TV and museums. Many of these focused on African American history. Her work includes:

• Scarred Justice: Orangeburg Massacre 1968 for PBS.
• Two History Channel documentaries about slavery and slave resistance.
• Exhibits for places like the National Park Service's Little Rock Nine Visitor's Center and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Published Works

Judy Richardson also helped edit a book called Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts By Women in SNCC. This book shared the stories of women who were part of SNCC. It won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction in 2011.