‘Women of the Movement’: Where Is the Civil Rights Memorial Shown in the ABC Series?

After watching the Jay-Z and Will Smith produced limited series, Women of the Movement on ABC, many viewers want to know where the Civil Rights Memorial is. The historical drama depicts the lynching of Emmett Till (portrayed by Cedric Joe) which spawned the civil rights movement. The drama tells the true story from his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley’s perspective — performed by Women of the Movement cast member Adrienne Warren. In the last few minutes of the drama, viewers see her, in 1989, at the dedication of the Civil Rights Memorial where Emmett’s name remains forever inscribed.

‘Women of the Movement’: Medgar Evers

In the last few minutes of Women of the Movement, an older Mamie Till-Mobley (Gloria Bankston) runs her fingers across Medgar Evers name, which is inscribed on the Civil Rights Memorial. He was a civil rights leader, portrayed in the ABC series by Tongayi Chirisa, and assassinated on June 12, 1963. Evers became Mississippi field secretary for the NAACP in 1954. He also worked as a salesman for T.R.M. Howard’s Magnolia Mutual Life Insurance Company. 

After the 1954 ruling by the Supreme Court to desegregate schools, Evers worked on numerous cases to integrate school systems and universities. He rose to prominence after his involvement in investigating Emmett Tills’ murder. Evers and his wife lived in the same town as T. R. M. Howard (portrayed by Alex Désert in Women of the Movement) — Mound Bayou, Mississippi.

On June 21, 1963, Byron De La Beckwith assassinated Evers. He was rushed to a local hospital in Jackson but initially refused entry because he was Black. When his family explained who he was, they finally admitted Evers, but he died 50 minutes later.

Where Is the Civil Rights Memorial Shown in ‘Women of the Movement’?

On Nov. 5, 1989, the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated the Civil Rights Memorial. It is located at 400 Washington Avenue in the city of Alabama. The names of 40 men, women, and children, including Emmett Till, are inscribed on the granite fountain as martyrs killed in the civil rights movement. Maya Lin created the monument, taking inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The memorial honors those who died in the movement while inspiring visitors to “continue to march for racial equity and social justice.”

“Until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream,” the monument reads while water flows over the inscriptions.

The memorial is located very close to the church where King was pastor during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It’s also near the Alabama Capitol steps where King spoke after the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march.

The 40 names listed show a timeline of the significant events during the civil rights movement. The memorial is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What other names are included on the Civil Rights Memorial?

A complete list of the inscriptions on the Civil Rights Memorial shown in Women of the Movement was published in the New York Times. 

“LEE, the Rev. George, killed May 7, 1955, for leading a voter registration drive in Belzoni, Miss.” the monument reads. “SMITH, Lamar, 63 years old, slain Aug. 13, 1955, for organizing black voters in Brookhaven, Miss. TILL, Emmett Louis, 14, slain Aug. 28, 1955, for speaking to a white woman in Money, Miss. REESE, John Earl, 16, slain Oct. 22, 1955, by nightriders opposed to black school improvements in Mayflower, Tex.”

“KING, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Jr., 39, assassinated April 4, 1968, in Memphis,” is the last name on the monument.

All six of ABC’s Women of the Movement episodes are available for streaming on Hulu on Jan. 21, 2022.