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Shelley's Story Mattie C.'s Boy Shelley Stewart was five years old when he and his brothers watched in horror as their father murdered their mother with an ax. Homeless at the age of six, Stewart found what shelter he could, suffering physical and sexual abuse and racism. Despite heartbreaking setbacks and the racial strife that gripped the South in the 1950s and 1960s, Stewart graduated high school and entered the broadcasting profession. There he became a hugely popular radio personality, rubbing shoulders with the top recording artists of the day and becoming one of the nation’s first black radio station owners. He helped Dr. Martin Luther King mount the historic Children’s March through the streets of Birmingham, Alabama. Later Stewart would use his powerful communication skills to help convict one of the men who bombed the city’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Then this often-honored man turned his business skills to the creation of a foundation named after his mother; the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation works to convince high school students to stay in school and graduate, a topic Stewart speaks on in his many engagements around the country. Stewart, with author Don Keith, tells his story in his memoir Mattie C.'s Boy. Purchase The Road South As a five-year-old in Home-wood, Alabama, Shelley Stewart watched his father kill his mother with an axe. Two years later, Stewart escaped the care of abusive relatives, making a living as a stable hand. A stint in the army led to electroshock treatments for trying to integrate whites-only dances. But despite numerous setbacks, he never gave up his will to succeed. Eventually, odd jobs at radio stations laid the foundation for a 50-year career in broadcasting. As an African-American radio personality, Stewart reached out to Jim Crow Alabama, using music to integrate his audience. Along the way, he helped launch the careers of such legends as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and Gladys Knight. Instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement, he publicized the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A remarkable witness to and participant in the momentous social changes of the last three decades, Stewart, now a successful businessman and community leader, shares his courageous personal story that shows the indomitable strength of the human spirit. Purchase Also, Available On Audible

Shelley sat down in 1993 for an interview with Jim Porter, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The arguments have not changed for the past 30 years, yet the problem of gun violence persists and, in fact, continues to grow in 2023. Interview with Jim Porter from the NRA Shelley sat down in 1993 for an interview with Jim Porte r, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The arguments have not changed for the past 30 years, yet the problem of gun violence persists and, in fact, continues to grow in 2023. Shelley explores the challenges that existed in 1993 and compares them to t oday. Listen to the podcast here: Episode 10: Interview with Jim Porter from the NRA. iCivics Resource Constitution Explained: To Keep and Bear Arms Dive Deeper Council of Foreign Relations U.S. Gun Policy: Global Comparisons June 10, 2022 More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2021 than in any other year on record, according to the latest available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included record numbers of both gun murders and gun suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population – remained below the levels of earlier decades. Read More NPR How AR-15-style rifles write the tragic history of America's mass shootings March 10, 2023 The weapon used to carry out the mass shooting at an outlet shopping mall in Allen, Texas, on Saturday that left eight people dead and seven others injured is one all too familiar to Americans and lawmakers who have witnessed mass shootings occur again and again. Mauricio Garcia, 33, was seen on dashcam video opening fire with an AR-15-style rifle. Garcia was carrying three weapons with him and had five more in his car — all legally obtained, according to Hank Sibley, regional director with the Texas Department of Public Safety. The AR-15 has a long history in mass shootings in the U.S. The White House FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Make Our Communities Safer March 14, 2023 Today, in Monterey Park, California, President Biden will announce an Executive Order with the goal of increasing the number of background checks conducted before firearm sales, moving the U.S. as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation. The Executive Order will also keep more guns out of dangerous hands by increasing the effective use of “red flag” laws, strengthen efforts to hold the gun industry accountable, and accelerate law enforcement efforts to identify and apprehend the shooters menacing our communities. President Biden is also encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to issue a public report analyzing how gun manufacturers market firearms to minors. Read More Pew Research Center What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S . April 26, 2023 More Americans died of gun-related injuries in 2021 than in any other year on record, according to the latest available statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That included record numbers of both gun murders and gun suicides. Despite the increase in such fatalities, the rate of gun deaths – a statistic that accounts for the nation’s growing population – remained below the levels of earlier decades. Read More Read More BBC How many US mass shootings have there been in 2023? May 26, 2023 Gun violence is a fixture in American life - but the issue is a highly political one, pitting gun control advocates against people who are fiercely protective of their right to bear arms. We've looked into some of the numbers behind firearms in the US. . Read More Advocacy Organizations Gun Rights Advocacy Organizations National Rifle Association (NRA) The National Rifle Association seeks to educate the public about firearms, defend US citizens' second amendment rights, and lobbies for gun rights legislation. Gun Owners of America Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. Second Amendment Foundation The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is dedicated to promoting the right of U.S. citizens to privately own and possess firearms. They carry on many educational and legal action programs designed to inform the public about the gun control debate. Gun Control Advocacy Organizations Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence The Brady Campaign works to pass and enforce federal and state gun laws, regulations, and public policies through grassroots activism, electing public officials who support gun control legislation, and increasing public awareness of gun violence. Everytown for Gun Safety An umbrella organization coordinating the activities of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Mayors against Illegal Guns. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America Important grassroots activist organization formed by stay-at-home mom Shannon Watts following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. Mayors Against Illegal Guns Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 1000 current and former mayors across the country who have joined together to prevent criminals from possessing guns illegally. Third Way Third Way is a think tank that seeks to advance public policy. Their agenda includes tighter gun safety laws.

As a member of the King's Inner Circle, Rev. Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by Dr. King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. Episode #2: Did Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream Become a Nightmare? Dr. King's legacy inspired generations of activists and leaders, and his contributions continue to be recognized and celebrated today as a beacon of hope and progress. But Dr. King had a premonition about his death, and he warned the members of his Inner Circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement apart after he was gone. As a member of the King's Inner Circle, Rev . Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by Dr. King, Jesse Jackson , and Andrew Young . Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Dr. Shelley Stewart and Rev . Hosea Williams . Hosea reveals the dire warning Dr. King had for the members of his Inner Circle. Was Hosea Williams right? Did the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Become a Nightmare? View Episode 2 Details & Resources We want to hear from you. Submit your vote. Additionally, use the contact form at the bottom of the page to share additional thoughts, comments, and questions. Click An Icon Below To Listen To Podcast More About Hosea Williams & Dr. King's Inner Circle The Irish Times Member of King's Inner Circle Who Was Used to Stir Up Blackunrest Hosea Williams, one of the most active and controversial members of Dr. Martin Luther King's inner circle, died on November 16th aged 74. In 1968, he witnessed the assination of Dr. King, who had once described him as "my wild man, my Castro". King relied heavily on Hosea's fiery rhetoric to stir up black opposition to southern segregation. Once he had created a furore, King could arrive much more effectively with his message of peace and reconciliation... Read More USA Today List of People at the Lorraine Motel With Martin Luther King Jr. Also depicted in the photo of King on the balcony the day before his death is Hosea Williams. Williams was arrested 125 times for his militant acts of defiance while working in service to the civil rights movement. Perhaps his passion for civil rights was a direct consequence of his having been beaten so severely he was hospitalized for five weeks because he had a drink at a "whites-only" bar. Not as well known as King or Jackson, Williams nevertheless was a major figure in the civil rights movement with several triumphs to his credit. Because of his efforts, Savannah, Georgia, was the first city to ban "whites-only" lunch counters. He also led a march against the Klu Klux Klan in 1987 and won a $950,000 jury award after suing Forsyth County. He later became a senator and died of cancer in 2000. Read More #Ronald Martin Unfiltered Dr. Dorothy Cotton, the only woman in MLK's inner circle, in her last sitdown TV interview. #RolandMartinUnfiltered streamed an exclusive interview with key members of the civil rights movement, including Dr. Dorothy, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and so many others. Watch Now Dive Deeper CNN OPINION Martin Luther King’s dream is alive The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would hardly recognize America in 2013, the 50th anniversary year of his world-famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The efforts of King and countless others have not only made it possible for Barack Obama to become the first black president of the United States, but also created unprecedented opportunities for the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and virtually anyone who had previously been given a check that has, as King put it, “come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’” Read More