I recently came across two true stories about the amazing power of the human spirit shining through in adversity. I found them both so moving I wanted to share them with you.
The first is a full-length documentary that aired on PBS, called Freedom Riders. This tells of the beginning of the civil-rights movement in 1960s America – a group of black and white people who risked their lives to stand up for the right to travel together openly by bus. Despite being met with bone-chilling racism and mob violence, they stayed true to their commitment to non-violent resistance. It’s a truly inspirational story, and a fabulously well-done documentary.
You can watch the whole 2-hour film online here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/
The second is a story by a NY Times reporter in Afghanistan. His mission was to look into how art survived under the Taliban, where creative expression was punishable by death. This audio recording tells of his discovery of an underground world of poets, artists, and musicians — and how one band of them burst forth in celebration one night after years of repression.
It’s a beautifully told story. People go to great lengths to preserve what they hold sacred and dear. The piece in question is from the Moth Radio Hour. Be sure to click Segment 1:
http://www.prx.org/pieces/59900-the-moth-radio-hour-401
I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.