"Show Business in the Civil Rights Movement" (August 9, 2015)

By Ryan Priest

Published August 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM CDT

US President Lyndon B. Johnson hands a pent to the Rev. Martin Luther King (2nd-R) after signing the historic Civil Rights Act in the East Room of the White House, in Washington, D.C., 02 July 1964. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed into law by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 2, 1964, put an end to all forms of segregation and discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Shep notices entertainment and advocacy are combining.

During the height of the civil rights movement, entertainers were utilized to help spread the message to a broader audience. In this program from August 9, 1965, Shep talks about how this method can sometimes harm the people who have dedicated their professional lives to advancing the cause.