Active Program
Building on a rich tradition started in 2012 by Professor Françoise Hamlin in the Department of Africana Studies and expanded by the Swearer Center for Public Service, this alternative spring break co-curricular program engages Brown students in the history and legacy of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and seeks to inform students about civic engagement and social justice.
Learning Objectives
- Historical Immersion: Examine the history of the Civil Rights Movement through pre-departure sessions, visits to museums and historical markers in the Mississippi Delta, and engagement with Tougaloo College
- Civic Engagement: Encourage students to reflect on the impact of the civil rights movement on historic and present-day social justice efforts, including how knowledge is produced and received.
Upcoming Dates
Spring 2027 — March 27, 2027 to April 4, 2027
Eligibility
All Brown University students are eligible to participate, with priority given to first- and second-year students. The application also does not guarantee participation, as spots are limited.
Application Timeline
| Application Opens | Application Deadline | Decision Notification | Program Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | October | November | Spring Break March |
How to Apply
- Submit your application— Apply to participate in the Civil Rights Movement Trip through the application form when it becomes available.
- Confirm your participation
History of the Civil Rights Movement Trip
This trip emerged from two versions previously facilitated by the Swearer Center for Public Service and, separately, by Professor Françoise Hamlin through the AFRI 1090 course at Brown. The Swearer Center first facilitated this trip in winter 2017, with a group of Bonner Community Fellows from the Swearer Center. Over the years, this experience changed to become available to any interested students across the University. The Swearer Center has hosted more than 160 students on this trip.
Professor Hamlin first facilitated a trip to Memphis, Tennessee, Mississippi and the Mississippi River region in 2012, as part of her AFRI 1090. The course and accompanying trip examined the extended history of the mass Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. Starting at World War II, students considered the roles of the courts, the federal and state governments, organizations, local communities, individuals and various activist strategies in the ongoing struggle for African American equality, focusing on African American agency, particularly in the South.
Looking Back at Spring 2026
Want a glimpse into the 2026 Civil Rights Trip? Read Professor Françoise Hamlin and Joshua Rodriguez’s reflections on the experience, from experiential learning and community engagement to the people and places that shaped the journey.
Contacts
- Joshua Rodriguez, Brown University
- Natalia Roman Alicea, Brown University
- Melissa McCoy, Tougaloo College