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Emmy Award-nominated PBS host Darley Newman explores Alabama Civil Rights Trail in new season of “Travels with Darley”

2022-01-18

(Montgomery, Alabama) The Alabama Civil Rights Trail takes center stage with Emmy Award-nominated PBS host Darley Newman in the next season of “Travels with Darley.” Newman recorded two episodes along the Alabama Civil Rights Trail in Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery. The two upcoming episodes will premiere on Alabama Public Television’s Create channel at 3:30 p.m. CST on Sat. Jan. 22 and Sat. Jan. 29, 2022, respectively. For all other markets, please check local PBS listings for dates and times.

The Alabama Civil Rights Trail episodes of “Travels with Darley” will bring viewers along her journey to follow in the footsteps of legends and activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The collection of museums, churches, national parks and other landmarks in Montgomery, Birmingham and Selma vividly bring to life the people, events and ideals that advanced the fight for social justice during the 1950s and ’60s, such as the iconic Selma-to-Montgomery marches of 1965. Newman also offers tips on area guides and experts whose knowledge of the trail can deepen your experience, as well as recommendations for local food, drink, lodging and experiences along the way.

“I’ve traveled all over the world for my PBS series for over a decade and filming along Alabama’s Civil Rights Trail was a life-changing experience,” said Newman.

According to Newman, the biggest takeaway from experiencing the Alabama Civil Rights Trail is the opportunity to visit places where history happened and meet those who experienced it firsthand.

“One of the really amazing things about traveling along the Civil Rights Trail in Alabama is that you can actually meet with people who lived through the movement and played a role in it,” said Newman. “This helps paint an even more rich and dynamic picture of what transpired many years ago. I do wish everyone could take the Civil Rights Trail themselves and for those who cannot make the journey, I’m glad we could film and create these episodes to share Alabama’s poignant and inspiring stories.”

Key interviews include civil rights activist JoAnne Bland, owner/operator, Journeys for the Soul; Doris Crenshaw, founder of The Southern Youth Leadership Development Institute and protégé of Rosa Parks; Michelle Browder, owner/operator, More than Tours; and Lee Sentell, U.S. Civil Rights Trail founder and Alabama Tourism Department director.

The Alabama Civil Rights Trail episodes of “Travels with Darley” feature interviews with historians, experience givers and others representing historic sites and attractions throughout the state.

The Birmingham segment will include Barry McNeeley, Milestones Walking tours; Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Railroad Park; 16th Baptist Church and Pastor Arthur Price; Chloe Cook, Executive Director Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema; Glenny Brock, Birmingham Redevelopment; LaShana Sorrell, Vulcan Park and Museum; Deon Gordon, TechBirmingham; and Doug Brown, owner and CEO, Back Forty Beer.

In Selma, Newman interviewed Jacqueline T. Smith and The Coffee Shoppe; Lula Hatcher and Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot and Sheryl Smedley, Selma Chamber of Commerce.

The Montgomery segment of the show will comprise of the Freedom Rides Museum; Wanda Battle, owner/operator, Legendary Tours; Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church; Alabama State Capitol; Marie McGarry, Pastry Chef, Central; Dr. Richard Harris house; and Kevin King, owner, King’s Kanvas.

“Travels with Darley,” an Emmy Award-nominated PBS TV show, has been taking viewers on travel adventures with local people since 2014, when it launched as a web series with its own channel on AOL. In early 2016, the show debuted on PBS TV stations and has since released 45 half-hour episodes on PBS, taking viewers through Europe, the Caribbean, Asia and the USA with host Newman and a cast of local people. Viewers can now also binge the first seasons on Amazon Prime and the newest episodes on Ovation TV’s Journy.

LINKS TO EPISODE TRAILERS FOR MEDIA USE:

https://vimeo.com/636897064/e211d23e6a (Part I)

https://vimeo.com/636877113/f7b95d8bea (Part II)

The Alabama Tourism Department works to inspire consumers and facilitate travel to and within Alabama while leveraging increased involvement by the private sector. An appointed board of industry advisors connects the department with tourism businesses and organizations throughout the state. Tourism is a key sector of the state’s economy, historically attracting 28 million tourists who spend $16.8 billion in leisure and hospitality sales and employing more than 200,000 full and part-time workers. The industry represents 7% of Alabama’s private sector employment. Leisure and hospitality also generates in excess of one billion dollars of the state’s sales tax revenues.

Contact: Andi Martin, Public Relations Manager

Alabama Tourism Department

Andi.Martin@tourism.alabama.gov, 334-242-4537

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