🎙️ Episode 20

The History They Didn't Teach Us | The Birth of the NAACP

What really happened in Springfield, Illinois, in 1908?

How did one of the darkest moments in American history lead to the birth of the NAACP?

And why does that history still matter today?

In this episode of Our Truth. Our History. Our Story., Rita Coburn travels to Springfield, Illinois, to explore the events surrounding the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, the birth of the NAACP, and the enduring legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois. Along the way, she reflects on hearing Nikole Hannah-Jones speak at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and examines why journalists, historians, and truth tellers remain essential to our democracy.

History isn't simply about the past.

It's about the choices we make today, the stories we choose to tell, and the future we're building together.

In This Episode

• The 1908 Springfield Race Riot and why it changed America
• How the violence in Springfield led to the birth of the NAACP
• W.E.B. Du Bois and the creation of The Crisis magazine
• Why Springfield remains one of the most important civil rights landmarks in American history
• Rita's visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• Reflections after hearing Nikole Hannah-Jones speak about Juneteenth and American history
• Why supporting journalists, historians, and independent voices matters
• How history helps us understand our present and shape our future

Featured People

• W.E.B. Du Bois
• Ida B. Wells
• Nikole Hannah-Jones
• Abraham Lincoln

Featured Locations

• Springfield, Illinois
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• Historic sites of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot

Books Mentioned

• The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
• Black Reconstruction in America by W.E.B. Du Bois
• The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones

Links & Resources

📺 Watch This Episode
https://youtu.be/54Hclvda674

🎙 Our Truth. Our History. Our Story Podcast
https://www.ritacoburn.com/ths-podcast

🎬 W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause
https://www.ritacoburn.com/web-du-bois

▶️ Watch the Official Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMsik6rDQM&rco=1

📚 Nikole Hannah-Jones
https://www.nikolehannahjones.com/

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this episode:

• Subscribe to Our Truth. Our History. Our Story.
• Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
• Leave a review. It helps others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who wants to better understand American history.
• Join the conversation in the comments.

Join the Conversation

What part of American history do you think we weren't taught, and why does it matter today?

History belongs to all of us.

And what we do with that history will shape the generations that follow.

I'm Rita Coburn.

Thanks for listening to Our Truth. Our History. Our Story.

🎬 About the Series

Our Truth, Our History, Our Story (Our THS) explores the people, ideas, and cultural forces shaping Black history and storytelling. Hosted by award-winning filmmaker Rita Coburn, the series features conversations and reflections that connect our past to the present while inspiring a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.

👥 Production Credits

Host: Rita Coburn

Executive Producer: Andrew T. Carr

Producers: Christine Coburn Whack, H. Lee Whack

Produced by RCW Media Productions, Inc.

© 2026 RCW Media Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.