The Cable News Network (CNN) will feature the Meek-Eaton Black Archives and Research Center (MEBA) as a hidden gem in Tallahassee as part of its CNN Travel series.
CNN Special Projects Producer Ryan Bergeron said featuring Meek-Eaton Black Archives is a unique way to introduce viewers to a special part of Tallahassee's history and Nashid Madyun, D.M., the archive's director agreed.
"The Black Archives is a premiere museum, research center and archive of remarkable treasures. The region and the nation should certainly be aware of what we have to offer," said Madyun.
Bergeron's team visited Tallahassee and FAMU last week and spoke with civil rights attorney and FAMU College of Law alumnus John Due. His daughter, award-winning author Tananarive Due, participated in an interview after the CNN taping and stressed the importance of understanding and knowing our stories.
"If we don't remember our history, we are starting from scratch every day. We end up repeating the same mistakes over and over," she said.
Madyun further emphasized Due's point by saying, "families, civic organizations and students all seek to be better citizens and contribute to society; what better way to inform your path than to see how others have contributed?"
For Due, these stories are also personal.
" I was well aware as a young person who my parents were," she said. "To me and my sisters they were real-life heroes. We understood who they were...it was very empowering to be born into a family of doers and movers."
Due encouraged students to continue the legacy of her family and of other activists by becoming more involved politically.
"I think college students need to be on the front lines. They need to raise their voice and protest...register to vote, that's the number one thing," she said. "It's the ordinary person who does extraordinary things."
CNN's program featuring Meek-Eaton Black Archives aired on January 18 during the 11:00 a.m. hour and is scheduled to air again on today during the 2:00 p.m. hour. It has also been scheduled to air on Headline News (HLN) on Sunday during the 9:00 a.m. programming block.