Shelley’s Plumbline
In construction, a plumbline is a weight suspended from a string used as a tool to find the true reference line. A plumbline will always find the vertical axis pointing to the center of gravity, ensuring everything is right, justified, and centered.
Pulling from a library of more than 3,000 shows from his storied career in broadcasting, Shelley's Plumbline leads us in a search for the truth, opening the channels of communication and understanding on tough social topics that are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago.
Join us as we explore the past, compare it to today, and craft a better future.
Shelley’s Plumbline
Shelley's Encounters with the KKK
In this episode, Shelley recounts his conflicts with the Ku Klux Klan in Birmingham in the 1950s, intensified by his refusal to adhere to segregated customs in local stores. Shelley reveals that many Klan members were police officers and local business owners. His activism escalated on his WEDR radio show, where he publicly discussed the segregated city, education, and incidents of violence and bombing that major white papers omitted. This defiance resulted in death threats from the Klan and pressure on the station owner. Encounters included the KKK painting graffiti on the radio station in 1958 and a confrontation at an integrated dance club in 1960.
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