Help bring Words That Made the Difference to Selma!

Once the law said “Separate but equal.” Now the nation must decide again. Will justice stand, or will history be put back on trial?

Brown v. Board of Education wasn’t just a verdict—it was a warning. The case that dismantled legalized segregation now returns to the public at a moment when America risks losing it all.

Our play, Words That Made the Difference: Brown v. Board of Education, has been invited to be performed at the 2026 Selma March & Jubilee on March 6, 2026, in Selma, Alabama.

Words That Made the Difference is a powerful theatrical reenactment of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case—the unanimous ruling that ended legal segregation in public schools back in 1954. The play is written and directed by Cindy Acker, an 8 time award winning educator and playwright.

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It is a profound honor to perform in Selma for the 61st anniversary of the historic Selma-to-Montgomery March, that was led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and (Congressman) John Lewis—an historic moment known as Bloody Sunday that forever changed America’s democracy.

But the performance is just weeks away. We urgently need your help to make this journey possible.

Why This Play Matters—Now More Than Ever

There is an imminent threat to the Brown vs. Board decision, and may soon be overturned by the Supreme Court.

2024 marked the 70th anniversary of the Brown decision. Across America, we now find ourselves fighting to defend our democracy and those hard earned equal rights and protections amidst the onslaught of anti-Black and anti-DEI legislation, electoral recalls, and a recent troubling SCOTUS voting map gerrymandering decision that puts the Brown decision square in its sights– in which Supreme Court Justice Thomas directly cited and attacked Brown v. Board– the legal precedent and cornerstone of equal justice for all in our country.

This is not history frozen in time. It is a reflection of what we must continue to protect.

At a moment when our nation is facing renewed threats of resegregation, voter suppression, and democratic erosion, this play reminds us that progress was never inevitable—it was fought for, case by case, word by word.

The Words That Made the Difference production has been:

Performed in six U.S. cities
Livestreamed to audiences in 8 countries
Used as an educational and civic tool to spark dialogue across generations

Bringing this play to Selma—hallowed ground in the Civil Rights Movement—is both a responsibility and a calling.

Every contribution—large or small—helps ensure that this story is told where it matters most.

Your Donations at Work

Choose your participation level

$10 — Keep the Story Moving

Every movement begins with believers. Your gift helps cover essential behind-the-scenes costs that make this production possible.

$25 — Support the Journey

Helps offset transportation and logistics for our cast and crew as we bring this story to Selma.

$50 — Build the Path to Selma

Contributes toward our overall fundraising goal and supports travel, lodging, and production needs.

$100 — One Actor’s Ground Travel

Covers local transportation for one actor traveling to and from Selma.

$250 — One Actor’s Performance Stipend

Ensures an actor is compensated for their work in bringing this historic story to life.

$500 — One Actor’s Flight & Ground Travel

Covers airfare and local transportation for one cast member.

$1,000 — One Actor’s Full Travel & Lodging

Provides flight, ground transportation, and accommodations for one actor.

$2,500 — Lights, Sound, and Storytelling

Covers audiovisual and technical production support for two performances.

$5,000 — Honor the Ensemble

Covers actor stipends for one full performance, supporting the artists who carry this story forward.

$10,000 — Make Selma Possible!

Covers cast stipends for both Selma performances, ensuring this production is fully realized at this historic moment.

How Your Support Will Be Used

Funds raised will directly support the production’s ability to travel and perform in Selma, including:

Travel for a cast and crew of 23
Lodging and accommodations
Actor stipends ($250 per performance)
Technical production and support costs

Be Part of the Legacy

The arts have always been essential to movements for justice, freedom, and democracy. Theater has the power to make history breathe—to turn words into action.

Help us bring these words to Selma.

Help us honor the past while illuminating the road ahead.

Thank you for standing with us—and for believing that words still have the power to make a difference.

Dr. Cindy Acker, PhD Ed.

Bill Brobeck

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