Conversations with Joan and Loki Mulholland

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:21, NIV)

This verse, memorized as a child, inspired Joan Trumpauer Mulholland to take action during the Civil Rights Movement. Growing up in the South during the 1950s and ’60s, she saw firsthand how deeply segregation clashed with the values she had been taught. Even as a young girl, she felt compelled to work for a better way of life.

One of her most memorable acts of courage came on May 28, 1963, during the now-famous Woolworth Sit-in in Jackson, Mississippi.

Recently, SR1 interviewer Kachelle Pratcher sat down with Joan and her son, Loki Mulholland—an Emmy-winning filmmaker—to discuss that day, the legacy of the movement, and the responsibility of telling these stories.

Civil Rights Icon, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and her Emmy award-winning son, Loki Mulholland.

The Woolworth Sit-in

Kachelle: Can you walk us through the day of the Woolworth Sit-in? What stands out most to you?

Joan: Louise Chaney and I were what they called “spotters.” We weren’t supposed to participate at first. Three young men from Mississippi began the sit-in, and we expected them to be arrested quickly—but things escalated in ways we didn’t anticipate.

When we entered Woolworth’s, violence had already broken out. One student had been beaten. Louise and I ended up seated at the counter alongside other students, including Anne Moody and John Salter. As the crowd grew, things turned hostile. Students were doused with food and drinks, burned with cigarettes, and even struck with brass knuckles.

Through it all, we remained nonviolent. My hero that day was Ed Blackwell, the photographer who documented the entire sit-in. After three hours of watching, even his perspective shifted—he saw the strength of the demonstrators’ nonviolence compared to the chaos around us.

Eventually, the store manager closed Woolworth’s. Police allowed us to leave peacefully, and cars carried us back to Medgar Evers’ office.

Storytelling the Movement

Kachelle: Loki, how has your mother’s story shaped your own work?

Loki: First and foremost, she’s still Mom. But yes—her role in the Civil Rights Movement definitely shaped our lives. I originally set out to tell a broader story, but people kept saying, “I’ve never heard that before,” when I mentioned my mom’s experiences. That became the film Ordinary Hero.

At screenings, I realized how much history students didn’t know—even those at the University of Mississippi, right in the state where so much happened. That inspired us to create a foundation, educational materials, and films to share these untold stories.

The Civil Rights Movement wasn’t just Dr. King and Rosa Parks. It was thousands of ordinary people—students, even children—choosing to do what was right, even when it wasn’t easy. My mom is one of those ordinary heroes, and my role is to make sure their stories are preserved.

Common Myths About the Movement

Kachelle: What are some misconceptions people still have about the Civil Rights Movement?

Loki: The biggest misconception is that it was just a few big names and a few big moments. In reality, it took years of planning, organizing, and sacrifice. People of all backgrounds were involved. Condensing it to “I Have a Dream” oversimplifies the scope and power of the movement.

Joan: When people call me special, I remind them: you only know my story because my son is a filmmaker. Thousands of others did the exact same thing. I still meet people who tell me about their own sit-in experiences. There were so many unsung heroes.

About Joan Trumpauer Mulholland

Joan Mulholland is one of the many ordinary people whose actions helped bring about extraordinary change during the Civil Rights Movement. Some of her notable contributions include:

• First white student to enroll at Tougaloo College

• First white student accepted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

• Participant in the 1963 Woolworth Sit-in in Jackson, MS

• Organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (August 1963)