Dr. Roscoe Brown

Legendary TV producer Norman Lear and CUNY's Roscoe Brown compare their experiences serving in World War Two.

Several civil rights leaders have died in the past months—just yesterday that number grew further with the death of Dorothy Height. As they pass on, our chances to learn first hand about their generation and their movement are fewer and fewer. Today we speak with civil rights activists Charles Evers and Dr. Roscoe Brown, about the legacy of civil rights leaders, and the lessons they hope to give to a younger generation of leaders who experience questions about civil rights in similar and markedly different ways. Our question to listeners: Do younger people take civil rights for granted?

As a generation of civil rights leaders continues to pass away, we look at their legacy; and the morning's Headlines.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Lee A. Archer died this week in New York City at age 90. Archer was a Tuskegee Airman and considered to be the only black ace pilot.  The Tuskegee Airmen were America’s first black fighter pilot group in World War II. 

• CONGRESS TAKEOUT:  The USAID says that the search-and-rescue operation in Haiti will officially end sometime today, as relief agencies transition to other recovery efforts. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich brings us the latest on this and the U.S. military's deployment in Haiti.
• SPORTS TAKEOUT: Sports Contributor Ibrahim Abdul-Matin tells about the big upset last night that ended the hopes of the Indianapolis Chargers and guaranteed the New York Jets a place in the AFC finals.
• MLK DAY TAKEOUT: Femi Oke and Celeste Headlee went to a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, and spoke about the future of the civil rights movement with Dr. Roscoe Brown.  Brown is a professor at CUNY graduate center and a former Tuskegee airman

The Brian Lehrer Show’s special coverage of the presidential inauguration.