Jerome Smith
| Jerome Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| 💼 Occupation | Civil rights activist; community organizer |
| Known for | Freedom Rides; Tambourine and Fan; 1963 meeting with Robert F. Kennedy |
Jerome "Big Duck" Smith is an American civil rights activist from New Orleans, Louisiana. A member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), he participated in the Freedom Rides and became known for his nonviolent discipline and youth organizing. Smith was a central figure in the historic May 24, 1963 meeting between civil rights leaders and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, attended by James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, and other prominent activists.[1][2]
Smith later founded the **Tambourine and Fan** youth program, a cultural and educational initiative in New Orleans focused on literacy, arts, and community leadership. The program gained national attention when heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali visited in the late 1970s to support its literacy efforts for Black children.[3][4]
Early life
Smith was born and raised in New Orleans. He became involved in civil rights activism as a young man and joined CORE in the early 1960s.[5]
Civil rights activism
Smith participated in the Freedom Rides and other desegregation campaigns across the South. His role as a CORE Freedom Rider is documented in the PBS *American Experience* documentary Freedom Riders.[6]
During the 1963 meeting with Robert F. Kennedy, Smith’s emotional testimony about violence against activists is widely cited as a turning point in Kennedy’s understanding of the civil rights struggle.[7]
Smith’s activism placed him alongside major civil rights figures, including John Lewis, who rode with CORE during the Freedom Rides.[8] The **Stanford MLK Papers Project** also documents CORE activities in which Smith participated.[9]
The **SNCC Digital Gateway** includes references to Smith’s work in New Orleans and his collaborations with youth organizers.[10]
Tambourine and Fan
In the late 1960s, Smith founded **Tambourine and Fan**, a youth‑centered cultural and educational program based in New Orleans. The organization offered summer camps, literacy programs, arts education, and community service opportunities.[11]
Muhammad Ali’s visit to the program in the late 1970s brought national visibility to Smith’s work and highlighted the importance of literacy and empowerment initiatives for Black youth.[12]
Honors and recognition
Smith has been widely honored for his civil rights and community work.
- In 2023, the **New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA)** dedicated a bus in his honor for his lifelong contributions to justice and youth empowerment.[13]
- In 2024, the **Black Love Festival** in New Orleans honored Smith’s legacy as a civil rights icon and community leader.[14]
- Smith’s work has been documented in multiple academic studies, oral histories, and civil rights archives.[15]
References
- ↑ Remnick, David (2013-02-11). "The Fire This Time". The New Yorker.
- ↑ "The Day Robert Kennedy Met With Black Activists". The Atlantic. 2013-05-24.
- ↑ "Muhammad Ali visits New Orleans youth program". Times-Picayune. 1978.
- ↑ Talk That Music Talk: Passing on Culture Through New Orleans Brass Bands. University Press of Mississippi. 2016. pp. 112–130. Search this book on
- ↑ "Oral History Interview with Jerome Smith". Amistad Research Center. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ "Freedom Riders: American Experience". PBS. WGBH. 2011. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ Thomas, Evan (2000). RFK: His Life. Simon & Schuster. pp. 224–230. Search this book on
- ↑ Lewis, John (1998). Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement. Simon & Schuster. Search this book on
- ↑ "CORE and the Freedom Rides". Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ "SNCC in Louisiana". SNCC Digital Gateway. Duke University. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ "Treme Community Center: Tambourine and Fan". New Orleans Music Map. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ "Muhammad Ali visits New Orleans youth program". Times-Picayune. 1978.
- ↑ "RTA Honors Civil Rights Leader Jerome "Big Duck" Smith". New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. 2023. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- ↑ "Black Love Fest to honor legacy of civil rights icon Jerome Smith". Verite News. 2024-09-27.
- ↑ "Freedom Riders Oral Histories". Journal of Southern History. 2010.
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