Karen Downer Has Fought Racism Locally Since She Was a Child in Pre-Civil Rights Bucks County

She reflects on her life & activism from when Klu Klux Klan were burning crosses in Linconia where she grew up to more recently when white parents objected to Black authors in Pennridge curriculum.

Karen Downer recently stepped down as president of Bucks County NAACP after holding the position for six years. In this conversation, Downer shares her experiences growing up as a Black girl in Bucks County, her early involvement in civil rights activism, and her leadership role and work with the local NAACP. She discusses the challenges faced by the Black (and broader) community, particularly in education and policing, and emphasizes the importance of allyship and inclusivity in the ongoing fight for civil rights and racial justice.

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For the story about white MAGA Pennridge parents objecting to literature from Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Frederick Douglas, Amanda Gorman, and more, READ: Bucks County youth must rise up to defend education