Podcast Summary: Conversations With Coleman

Host: The Free Press
Episode: YOU'RE INVITED: Coleman Hughes LIVE in Atlanta!
Date: February 10, 2026

Overview

This episode serves as a special announcement and invitation to a live event featuring Coleman Hughes at Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. The central theme is an exploration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy and practice of nonviolence—its legacy, impact, and relevance for contemporary America, especially in a period marked by heightened polarization and social tension.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Event Announcement

  • Coleman Hughes announces an upcoming live conversation on March 9 at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, a site of enormous symbolic importance as the former church of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
    • (00:00) “On March 9, I'll be at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the church led by Martin Luther King Jr. For a live conversation on the legacy and future of nonviolence.” — Coleman Hughes

• Featured Guests & Their Significance

  • Andrew Young: Renowned civil rights leader, former United Nations ambassador, and a close associate of MLK, who marched alongside him during the pivotal moments of the civil rights movement.
  • Jonathan Eig: Author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Martin Luther King Jr., bringing a depth of historical and scholarly perspective to the conversation.

• Central Questions to Be Explored

  • How the civil rights movement’s deployment of nonviolence succeeded in uniting Americans and instigating transformative change.
  • Whether King’s philosophy of nonviolence offers viable lessons for today’s fractious and volatile sociopolitical climate.
    • (00:29) “Together, we'll explore how the civil rights movement used nonviolence to bring Americans together and change the country, as well as what that strategy can teach us today at a time when America is at a boiling point.” — Coleman Hughes

• Contemporary Relevance

  • Explicitly frames the dialogue in the context of current American polarization, raising the provocative question:
    • (00:42) “Is King's strategy of nonviolence still useful in 2026, or is it already a relic of a bygone era?” — Coleman Hughes

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Coleman Hughes on the Purpose of the Event
  • (00:00) “On March 9, I'll be at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the church led by Martin Luther King Jr. For a live conversation on the legacy and future of nonviolence.”
  • (00:29) “Together, we'll explore how the civil rights movement used nonviolence to bring Americans together and change the country, as well as what that strategy can teach us today at a time when America is at a boiling point.”
  • (00:42) “Is King's strategy of nonviolence still useful in 2026, or is it already a relic of a bygone era?”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – Event Introduction & Venue Significance
  Coleman frames the event at Ebenezer Baptist Church and outlines the main theme: the legacy and future of nonviolence.

• 00:17 – Guest Introductions
  Coleman highlights Andrew Young’s and Jonathan Eig’s unique credentials and their connection to Dr. King and the civil rights movement.

• 00:29 – Core Discussion Focus
  Preview of the event's subject matter: methods and impacts of nonviolence, and the pressing relevance for America's present moment.

• 00:42 – Provocative Framing Question
  “Is King’s strategy of nonviolence still useful in 2026, or is it already a relic of a bygone era?”

Conclusion

Although this podcast episode is brief and primarily serves to invite listeners to a forthcoming live event, it sets the stage for a profound and timely discussion. By bringing together historic and contemporary voices, Coleman Hughes promises a conversation that not only honors the legacy of Dr. King but asks hard questions about how that legacy can inform and possibly heal today’s divided America. The event is positioned as essential for anyone interested in civil rights, philosophy, or the future of social movements in the U.S.

Note: Visit the episode description for ticket information if you wish to attend the live discussion on March 9th in Atlanta.