“If Not Us, Then Who? If Not Now, Then When?"
The Revolution, Reaction, and Reform
of the 1961 Freedom Rides
Junior Group
Exhibit
Jayla Wolford
Kirstin Burnette
Process Paper
The purpose of our project is to show the revolution,
reaction, and reform of the CORE Freedom Rides. In 1961 a
revolution began "to awaken the heart of America to the injustice
of its own laws and traditions." The journey "provided an avenue
for expression of the discontent felt on matters of race in
America." In a few short months, reactions to this revolution
began to erode decades of segregation barriers all across the Deep
South. Many brave Americans risked it all to take a "Peaceful"
Freedom Ride to help reform unjust American segregation
traditions and pursue "Liberty and Justice for ALL."
We chose this project because two years ago we did our
History Day project on the Underground Railroad. This made us
interested in the topic of Civil Rights. We felt it was interesting
that the Civil War began in 1861 and the Freedom Rides began in
1961. The Civil War helped to end slavery and the Freedom
Rides helped to end segregation across America.
Our research began in November when we stayed after
school two days a week. We spent November and December
doing research before we went on a trip south. During this trip, we
went to the Nashville Public Library and visited their Civil Rights
Room. In this room we found the quote for our title. Here we
viewed "Threads of a Story: History Inspiring Art. These were
paintings by Sharlotta Janssen. There were also several interviews
on CD. The next day we went to Birmingham Civil Rights
Institute and learned about the movement. On our final day in the
south, we went to Montgomery and visited the Greyhound bus
station that is now a museum.
After returning from the south, we started our bibliography
and mailed and emailed several letters to Freedom Riders across
America. We also went to see Dr. David Fankhauser at the
University of Cincinnati Clermont. He gave a seminar on his
participation in the rides. Later, we made a trip to the Ohio
Historical Society and viewed their section on Civil Rights. Here
we spent over three hours researching Ohio newspapers of 1961.
With careful thought, we came up with our board title and
design. We used red, white, and blue matte board. The red is
used for the revolution section to symbolize the violence
encountered. In the reaction section, the white is used to
symbolize the peace the Freedom Riders wanted to display. The
blue reform section symbolizes the quote by Dr. Martin Luther
King, "Until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like
a mighty stream".
The Freedom Rides of 1961 revolutionized the ideas of
Americans. They opened the eyes of the North and the South to
the injustices of segregation facing African Americans. Because of
courage and bravery of the Freedom Riders, the United States
began to live up to the words "All men are created equal".
America began challenging Jim Crow and creating laws to support
the equality of all regardless of race.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Books
Armstrong, Thomas M., and Natalie R. Bell. Autobiography of a Freedom Rider. ; My
Life as a Foot Soldier for Civil Rights. Health Communications, Incorporated,
2011. Print. We interviewed Thomas Armstrong through e-mail and he
encouraged us to purchase a copy of his book. This book about his life is
amazing. He began to realize at the age of 12 that something wasn't right with the
living conditions in the state of Mississippi and participated in sit-ins along with
the entire family. He had walked through crowds where people were pushed,
shoved, spit upon, and beaten and didn't suffer any injuries. He credits his safety
to his mother and grandmother’s Christianity and prayers.
Lewis, John, and Michael D'Orso. Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement.
New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1998. Print. In this book we learned about
John Lewis and what it was like living in a segregated world. We also learned
about the discrimination he faced as an African American. He joined sit-ins,
volunteered for the first Freedom Rides in 1961, and helped organize voter
registration drives.
Reporting Civil Rights: American Journalism 1941-1963. New York: Library of
America, 2003. 92-97,573+. Print. This book had several different authors
describing their experiences during the Civil Rights movement. We focused on
the sections by James Peck about the Journey of Reconciliation. There were also
many newspaper articles about the bus riots, interviews with the riders, and
tourists traveling on the same buses. This was a very interesting book. We learned
a lot about the people of this time period.
Trumpower Mulholland, Joan. "Freedom Rider Diary- Hinds County Jail June 8-23,
1961." Freedom Rider Diary (1961). Web. 26 Nov. 2011. This journal was about
Joan Trumpower Mulholland's experience in the Hinds County Jail. It explains
her daily activities at the jail and how she passed her time. This helped us see
what it was like for the Freedom Riders while they were serving their sentences.
Documentaries
"The Dexter Parsonage Museum: From Men to Movement." Documentary at the King
Parsonage. In this video we learned about Martin Luther King's parsonage and his
life in Montgomery. We also learned about the history of Montgomery during the
Civil Rights movement. This helped us better understand the citizens of
Montgomery at the time of the Freedom Rides.
Freedom Riders. Prod. Stanley Nelson. Dir. Stanley Nelson. By Stanley Nelson. WGBH
Educational Foundation, 2011. DVD. This documentary was very informative.
We learned about the movement from its early beginnings. It was interesting to
see the Freedom Riders today speak of the memories from their past. We heard
many of the songs that they sang on the busses and in the jails. We watched this
documentary early in our research. It helped our topic come alive.
"Going Down to Birmingham." Documentary at Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. In
this documentary we learned about Birmingham and the events that took place
during the Civil Rights Movement. It showed separate water fountains and
bathrooms because of the different colors of skin. There was a separate entrance
even to the movie theaters. African Americans had to sit in the balcony. It talked
about many different events like the sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and the children’s
crusade.
"The History of the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and the Civil Rights
Movement." Documentary at the Dexter King Memorial Baptist Church. In this
documentary we learned about the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist
Church. It explained from the time it was started in an old slave trader’s pen to the
time that Martin Luther King Jr. was the pastor there. It talked about how the
church was involved in Civil Rights, and the Montgomery bus boycott. This
church was close to the beatings at the Montgomery Greyhound Bus Station.
The Long Walk to Freedom. Dir. Tom Weidlinger. Prod. Ruth Morgan. 2003. Netflix
Documentary. In this documentary we learned about how ordinary people can do
extraordinary things. It explains many important figures in the Civil Rights
movement. It is meant to illustrate to young people the "long walk" that many
traveled for equal rights.
Save Our History: Voices of Civil Rights. A&E Networks, 2005. Documentary. This
documentary was about many of the struggles faced by African Americans during
the 1960s. Here we learned about Martin Luther King Jr. and his involvement in
the Freedom Rides. Although he never rode a bus, he supported the Freedom
Rides in many ways. These include providing insight, money, and inspiration.
Interviews
Armstrong, Thomas. "Interview with Thomas Armstrong." E-mail interview. 27 Dec.
2011. We really enjoyed our interview with Thomas Armstrong. We talked
through e-mail about eight times and he was very willing to give us any
information we needed. He told us of his experience with the Freedom Rides. We
enjoyed it and thought it was very interesting. He also told us we had earned a
Freedom Rider friend for life.
Fankhauser, David. Dr. David Fankhauser's Eyewitness Account of the Civil Rights
Movement as One of the 1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders. Clermont College,
Snyder S142, Batavia. 24 Jan. 2012. Lecture. Here we got to meet David
Fankhauser. We learned about his experience as a 1961 Freedom Rider. It was
interesting to learn about the injustices they suffered. We didn’t know they were
sprayed with insecticide because they would not stop singing their Freedom
songs. They lost their toothbrushes, Bibles, mattresses and window screens, but
would still continue to sing. If the Wisconsin Governor had not been concerned
about Wisconsin riders being treated fairly, the riders could have suffered even
more. When the Wisconsin government came to inspect the treatment of the
riders, they were given back their supplies. This was a very interesting lecture and
we were honored to meet a true American Hero.
Hernandez, Aileen C. "Interview with Aileen Hernandez." Letter to Jayla Wolford and
Kirstin Burnette. 3 Feb. 2012. MS. San Francisco, California. We sent out
interview letters to about 10 people involved with the freedom rides on December
27, 2011. We were really excited when we received this letter on February 11,
2012. We had only received 2 letters previously to this one, but they had come the
second week of January and by now, we were not expecting anymore. This
woman had not actually been on a Freedom Ride, but had participated in fund
raisers to support them and was one of the people that trained some of the riders
in the tactic trainings. We were just thankful for another person's perspective that
was involved with the Freedom Rides.
"Jim Zwerg." Interview by Rachel Lawson. Nashville Public Library. Nashville,
Tennessee, 10 Feb. 2006. Radio. In this interview we learned that the conflict
between the blacks and whites has gone far beyond a black and white issue. It is a
human issue not a racial issue. He thinks that we have to move beyond this.
"John Seigenthaler." Interview by Wendell Rawls. Nashville Public Library. Nashville,
Tennessee, 10 Sept. 2003. Radio. We learned that he was the editor of the
Tennessean. He said that Nashville had integrated without any problem unlike
many southern states. In 1961 he was sent by the federal government to Alabama
to ensure safety for the Freedom Riders.
"Rev. Bernard LaFayette JR." Interview by K. G. Bennett. Nashville Public Library.
Nashville, Tennessee, 17 Jan. 2003. Radio. Bevel and Lafayette met at American
Baptist Theological College. Lafayette was from Florida and turned down a full
ride scholarship. He felt it was meant to be because God wanted Him to be in
Nashville. He was involved with the Nashville sit-ins and the movement. They
were actually celebrating when they received the news of the beatings in
Birmingham. Diane Nash persuaded them to come to the meeting. Here they were
up all night planning the ride. They would send ten at first and Lafayette would be
the spokesman of the second ten to arrive in Birmingham. He was on his way to
Birmingham when the first ten were dropped off at the state line. Eventually they
all meet at Shuttlesworth's house in Birmingham. Lafayette was jailed at
Parchman. This experience changed his life because they were successful in the
movements. They were successful he feels because they were trained.
"Rev. James Bevel." Interview by K. G. Bennett. Nashville Public Library. Nashville,
Tennessee, 17 Jan. 2003. Radio. Bevel was a student leader on campus at the
American Baptist Theological Seminary. He took Lafayette under his wing. He
studied a lot at the library. He read books and studied Gandhi. He was very
involved in the Nashville Sit-ins. The money raised from the sit-ins helped to fund
the Freedom Riders out of Nashville.
"Rip Patton." Interview by K. G. Bennett. Nashville Public Library. Nashville,
Tennessee, 17 Jan. 2003. Radio. He talked about his life during the Freedom
Rides. This was very helpful to hear his experience dealing with the Civil Rights
Movement. He explained how some white people gave them information about
the plans of the Chamber of Commerce in Nashville. These people helped the
Civil Rights Movement because they felt it was their contribution to help make
Nashville a better place.
"Rip Patton." Interview by K. G. Bennett. Nashville Public Library. Nashville,
Tennessee, 8 Sept. 2003. Television. Rip Patton was our favorite interview we
listened to at Nashville. He spoke about how he was able to get mail in jail and
about how his mother found out about him being in jail. Elders in his community
helped him get money to participate in the ride. Equality gave him a charge for
the movement. He feels kids today do not even know about the events that took
place in Nashville so many years ago. He was taught nonviolence by being hit and
spit on. This event changed his life.
"Salynn McCollum." Interview by K. G. Bennett. Nashville Public Library. Nashville,
Tennessee, 2 July 2004. Television. Salynn McCollum was a student at Peabody
in Nashville. She was involved in the Nashville Sit-In Movement. She attended
college in the south because her parents were from Tennessee. While at Peabody,
she was able to take some classes through Vanderbilt. It is here she got involved
with the Civil Rights Movement. She helped to organize the first woman's
interracial college basketball game between Fisk and Peabody. She said the most
valuable time was what she learned from the way students reacted and what they
were able to accomplish.
"Salynn McCollum." Interview by K. G. Bennett. Nashville Public Library. Nashville,
Tennessee, 27 Mar. 2004. Television. Salynn spoke about her activities in the
Freedom Rides. She said everyone was honored and listened to. This was as
equally important as the desegregation according to Salynn. She was part of the
first ten riders to leave Nashville. She got on the bus at a different spot and was
able to be hidden as a Freedom Rider. On the way to Birmingham armed men
lined the road. Upon arrival the bus was covered with paper so no one could see
inside or out. They were held on the bus for several hours. She was able to get a
beating stopped because they thought she was a Southern lady. She was let off the
bus before the Freedom Riders and called Nashville to let them know they had
arrived. She finally joined the Freedom Riders and the group was arrested. She
was the only white female rider and was there alone for three or four days until
her father came and picked her up. This happened on the same day the rest of the
Riders were taken back to the state line. Her family was very upset about her
involvement. Her Nashville family members would not even speak with her. She
ended up living with a black family to finish her schooling and remained active in
the movement.
Steward, Richard. "Freedom Rider Interview." Letter to Kirstin Burnette and Jayla
Wolford. 5 Jan. 2012. MS. History Day Binders, Crown City, Ohio. We mailed
ten letters to Freedom Riders hoping for a response. We received this letter in
January. Richard Steward wrote to us in his handwriting and answered our
interview questions. We found it very interesting that he was not for non-violence.
He got involved because a friend from college was involved. The friend was
surprised he wanted to be in a movement with non-violence. He did participate
and was jailed, but still says he believes in an eye for an eye. We also used one of
his quotes from this interview for our thesis, “provided an avenue for expression
of the discontent felt on matters of race in America”.
Trumpower Mulholland, Joan. "Freedom Rider Interview." E-mail interview. 26 Apr.
2012. We tried to get this interview earlier in our research. However, the night
before we left for state competition, we finally received an email from Joan
Trumpower Mulholland. We were very excited. In this interview, we learned
that one reason the Freedom Rides were a Revolution was because of the people
or students that not only revolted against the laws, but also against the failure of
the Executive branch to enforce past Supreme Court rulings. Joan also said that at
first there were negative reactions, but as the Freedom Rides continued there were
more supporters. People learned that the Riders were not the problem. They were
only the victims. The reform made was the integration in interstate commerce.
Riders also continued to help with other events in the Civil Rights Movement like
voting rights. Joan said that this eventually lead to Mississippi having more
African American elected officials than any other Union state. She said " Living
to see the outcome, I wouldn't hesitate a minute to do it again. In fact, even at age
70 I wouldn't hesitate to do something similar if I felt it would have as big an
impact as we did back then."
Trumpower Mulhoulland, Joan. "Freedom Rider Interview." Interview. Print. We found
this interview in the school reference section. Joan Trumpower Mulholland
answered questions about her involvement in the Freedom Rides. She wrote about
her family background and her reasons for participating. Her number one reason
for participating was religious conviction. She rode a train from New Orleans to
Mississippi. After she was arrested, she was in the first group to go to Parchman
prison. During her time at Parchman, the girls were not treated as harshly as the
men. There were organized lecture, singing, and quiet times, and all the time you
wanted to read the Bible. After the Rides she graduated from Tougaloo. Her
parents did not like this decision. She said the Freedom Ride experience made her
stronger and helped her deal with the 9/11 attack. With her interview were her
arrest report and a letter from the Rabi at the prison to Joan's family and friends.
Washington, Rosa. "Interview Rosa Washington." Interview. Birmingham Civil Rights
Institute in the Movement Section. Web. 28 Dec. 2011.
<http://rg.bcri.org/gallery/>. We viewed this interview at the Birmingham Civil
Rights Institute. Through this interview we learned that Rosa worked in the
Downtown Birmingham Greyhound Bus Station during the time the Freedom
Riders arrived and got off the bus in Birmingham. When she heard the Riders
were coming, she was nervous. She was sweeping the floors in the white’s
waiting room. The Riders went to the white's waiting rooms, restrooms, and
restaurants. According to Mrs. Washington many of the white citizens came
running out of the bathrooms screaming.
Zwerg, James. "Freedom Rider Interview." Interview. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. In this
interview we learned that Jim Zwerg was in Nashville attending Fisk University.
There he became active with the non-violent movement by participating in the
Freedom Rides. He was one of the first ten riders from Nashville. He attended
numerous workshops on how to remain non-violent following the teachings of Dr.
King and Gandhi. He believed that the Freedom Rides did make a difference. He
also had some hate letters sent to his family because of what he was doing.
Letter
Britt, Travis. "Coded Letter to Joan Trumpower Mulholland." Letter to Joan Trumpower
Mulholland. 27 Aug. 1961. MS. Virginia. This is a coded letter to Joan
Trumpower Mulholland from Travis Britt pretending to be her husband. This let
her know what was going to happen after she got out of prison.
Magazines
Days of Violence in the South." Newsweek 29 May 1961: 21. Print. This article was
found at The University of Rio Grande College Library. We found this article a
little more detailed than some of the newspaper articles we have read. This article
states that not only were their Freedom Riders beaten, but also some Negroes that
were watching from a nearby street corner.
Devree, Charlotte. "The Young Negro Rebels." Harper's Magazine 23 Oct. 1962: 133+.
Web. Charlotte Devree a reporter in her forties accompanied some college
students on one of the first Freedom Rides. This article explained that the farther
north you go, the people had a little more money and could care less how people
traveled. They didn't have to ride the bus and could drive their cars home.
Southerners were the people segregation affected more and that is where you
found more support for the movement. This article had a lot of helpful
information for our project.
Fuller, Helen. "We the People of Alabama." The New Republic 5 June 1961: 21-23. Web.
6 Jan. 2012. This article had a few details that some of the other articles didn't
have. In this article we found out that some of the Freedom Riders that did not
end up in the hospital, hid out in private homes while Rev. King, CORE leaders
and Non-Violence leaders from around the country met to decide the next step.
"Is South Headed for Race War?" U.S. News & World Report 5 June 1961: 42-44. Print.
This magazine article was very interesting. It contains an interview with Gordon
R. Carey, of the Congress of Racial Equality. He explained his involvement and
the reasons CORE continued support of the Rides.
"Seeking a Damper for Racial Strife." Business Week 3 June 1961: 22-23. Web. 5 Feb.
2012. This article explains that desegregation was ordered by the ICC in 1955 and
upheld by the courts, but never was enforced in most of Southern States. In some
cases state and local laws that require Segregation conflicted with the federal law
affected with the interstate travel. This made it difficult for the transportation
companies.
"The South and the Freedom Riders." Time the Weekly Magazine 2 June 1961: 14-18.
Print. This article talks about the law and whether the U.S. had the right to send
U.S. Marshals to Alabama against the wishes of state officials.
Newspaper Articles
"A and I Rider Term Called Excessive." Tennessean [Nashville] 25 June 1961. Print.
Allen Cason was a student at Tennessee A&I State University. He helped train
students in non-violent tactics in Nashville. He also joined a Freedom Ride on
May 20 and escaped injury. Diane Nash is investigating the arrest of Allen Cason
for public drunkenness. He received a year’s sentence and Nash thought it was
excessive.
"Alabama Capital Quiet But Tense." The Banner [Nashville] 22 May 1961. Print. This
article explains the tension in the city after the beatings in Montgomery. It also
talks about the Freedom Riders staying at a church in Montgomery and being
attacked by another mob after eighteen hours of jittery quiet. Alabama Attorney
General MacDonald Gallion issued orders to stop all interstate buses entering the
state and read to occupants a state injunction against the Freedom Riders. The
presence of the National Guard and US Marshals kept the tension high.
"Bus Stop Segregation Test Made in South." The Starr 4 May 1961. Print. Thirteen white
and Negro members of CORE left Washington on buses heading to the South to
test segregation in interstate bus travel. Two groups on Greyhound and Trailways
buses will attempt to reach New Orleans on May 17, which is the seventh
anniversary of the 1954 Supreme Court decision that banned racial segregation in
public schools.
Carper, Elsie. "Pilgrimage Off On Racial Test." Washington Post [Washington DC] 3
May 1961. Print. We were excited about this article because it talks about CORE
(Congress of Racial Equality) and the plans that they have made for these trips.
The two week planned trip started out with thirteen men and women. It was
planned down to every stop and the date that they would be stopping.
Coates, Charles. ""Riders" Leave "To Fill Up Jail"" Tennessean [Nashville] 28 May
1961. Print. Diane Nash was the coordinating secretary for the Freedom Rides,
and she was stating that the strategy was to keep sending the Freedom Riders until
segregation in interstate transportation had ended. The goal was to fill the jails
until something was done.
Colegrove, Albert M. "Freedom Riders Sought Out Trouble." Citizens Journal
[Columbus] 24 May 2012. Print. This article reflects the feelings of the state of
Alabama. We felt this would go well under the Government leaders side of the
board so we tea stained this article and used it on our board.
“FBI Probing Rider Beating." Tennessean [Nashville] 30 May 1961. Print. This is an
article that talks about the FBI investigating the beating of Rev. Vivian, one of the
Freedom Riders. He was reportedly beaten for refusing to say "sir" to one of the
guards at Hinds County Prison Farm.
"Freedom Riders Cross into Mississippi In Bus Escorted by 20 State Police Cars."
Columbus Evening Dispatch 24 May 1961. Print. The Freedom Riders left
Montgomery, Alabama heading toward Jackson, Mississippi. They were escorted
by 16 highway patrol cars and a National Guard plane and other small planes that
circled overhead as they traveled west. We had read many newspaper articles that
told about the police escorts, but this is the first article that talked about the small
planes.
"Freedom Rider Discord Denied." Tennessean [Nashville] 27 June 1961. Print. Powerful
leaders in the Negro movement have thrown their support behind a proposal to
not point out the Freedom Riders. This report was greeted with denial by some of
the movement's leaders. A Sunday article in the Times newspaper said that a
major reason that the rides would be suspended was the Justice Department’s
efforts encouraging the Interstate Commerce Commission to issue a blanket order
against bus segregation.
"Freedom Riders Jailed In Mississippi Capital, All Refuse Bail Offer Police Officers
Ordered To Leave Bus Terminal But They Balk, Are Hustled Into Patrol
Wagons." The Blade [Toledo] 25 May 1961. Print. The Freedom Riders were
arrested and charged with breach of peace, disobeying an officer and attempting
to incite a riot. The NAACP offered $1000 bond to each Freedom Rider that was
refused.
"Freedom Riders Resume Trip, Break Montgomery Lunchroom Segregation." The Blade
[Toledo] 24 May 1961. Print. This article was very interesting to us. In
Mississippi at a bus stop, the Negro riders walked to the bus station lunch counter
that was reserved for white passengers. They ordered breakfast and no one
refused their service. The station manager said that no Negro had ever eaten there
before. We tea stained this article and used it on our display board under the
section Revolution.
""Freedom Riders" Vow to Continue Challenge." Dayton Herald 24 May 1961. Print.
The Freedom Riders promised to continue their challenge of bus station
segregation in the South. It also reports that a Nazi hate bus stopped briefly in
Montgomery at a service station. This article had a picture of the hate bus at the
station. We thought this article went very well with the revolution section of our
board so we tea stained this article for our board.
Hurst, Jack. "Minister Describes Beating at Jackson." Tennessean [Nashville] 6 June
1961. Print. C.T. Vivian a minister just returned from Hinds County Prison Farm
near Jackson, Mississippi, and was telling his congregation of the beating he had
received in the prison.
Jackson, Emory O. "Nation-Wide Protests Against "Freedom Riders" Tormenters."
Birmingham World 20 May 1961. Print. There were nationwide protests against
the May 17 attacks. This article calls the “Freedom Riders” Freedom Tourists and
travelers. It explains what happened when the reinforcements came from
Nashville. The article was interesting because it did not bring any attention to the
beatings or injuries received. It does not criticize the South for anything and calls
the Freedom Riders tormentors.
"Kennedy's Ardor for Civil Rights Cools." Columbus Dispatch 28 May 1961. Print.
Kennedy carried out his platform on Civil Rights. He now is faced with the issue
of Civil Rights coming to the forefront of American History. He appointed a task
force to come up with amendments and ideas for the country. After his election
his civil rights advocating began to cool. Until the riot in the south, Kennedy had
let the bills go into a deep sleep. Now with the situation in Alabama, Kennedy
must face Civil Rights head on.
"In Their Own Words." Tennessean [Nashville] 5 Feb. 2005. Print. This news article has
some of the Freedom Rider's stories in their own words. These were very
interesting to read. It was great to read and learn what motivated some of these
riders to get involved.
"Lawson Leaves To Join "Riders" Tennessean [Nashville] 24 May 1961. Print. Rev.
James Lawson Jr. was leaving to join the Freedom Riders in Montgomery,
Alabama. He was conducting a non-violence workshop. Lawson was also a leader
in the sit-in and stand-in demonstrations in Nashville.
“Lawson Say's Beaten in Jail." Tennessean [Nashville] 4 June 1961. Print. This article
shows James Lawson's point of view on the beatings at the Hind's County Penal
Farm. He says that the beatings "were in our opinion an effort to intimidate us."
He doesn't know why the rest of them weren't beaten like those five. He talks
about his experience in the jail.
"Marshals Will Have Sidearms." Columbus Dispatch 21 May 1961. Print. The federal
marshals did carry firearms in Montgomery. There were more than 400 men.
Although they didn't stay long they did there best to keep order.
"Marshals Withdraw To Edge Of City: White Men Taken Into Custody In Bus Burning
At Anniston." Dayton Herald 25 May 1961. Print. After days of controlling the
riots in the streets of Montgomery, Alabama, the federal government removed
U.S. Marshals from the streets and moved them to the edge of the city so they
could be ready for action when the next buses came through.
"Martial Law in Alabama Riots." Citizen-Journal [Columbus] 22 May 1961. Print. This
newspaper article stated that a representative for Attorney General Robert
Kennedy stopped his car and got out to help a girl. He was beaten and left
unconscious by the angry mob during a riot at an Alabama bus terminal. This
article is used in the citizen’s reaction section of the board.
"Negros Beaten by Mob at Montgomery Bus Station." The Banner [Nashville] 20 May
1961. Print. This article contained great detail about the mob of whites that were
waiting at the Greyhound Station in Montgomery. The Negroes sought refuge
behind an iron railing after arriving in Montgomery, but the White crowd jumped
the railing and continued beating them.
"Negroes Urge A&I Boycott." Tennessean [Nashville] 12 Sept. 1961. Print. Fourteen
students were expelled from A&I University after their conviction with the
Freedom Rides. Thirty five students from A&I decide to picket against enrollment
at the university. There were also pickets at the home of the university president.
"NO Rally Will Wind Up "Freedom" Ride." The Banner [Nashville] 17 May 1961. Print.
We liked this newspaper article because it informed people of a rally that the
Freedom Riders planned to have on the seventh anniversary of the U.S. Supreme
Court's desegregation ruling. They were meeting at a Negro Baptist Church to
rally, ending their thirteen day segregation testing trip through the South.
"Out Votes Ahead Of Rides: Gen. Kennedy." The Banner [Nashville] 20 June 1961.
Print. Kennedy instructed the Freedom Ride leaders to stop the bus rides and
focus on getting the Negroes in the south registered to vote.
"Police Halt Attack On 3 Freedom Riders." Columbus Dispatch 4 Dec. 1961. Print. This
article talks about three "Freedom Riders" that were almost attacked by a crowd
of white youths. They were stepping off the bus from Jackson and were entering
the Greyhound terminal that was previously reserved for whites. This happened
after the ruling on November 1 by the Supreme Court of desegregation of
interstate bus travel.
"Riders Fined, Fail To Pay, Stay In Jail." Columbus Dispatch 26 May 1961. Print. This
newspaper article talked about how the Freedom Riders were sent to jail, fined but
they failed to pay the fine so they stayed in jail. We also learned about the
Freedom Rider's plan to fill up the jails so that Congress would do something
about desegregation. We felt this article went very well with the rider’s reaction
section. This shows how determined the students were to end segregation.
"Riders Open New Assault." Citizens Journal [Columbus] 28 May 1961. Print. This
article shows the Jackson police removing Freedom Riders from the white waiting
rooms. These Freedom Riders joined twenty-two others already in jail. They were
charged with breach of peace. This ride was predicted by Edward B. King from
Atlanta.
"Riders' Pledge Jackson Visit." Tennessean [Nashville] 26 May 1961. Print. The
Nashville Student Non Violent movement said, they will send more riders if the
ones in jail are convicted. Leaders say there will be riders from hundreds of cities.
Nash said "they feel they cannot stop because they are acting according to a
principle that what is right is right."
"Riot." Columbus Dispatch 21 May 1961. Print. Governor Patterson expresses his regret
over what happened in Montgomery and declares government help is not needed.
There were four men beaten that weren't even Freedom Riders. Jim Zwerg was
beaten and left for thirty minutes. Two white girls were also beaten and escaped
into a church. Freedom Riders found rest in Negro homes in Montgomery.
"Riot Won't End Rides: Leader." Tennessean [Nashville] 21 May 1961. Print. Diane
Nash stated that the riot in Montgomery, Alabama was not going to stop the
Freedom Rides. Joe Morgan, the Tennessee education commissioner stated that he
was not sure what the extent of the punishment would be for these college
students. He also stated that the state has a policy about dismissing college
students after being arrested for misconduct.
Sessions, Cliff. "Mississippi Nabs Freedom Riders: Two Groups Arrested in Jackson."
Citizen's Journal [Columbus] 25 May 1961. Print. The Freedom Riders arrived in
Mississippi without facing violence. Instead they were arrested almost
immediately after getting off the bus. The riders went into the white's restroom
and were charged with Breech of Peace. We got two of our quotes used on our
board from this article.
"Seven Freedom Riders Quickly Land in Jail on Arrival in Jackson." The Banner
[Nashville] 6 June 1961. Print. Seven Freedom Riders were jailed for Breach of
Peace in Jackson, Mississippi on June 6, 1961. They came by bus from New
Orleans and as soon as they stepped off the bus they were arrested, two Negroes
and five whites. Meanwhile Reverend Richard Gleason quit the Freedom Riders
because they were including Atheists and Communists; also, C.T. Vivian was just
released from prison.
"Tear Gas Quells Montgomery Mob; Governor Proclaims Martial Law." Dayton Herald
22 May 1961. Print. U.S. Marshals are beginning to arrive in Alabama. Governor
Patterson is threatening them with arrest. The federal government wanted these
officials there so they can help ensure the riders will not be assaulted again.
Patterson did not request assistance and is upset that it is being forced upon him.
He feels the Marshals will provoke the situation. Governor Patterson and Byron
R. White the No.1 assistant to Atty. Gen. Robert Kennedy disputed these matters
and it is thoroughly explained in this article.
"Train "Riders" Arrested In Jackson." The Banner [Nashville] 30 May 1961. Print. The
Freedom Riders were arrested for refusing to move on when asked at the Illinois
Central Train Station. Each time they were told to move on, they moved a short
distance and stopped.
"U.S Ordering Marshals Out Of Alabama 100 Of 666 Total To Stay In State; White To
Leave." The Blade [Toledo] 25 May 1961. Print. On May 25, 1961 there were six
hundred sixty six federal officers at Maxwell Air Force Base outside of
Montgomery, Alabama. The attorney general sent all but 100 back to there home
posts. Byron White, the deputy attorney general in charge, also returned to
Washington the same day.
"U.S. Orders Armed Officers To Alabama After Race Rioting: 20 Hurt As Montgomery
Mob Attacks Bus Riders." The Blade [Toledo] 21 May 1961. Print. There were
twenty people hurt in a mob attack against the Freedom Riders at a bus station in
Birmingham, Alabama. John Seigenthaler, the assistant to Attorney General
Robert Kennedy was injured along with four reporters and photographers. We
tea stained this article for the Government leaders section of our board.
"Volunteers of Nashville Movement Made Bus Ride." The Banner [Nashville] 22 May
1961. Print. Twenty-one young people risked the wrath of mob acceleration to
ride a bus. The collision of these two sides reached the high point on Sunday night
when Governor Patterson of Alabama declared the Marshal Law in Montgomery.
The young people called the Freedom Riders were mostly Nashville college
students.
"White CO-Ed Tells Story Of Rioting." Dayton Herald 22 May 1961. Print. Susan
Herrmann tells her experience as a Freedom Rider arriving in Montgomery,
Alabama. She gives many details about the mob and the attackers. Her
descriptions draw you into the events and help you visualize the attacks that took
place that dreadful day. This article has many quotes that make you feel the hatred
some white citizens had for the idea of desegregation. We got two quotes for our
board from this article.
Photos
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. This is a photo of four women Freedom Riders leaving Hinds County
courthouse to board a van that would carry them to Mississippi State Penitentiary.
We thought this photo was interesting because they were being sent to prison but
they were singing, smiling, and raising their hands.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. This is a photo of a fireman on the burnt bus after it was burned by four
angry white men near Anniston, Alabama. We chose this photo to represent the
reaction of some citizens to the Freedom Riders.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. We chose this photograph to use on our board in the revolution section, to
show the white and black Freedom Riders in New York's terminal before leaving
to go to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. We chose this picture because it shows passengers on the ground beside the
bus after it was bombed on May 14, 1961 by four white men. The mob met the
bus at the terminal, stoned it and slashed the tires, and followed the bus from
town. When the tires went flat they set it on fire and attacked the passengers as
they left the bus.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. We decided to use this photo in our reaction section. It shows James Peck
describing his experience of being attacked by a mob of whites while testing
segregation in interstate travel.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. We decided to use this picture on our board of the Freedom Riders being
arrested and put in the paddy-wagon on May 28, 1961 in Jackson, Mississippi. It
shows their peaceful reaction to arrest.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. We thought these pictures were important to use on our board in the reaction
section. These four men were arrested by the FBI on charges of attacking and
burning a busload of white and Negro "Freedom Riders" near Anniston, Alabama
on May 14, 1961.
1961. Photograph. Library Of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. We use this photo on the bottom of the board by the map. We thought this
photo would look good here, because it is a photo of the Freedom Riders boarding
the bus in Alabama and heading to Mississippi.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. We used this photo to represent revolution. It is a photo of the Trailways bus
carrying "Freedom Riders" into Jackson, Mississippi. The police were waiting to
arrest them as the exited the bus.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo, Wasington D.C.
We used this photograph to show the members of the '" American Nazi" standing
outside their "hate bus" on May 23, 1961 on their way to New Orleans. We felt
this showed the reaction of some of the citizens to the Freedom Riders.
1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/Untited Press International Photo, Washington
D.C. This is a photo of John Lewis and Jim Zwerg after they were beaten by a
mob in Montgomery, Alabama. We used this photo under reactions of the
citizens. Because it showed the brutal beating they had endured.
Burned out Bus. 1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo,
Washington D.C. This is a picture of the burnt bus near Anniston. Some of the
passengers are sitting in grass. We chose to put this photo in the reaction section
of our board to show the reaction of the citizens.
Fankhauser, David. "Freedom Rides Recollections By David Fankhauser." Freedom
Riders.Web.<http;//biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/society/freedom_rides/Freedom
_ride_dbf.htm>. Here we got a picture of David Fankhauser and his Fellow riders
in the waiting rooms before they were arrested in Jackson, Mississippi. This photo
is used in the reform part of the board.
Group to Picket the White House. 1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press
International Photo, Washington D.C. We chose two photos of the group of The
Washington Freedom Riders Committee, before leaving for Washington D.C.
they planned to picket the White House demanding federal action to protect the
lives and Civil Rights of Negroes in the south. One photo shows them leaving on
the bus with their signs hanging out the windows. The other photo shows them
picketing with their signs.
"Journey of Reconciliation." Spartacus Educational. Web. 03 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAjor.htm>. Here we got the picture of
the journey of reconciliation. This was the Ride that influenced the freedom rides.
We used the picture in the revolution part of our board.
Woman Laughs. 1961. Photograph. Library of Congress/United Press International Photo,
Washington D.C. We chose to use this photograph under the revolution section
because it shows a woman being taken to the paddy wagon smiling. Even though
she is being arrested, she is happy for what she is standing up for.
Trips
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. 1992. Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program.
520 Sixteenth Street North, Birmingham, Alabama. Here we learned about Civil
Rights and the long journey that it took for blacks to gain equal rights. It had a
special section that was just on the Freedom Rides. It had part of a real bus and a
nice video of real live footage of the event. Here we were able to watch some
films and get a feel of what life was like in the south for whites and blacks. This
experience opened our eyes to the injustices felt throughout the Civil Rights
Movement and even still today. The exhibits, documentaries, resource room, and
sculptures brought new respect to a time in history that we do not want to see
repeated. It also made us aware of the continuous fight for equality among all
races and religions. Here we also were able to go to there research center.
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. 1877. Historical Landmark. 454 Dexter
Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama. At this church we learned about Martin Luther
King and his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. He supported the
Freedom Rides although he never went on one. Here we learned a lot about this
involvement in the bus boycott which gave many Americans the inspiration they
needed to take a stand.
Dexter Parsonage Museum. Interpretive Center. 309 S. Jackson St., Montgomery,
Alabama. At this site we had a wonderful tour guide. She brought us into the life
of Dr. Martin Luther King through her knowledge. She helped us see the struggle
before the Freedom Rides began and the many people who fought hard to awaken
the South to injustice.
Harris House. Historical Landmark. South Jackson Street, Montgomery, Alabama. This
house is located a few feet away from the King Parsonage. Here after the beatings
in Montgomery many Freedom Riders found refuge. There were also meetings
held here to plan future Freedom Rides. Thirty three Freedom Riders including
Diane Nash, John Lewis, and James Farmer met here to plan a route that they
would later take. This home is still owned by Mrs. Harris. It is a place where a
man and his wife were brave enough to house the Freedom Riders many citizens
were not this brave.
Montgomery Greyhound Bus Station Museum. 19 May 2011. Museum. 210 South Court
Street, Montgomery, Alabama. We found the pamphlet for this museum when in
Birmingham so we decided to go Montgomery. But unfortunately we did not get
to go inside because it wasn't open on that day. There was a lot of helpful
information on the outside of the museum. We contacted the museum director
Christy Carl and learned about the exhibits inside.
Seminar at University of Cincinati Clermont. 24 Jan. 2012. Seminar by David
Fankhauser. In Snyder S142, Batavia, Ohio. This was a very interesting trip we
learned many things that we didn't know and enjoyed hearing and singing an
actual Freedom Rider song.
16th Street Baptist Church. 20 Apr. 1873. Historical Landmark. 1530 Sixth Avenue
North, Birmingham, Alabama. This church was at the corner of the Birmingham
Civil Rights Institute and the Kelly Ingram Park. Here four girls were killed by a
bombing by the Ku Klux Klan. This happened during the civil rights movement.
The congregation supported the Freedom Riders.
Websites
"Campaign Now CORE Button." Congress of Racial Equality Button. Web. 30 Jan. 2012.
<http:digililo.usm.edu/cdm/singlitem/collection/manu/id/120/rec/16>. Here we
got the picture of the CORE Congress Of Racial Equality Freedom Now button.
This photo is located in the bottom of our board on the map.
"Declaration of Independence." National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 05
Feb. 2012. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html>. In our
impact statement we used the excerpt from the Declaration of Independence "All
men are created equal".
"Diane Nash and Kelly Miller Smith." Examiner.com. Web. 25 Feb. 2012.
<http://m.examiner.com/culture-events-in-nashville/diane-nash-and-kelly-millersmith>. At this website we found the picture of Diane Nash and Kelly Miller
Smith planning SNCC involvement in none violent activities.
Fankhauser, David. "Freedom_Ride_DB_Fankhauser." Biology at Clermont College University of Cincinnati. David Fankhauser. Web. 5 Jan. 2012.
<http://biology.clc.uc.edu/Fankhauser/Society/freedom_rides/Freedom_Ride_DB
F.htm>. We found Dr. Fankhauser's contact information on this website. We were
able to learn more about him before we actually met him. We also watched an
interview of him on this site.
"James Farmer Picture." Web. 27 Jan. 2012. <http://students.umw.edu/multicultural/thcommemoration-of-the-freedom-rides>. At this website we found our picture of
James Farmer that is used on our board. We felt it was important to include a
picture of him because he was a major organizer in the movement.
"The Pledge of Allegiance." Ushistory.org. Web. 21 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm>. We used an excerpt from the
Pledge of allegiance for our thesis statement,” Liberty and Justice for ALL."
"Question of the Month - Jim Crow Museum at Ferris State University." Ferris State
University: Michigan College Campuses in Big Rapids MI, Grand Rapids MI, Off
Campus Locations Across Michigan. Web. 24 Nov. 2012.
<http://ferris.edu/jimcrow/question/dec07/>. At this website we found the
newspaper article about the case of Morgan vs. Virginia. We used this article on
the revolution part of our board.
"Reaction." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reaction>. We got this definition
because it helps you clearly see how our topic goes along with the theme. This
definition is used in the Reaction part of our board.
"Reform." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reform>. This definition of Reform
goes along with our topic perfectly. It helps you understand how the Freedom
Rides had reform. This definition is located in the Reform part of the board.
"Riders for Freedom (1961)." University of Michigan Dearborn. Web. 17 Feb. 2012.
<http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~ppennock/doc-FreedomRide.htm>. This
site gave two biographies. One was of James Farmer and one was from Hank
Thomas. It explains why the Freedom Rides were initiated. James Farmer was
very good at making the Rides seem easy to understand. He explains the reasons
they were started, how they were received, and why it was so important for Jailno-Bail. Hank Thomas says he will never forget Anniston. He recounts his
injuries from the rides.
"Road to Civil Rights." Web. 23 Feb. 2012.
<http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/highwayhistory/road/s30.cfm>. We got two quotes for
our board from this website, it was very helpful. One was by Justice Hugo Black,
and another by Robert Kennedy. The quotes were about interstate travel and the
Interstate Commerce Commission
"Sovereignty Commission Online." Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Web. 8 Jan. 2012.
<http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/sovcom/photo.php?display=all>.
At this website we found the mug shots that we used across our board. This site
gave the mug shots for over 300 Freedom Riders that were arrested in Jackson,
Mississippi.
"Tomboys Don't Cry." My Opera. Web. 25 Jan. 2012.
<http://my.opera.com/thetomster/blog/2011/06/01/crossculture-loops-freedomriders>. At this website we found many of the pictures we used on our board. We
liked this website because these pictures were very clear. Many of these pictures
were used in newspapers and magazine articles in 1961. It also had some
information about each picture that helped us better understand the movement.
"Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement -- Images of a Peoples' Movement." Civil Rights
Movement Veterans. Web. 23 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.crmvet.org/images/imgcoll.htm>. This website tells us about the
events that lead up to the Freedom Rides. Here we learned about Diane Nash,
John Lewis, and James Bevel. This site had great pictures of the events that
encouraged Freedom Riders to get on a bus.
"Whites Only Sign." Web. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/22/opinion/greene-racialsigns/index.html>. We found a picture of a white’s only sign and we put it on our
Revolution side of our board. This truly shows why the Freedom Rides took
place. There was true disregard for the law in the South when it came to
segregation.
"Radio and Television Report to the American People on Civil Rights President John F.
Kennedy." John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Web. 19 Jan. 2012.
<www.jfklibrary.org/jo61163.htm>. In John F. Kennedy’s speech he was asking
Congress to enact legislation giving all Americans the right to be served in
facilities that are opened to the public. He was urging all Americans to take
voluntary action to end discrimination. He also asked Congress to authorize the
Federal Government to participate more fully in lawsuits designed to end
segregation in public education.
"Refrance.com." Revolution. Web. 2 Feb. 2012.
<http://dictionary.refrance.com/browse/revolution>. We chose to put the
definitions of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform on our board because we thought
it helped to clarify how our project relates to the theme. At this website we found
the definition for revolution that clearly fit our project.
"Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement -- Images of a Peoples' Movement." Civil Rights
Movement Veterans. Web. 03 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.crmvet.org/images/imgfr.htm>. At this website we found two
photographs of soldiers protecting the Freedom Riders and guarding their bus.
This was used on the bottom of our board to escort the bus into Mississippi.
"Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement -- Images of a Peoples' Movement." Civil Rights
Movement Veterans. Web. 17 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.crmvet.org/images/imgfr.htm>. From this website we found several
interesting photographs including Jim Zwerg after being attacked while waiting
for the Freedom Riders. Some of the other interesting photos were of Freedom
Riders waiting in the colored waiting room and police officers arresting Riders.
SECONDARY SOURCES
Books
Arsenault, Raymond. Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice. Oxford:
Oxford UP, 2006. Print. The Freedom Rides are depicted from the pre-ride era
and beyond the final ride. This book explains in detail the events, the major
contributors, and the challenges the riders faced. With each new chapter you see
the events of 1961 unfold. You see how important each individual is to this
monumental revolution. We used this book for many of our quotes on our
project board.
Bankston, Carl L. African American History. Pasadena, CA: Salem, 2006. 372-75. Print.
The Freedom Rides section in this book was very interesting. It was easy to read
and follow. It showed that the Freedom Rides were very important in African
American History.
Bausum, Ann. Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the
Civil Rights Movement. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006. Print. This
book was very helpful, Jim Zwerg and John Lewis, along with many other men
and women, white and black, were willing to risk their lives for equality for all
during segregation. We also learned about the Freedom Riders and what they did
for equality and the impact their bravery had on America.
Branch, Taylor. At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68. New York:
Simon & Schuster, 2006. 419-678. Print. This book gave background on Martin
Luther King's involvement in the Freedom Rides. It explained his role and the
accomplishments of the movement towards Martin Luther King's Dream.
Brimner, Larry Dane. We Are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin. Honesdale, PA: Calkins
Creek, 2007. Print. We learned that Bayard Rustin dedicated his life to helping
others and fighting injustices and discriminations. He was often arrested for his
beliefs and actions because he protested segregation before there was a Civil
Rights Movement. He worked alongside many African American leaders like
Martin Luther King Jr. and A. Philip Randolph and he also brought people
together to walk for freedom and jobs.
Etheridge, Eric, Roger Wilkins, and Diane McWhorter. Breach of Peace: Portraits of the
1961 Mississippi Freedom Riders. New York: Atlas &, 2008. Print. We learned
about the Freedom Riders and how many were arrested. This book has many
pictures of the Freedom Riders at the time they were arrested. It also has a picture
of them now. This book has interviews of the Riders.
Hampton, Henry, Steve Fayer, and Sarah Flynn. Voices of Freedom: An Oral History of
the Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s through the 1980s. New York: Bantam,
1991. 74-95. Print. We used the sections on James Farmer, John Lewis, James
Peck, Burke Marshall, John Patterson, John Seigenthaler, Diane Nash, Fred
Leonard, and Floyd Mann. These sections helped us understand the people
involved in the Freedom Ride Revolution.
Klarman, Michael J. From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The Supreme Court and the
Struggle for Racial Equality. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2004. 411-36. Print. This tells
us about the struggle for Racial Equality. It tells about the decisions on American
race relations, and the white’s opposition to Racial Change. Brown was able to
bring race issues to public attention, and put the movement into action.
Morrison, Toni. Remember: The Journey to School Integration. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin, 2004. Print. This taught us about desegregating schools and about Brown
vs. Board of Education. This also educated us about living in that era of change in
separate-but-equal schooling. This helped us see the importance of equality and
why people risked their life for the struggle.
Sapet, Kerrily. Political Profiles: John Lewis. Greensboro, NC: Morgan Reynolds Pub.,
2010. Print. We learned about John Lewis's life in a segregated world and how he
thought that all races should be treated as equals. He joined sit-ins and
volunteered for the first Freedom Rides in 1961. He risked his own life on many
occasions. He suffered several attacks and forty arrests.
Sitkoff, Harvard, and Eric Foner. The Struggle for Black Equality, 1954-1992. New
York: Hill and Wang, 1993. 88-117. Print. Chapter four of this book was very
important to our project. Here we found the song on the footer of our board. We
felt this would be nice to capture the reaction of the riders. They sang songs like
this and remained positive even in Parchman prison.
Singleton, Carl, and Rowena Wildin. "Freedom Rides." The Sixties in America. Pasadena,
CA: Salem, 1999. 295-97. Print. This section in this book gave information on the
Freedom Rides in 1961, from May to August. It explained in detail the first ride
and how the group in Nashville took over in Birmingham. It also explains the
impact the Rides had on America.
Viorst, Milton. Fire in the Streets: America in the 1960s. New York: Simon and Schuster,
1979. 141-57. Print. This book tells us about the events that happen in the 1960's
and has many interviews of people that lived in that era. It tells about John Lewis,
CORE(Congress of Racial Equality) , the Freedom Rides, and many other events.
It was good at showing the hard struggle for Civil Rights in the 1960's.
Wormser, Richard. The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow. New York: St. Martin's, 2003. 14585. Print. Many people thought that the time of segregation was "worse than
slavery." This book shows the African American struggle after the Civil War.
Also it shows many events in the history of early Civil Rights and the first people
like Ida B. Wells to try to put a stop to lynching. Along with other things that lead
to the Freedom Rides
Interviews
Cherry, Shirley. Personal interview. 27 Dec. 2011. We were able to speak with Shirley
she works at the Martin Luther King Parsonage Museum. She told us about her
experience with Civil Rights when she was young. Shirley said that her father told
her not to talk to white people, look them in the eye, or even walk on the same
side of the street as them. She also took us on the tour of the museum and learned
a lot of information on Martin Luther King Jr. and what he did for the Civil
Rights Movement.
Movies
Boycott. Dir. Clark Johnson. Perf. Jeffery Wright, Terrence Howard, CCH Pounder,
Carmen Ejogo, Reg E.Cathey. 2002. This movie was about the bus boycott in
Montgomery. It helped us see the injustices in the south during the struggle for
Civil Rights. It started a revolution in the community of Montgomery. African
Americans began to realize they could make a difference in the way they were
treated. The bus boycott was one of the first stands taken against the Jim Crow
South.
Ghosts of Mississippi. Dir. Rob Reiner. 1996. DVD. This movie was about Medger Evers
and the time after the Freedom Rides. It is about justice being pursued for twenty
seven years. You see segregation has ended but many still think of African
Americans as beneath there status. It showed continued resistance in the south
even after the Freedom Rides.
The Help. Perf. Octavia Spencer. 2011. DVD. This movie helped us see the injustices in
the South. White families that hired black help treated them very disrespectful.
The black help often raised the white children who loved them very much.
However, when they grew up many treated their help the same as their parents
did.
Paintings
Janssen, Charlotta. 2011. Threads of a Story: History Inspiring Art, Nashville Public
Library. At this exhibit there were many beautiful paintings of the Freedom
Riders. These paintings were of the riders mug shots when they were arrested in
Jackson, Mississippi.
Photos
"Background Map 1961 Freedom Rides." Map. African American Odyssey. Associated
Press News feature. Web. 12 Dec. 2011.
<http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/odyssey/archive/09/0904003r.jpg>. We chose to
use this map on the bottom of our board to show two of the main routes that the
Freedom Riders traveled. We painted a piece of wood for the bottom of the
project. On the board we used the overhead projector to trace the map on the
wood. We drew the two main routes with red and blue marker, and then had those
routes cut. We took a small modeled greyhound bus and had a swivel bolt put on
it connecting it to the route so that it would move along the route.
"Greyhound Bus 1947(GM PD-4151)." Greyhound Bus. Web. 28 Dec. 2011.
<http://www.crmvet.org/images/imgfr.htm>. This website had pictures of
Greyhound buses and we chose a picture that was taken at Richmond, Virginia to
put in the center of our board under the Revolution section.
Trips
Kelly Ingram Park. 1992. Civil Rights Memorial Park. 1701 4th Avenue, Birmingham,
Alabama. The walk through this park helped us see the persecution of Americans
who stood up for equality. Each statue brought to life the actions that took place
in Birmingham in the 1960's. It especially opened our eyes to the fact that the
Freedom Rides were just a step in the direction for equal rights. Many people
continued the struggle after the rides ended.
Nashville Public Library. 615 Church Street, Nashville. At this library, we listened to
many interviews. We also spent time in the Civil Rights room. Here we saw a
quote by John Lewis on the wall. This quote inspired us to make it part of the title
of our project. We also viewed paintings by Sharlotta Janssen. These paintings
were of the mug shots of some Freedom Riders.
Ohio Historical Society. 1959. Museum and Research center. 800 East 17th Avenue,
Columbus, Ohio. Here we visited the civil rights section and viewed a large
mural, buttons, pictures and letters. We also spent over three hours looking
through Ohio newspapers for articles about the Freedom Rides. We found several
articles from three major Ohio cities. This was our first time working with
microfilm. Many of the articles had great quotes; even some are used on our
board. We enjoyed reading about our topic and learned a lot.
SPLC Civil Rights Memorial Center. 5 Nov. 1989. Museum. 400 Washington Avenue,
Montgomery, Alabama. Here we were able to watch a move on the Civil Rights
Movement. There was also the Wall of Tolerance were we were able to put are
names saying that we were committed to the rights for all people. We also visited
the memorial that was dedicated to the events and people that were associated
with the civil rights movement. We got the quote "...Until justice roll down like
water and righteousness like a mighty stream." by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
from this memorial.
Websites
"African American Odyssey: The Civil Rights Era (Part 2)." 301 Moved Permanently.
Web. 12 Jan.
2012.<http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart9b.html>. This
article was very useful because it was set up similar to a timeline starting with the
sit-ins through enforcing the Civil Rights for all Americans. It helped us see the
progression of Civil Rights in America and the most significant events.
"The Civil Rights Era." African American Odyssey: (Part 1). Web. 12 Jan. 2012.
<http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart9.html>. This article was
about the early beginning of Civil Rights starting with desegregation in the
military. This helped us see that many African Americans were very tired of the
disrespect they received through segregation and why the need to take a stand was
so evident during the time of the Freedom Rides.
"Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)." Spartacus Educational. Web. 27 Jan. 2012.
<http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAcore.htm>. At this website there was
a lot of information on Congress of Racial Equality, freedom riders, and James
Farmer. This gave us details, rules, and even speeches. It also gave us important
events and important people for the 1961 Freedom Rides.
"Freedom Rides Quotes." Web. 24 Feb. 2012.
<www.uen.org/freedomrides/downloads/freedom_Rides _quotes.pdf>. Here we
got many of the quotes that are used on our board, by many of the important
people involved in the Rides. This sight had many famous movement leaders
and quotes that help America remember the significance of the freedom Rides
they believed could and would help to change America.