Freedom Riders: Rebels with a Cause

The American Freedom Rides were motivated by the ‘Journey of Reconciliation’ in 1947, “led by civil rights activists Bayard Rustin and George Houser”1. The Freedom Rides in America involved riding a bus opposing the segregation of black and whites riding together in buses2.

The second element of the ruling - the effect it had on African-American supporters and the encouragement if afforded - had a greater impact. Paterson and Willoughby say the 'psychological need for integration6’ had been recognised, what Patterson calls ‘the symbolic value of Brown’7. All three historians agree that African-Americans needed some success to motivate the continued struggle, and this Brown provided. Patterson says activists were ‘extraordinarily heartened by Brown’8. Kevern Verney talks of a ‘renewed hope’9 given to African-Americans. They were similarly helped by Browder v. Gayle in 1956, which ruled the bus segregation in Montgomery unconstitutional, and Boyton v. Virginia in 1960, which extended this ruling to waiting rooms and restaurants. According to Willoughby and Paterson, the ‘clear-cut decision’ came ‘in the knick-of time'10 for the protest movement, which might not have succeeded without the ruling by the court. Even here, however, the court was unable to enforce the actions. One observer recalled a ‘bus station ... still rigorously segregated’11, in 1966. These examples show the Supreme Court as advancing the Civil Rights by passing favourable and motivating rulings, but it certainly fell short when it came to enforcing them. Taking everything into account, the Supreme Court was a force for change, but not without fault, in the later 20th century.

John Lewis has never let his 40+ arrest affect what he stands for. In Lewis’ book March, he tells his story of segregation in the 60’s and the events that shaped his life. From when he was a little kid, to an older adult, March displays Lewis deal with the segregation in the south, and the hardships others endure. Although he experienced many events in his life, John Lewis used those events to build himself religiously and help others. Receiving his first bible, Jim Lawson’s workshops, his decision not to go to college and Martin Luther King’s speech all helped him become who he is.

The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson is known for having established the precedent of “separate but equal.” The case originated in Louisiana and was specifically made to the separate passenger cars that were for the black and white races. The Supreme Court, in this case, upheld the right of Louisiana to separate the races and “this decision provided the legal foundation to justify many other actions by state and local governments to socially separate blacks and whites” (Zimmerman, 1997). It was not until the famous Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954 that the highest court in the land outlawed the principal of segregation and the concept of “separate but equal.”

The Freedom Riders used another tactic of nonviolent protests. The Freedom Riders on their bus just sat there and they counted on the racists to provoke a reaction. CORE Director James Famer said: “We felt we could count on the racists of the south to create a crisis so that the federal government would be so compelled to enforce the law.” The Riders began facing little resistance. “You didn't know what you were going to encounter. You

Following, on May 4, 1961, a mixed group of 13 African Americans and white civil rights activist led the Freedom Rides (Freedom Rides?). Similar, to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Rides traveled to various cities in the south to protest against segregation of the bus terminals. History.com staff concurs “the Freedom Rides, a series of bus trips through the American South to protest segregation in interstate bus terminals.” The purpose of the freedom riders was to openly disobey the Jim Crow laws in the south in a nonviolent fashion. This was a dangerous journey, many of these people were beaten, arrested, and even the buses were destroyed. Yet, they persevered (“Freedom Riders: The Nashville Connection”). History.com staff, adds “The Freedom Riders, were recruited by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a U.S. civil rights group, they departed from Washington D.C., and attempted to integrate facilities at bus terminals along the way in the Deep South.” African Americans would try to use the “whites only” bathrooms and counters, which attracted attention and violence (Freedom Rides). According to the history.com staff due to the efforts of the Freedom Rides, “in September 1961, the interstate Commerce Commission issued regulations prohibiting segregation in bus and train nationwide.” The

I'm very committed on finishing the paper work; in fact I was successful on completing my thesis about Freedom Riders at the Univeristy of La Verne. Although I couldn’t finish this thesis without Dr. Sayles because said he told me that the Freedom Riders actually started with James Farmer because he created the Freedom of Reconciliation, which protested bus segregation on upper southern states’ buses; later this civil rights group turned into the Freedom Riders which protested segregation in the Deep South’s buses. It was very important for me to finished this because it helped me graduate from the University of La Verne.

While in jail, the Freedom Riders were mistreated by policemen; they were cursed at and humiliated. To get through the constant interrogations, they sang songs like: “We Shall Overcome”, “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around”, and “Back of The Bus.” More Freedom Riders were sent to jail and each member ended up having a year sentence. James Farmer urged members to remain in jail for at least 40 days before bail. I, personally, don’t

Stanley Nelson chronicles the journey of a group of individuals, known as the Freedom Riders, whom fought for the rights of African Americans to have the same amenities and access as the Caucasians. The purpose of the Freedom Rides was to deliberately violate the Jim Crow laws of the south that prohibited blacks and whites from mixing together on buses and trains. Expectedly, many of the Freedom Riders were beaten and the majority was imprisoned. This carried on for the majority of 1961 and culminated with the Interstate Commerce Commission issuing an order to end the segregation in bus and rail stations. Nelson encapsulates this entire movement in about two hours. At the end of the two hours, the viewer is emotionally tied to the

This research will deeply explain only some of the hardships the Freedom Riders dealt with, as well as the brutality they faced. It will continue to explain how African Americans are still facing racial profiling, and prejudice acts daily.

The up to date dying of Rosa Parks refocused countrywide attention on one of the crucial beloved figures of the civil rights movement. However without the heroism of hundreds of unsung grass-roots activists, the action would not ever have complete what it did. In "Freedom Riders," Raymond Arsenault, a professor of history at the university of South Florida, rescues from obscurity the guys and women who, at high-quality individual threat, rode public buses into the South as a way to venture segregation in interstate travel. Drawing on individual papers, F.B.I. Documents and interviews with more than 200 contributors within the rides, Arsenault brings vividly to life a defining moment in modern American history.

The freedom riders were a group of both black and white people. They had a plan to ride from Washington DC to New Orleans, Louisiana in an attempt to challenge segregation laws. The group was attacked many times throughout the trip and they were also told lots of vulgar comments by the white race. The people who were participating in this event agreed and acknowledged the fact that they were putting their own lives at risk. They knew that they could get seriously hurt but they were devoted to gaining equality

It is hard to wrap my head around the fact that riding the bus can get one hurt and killed and how non-volient acts can lead to so much hate and violence. The Freedom Rides help bring attention to national level. The level of violence is extreme in response to a non-violent movement. The white supremacy was trying its best to make the colored population inferior. The segregation is a symbol of fear and hate. The press and television is a big part in the success of the movement. They help shape the public opinion toward segregation. The media brought the problem to our attention through dramatic and often disturbing photos and reports.

“Freedom Riders” were a group of people, both black and white, who were civil rights activists from the North who “meant to demonstrate that segregated travel on interstate buses, even though banned by an I.C.C. Ruling, were still being enforced throughout much of the South” (The South 16). The Riders attempted to prove this by having a dozen or so white and black Freedom Riders board buses in the North and travel through Southern cities. This was all “a coldly calculated attempt to speed up integration by goading the South, forcing the Southern extremists to explode their tempers” ('Freedom Riders' 20). The author of the Newsweek article stated this as the Southern opinion of the reason for the Freedom Riders. The

The movie Freedom Riders was important to the civil rights movement, which occurred in the 1990s during time this movie took place. The aim of freedom rides “was to call attention to blatant violations of recent Supreme Court ruling against segregation in interstate commerce” (Henretta, Hinderaker, Edwards, Self). The civil rights movement was a fight for equality and police mortality. Freedom Writers takes place in the 1900s during the Watt’s Riot (LA civil rights movement). Blacks were fighting for equality and to be treated as equally as whites; they wanted less police brutality and they rioted for what they believed in.