Have students work in small groups to create a visual drawing, poster, powerpoint, video for each event. In his dramatic and exhaustive account of the freedom riders, arsenault makes a persuasive case that the. Find groups in washington, district of columbia about cycling and meet people in your local community who share your interests. Written by ann bausum, the book explores the lives of john lewis, a young black man that grew up in alabama, and jim zwerg, a wealthy white man that grew up in wisconsin. Freedom rides were modeled after the 1947 journey of reconciliation which tested the supreme court decision of morgan v. Freedom riders dvd in 1961, segregation seemed to have an overwhelming grip on american society. See more of motorcycle riders foundation, washington, d. In the spring and summer of 1961, they put their lives on the line, riding buses through the american south to challenge segregation in interstate. In the book freedom riders bausum compares and contrasts the very different lives of john lewis and jim zwerg and how they both ended up as part of the freedom riders.
Partners will print a picture of their freedom rider to post in the classroom with a miniposter bio. Although the freedom riders were met with very violent treatment from white protesters en route, they managed to gain a lot of international attention. The 1960 summer of protest at glen echo was spearheaded by an. A passionate, dazzlingly well written narrative account of the. She is known for taking part in sitins, being the first white to integrate tougaloo college in jackson, mississippi, and joining the delta sigma theta sorority, joining freedom rides, and being held on death row in parchman penitentiary. At a chinese restaurant in washington, dc, john lewis, a young man from rural georgia and theology student at theamerican baptist college in nashville sat in awe at the scene before him, partly out of fear at what lay ahead for them all and partly for the fact that it was the first time in. The book, a collection of etheridges recent portraits of 80 freedom riders juxtaposed with mug shots from. The freedom ride left washington dc on may 4th, 1961. When the first bus reached anniston, alabama they were met. May 912, 1961 a few riders are arrested in north carolina. The brave freedom riders traveled to some of the nations most segregated cities, challenging public transportation segregation laws. The book paints a harrowing account of the outpouring of hatred and violence that greeted the freedom riders in alabama and mississippi. Six white and twelve black freedom riders left washington, d.
Their plan was to reach new orleans, louisiana, on may. Blog 2017 resources for remembering the freedom riders. Joan trumpauer mulholland, born september 14, 1941, is an american civil rights activist and a freedom rider from arlington, virginia. Black and white core workers rode buses through the upper south facing very little violence and only a few arrests. More freedom riders arrived from across the country, and at one time, more than 300 were held in parchman farm. The book paints a harrowing account of the outpouring of hatred and violence. Roger wilkins, washington post book world arsenaults record of strategy. Virginia that declared that segregated seats in buses was unconstitutional. Our foundational resource book, facing history and ourselves. Freedom riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern united states in 1961 and subsequent years to challenge the. Postponed to fall 2020 join thousands of riders in a unique experience through the nations capital.
The play centers on the historic journey of the freedom riders 58 years ago. The freedom riders bought tickets for trips into southern states from greyhound and trailways, which handled most interstate bus trips. The freedom riders started their trip from washington d. Freedom riders is the powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story of six months in 1961 that changed america forever. In the course of six months in 1961, four hundred and fifty freedom riders expanded the realm of the possible in american politics, redefining the limits of dissent and setting the stage for the civil rights movement. Before those who marched on washington, there were the freedom riders of 1961. Many states violently enforced the policy, while the federal government, under the kennedy administration, remained indifferent, preoccupied with matters abroad. Best biking in the city and suburbs wittmer, matt on. The significance of this date was plain to all the seventh anniversary of the brown v topeka decision by the supreme court. Determined to use this significant law as a toehold on broader civil rights, groups like core congress for racial equality, schooled in the nonviolent resistance demonstrated and utilized by mahatma gandhi, decided to send racially mixed groups of freedom riders on. Freedom rides african american civil rights movement. On may 4, 1961, the core freedom ride departs washington. Jan 01, 2006 this book is an amazing account of the freedom riders college students who braved jail, beatings, and indeed their lives in the summer of 1961 to desegregate interstate bus travel.
May 11 is the anniversary of the shocking attack on freedom riders in anniston and just outside birmingham, where the monument now stands. Dc bike ride will be back on may 16, with 20 miles of carfree roads, monumental views, great music, and delicious cuisine. On may 616, 2011, 40 college students from across the united states embarked on a bus ride from washington, d. The freedom riders, then and now history smithsonian magazine. On may 4, 1961, a group of young people, black and white, from colleges and universities across the country, boarded two buses southbound from washington, dc on a journey to prove that love and compassion could conquer hate and that what was a right for one american.
This book is an amazing account of the freedom riderscollege students who braved jail, beatings, and indeed their lives in the summer of 1961 to desegregate interstate bus travel. All told, more than 300 freedom riders were jailed in jackson alone. I loved this book s ability to offer readers who probably didnt live through segregation a glimpse into what it was like. Democracy in action a study guide to accompany the film freedom riders. The author is a sure guide to the civil rights movement and the postworld war ii. The yards marina is located on the northern bank of the anacostia river between nationals park and the washington navy yard. The book, a collection of etheridges recent portraits of 80 freedom riders juxtaposed with mug shots from their arrests in 1961, includes interviews with the activists reflecting on their. Feb 26, 2018 in these pages, acclaimed historian raymond arsenault provides a gripping account of six pivotal months that jolted the consciousness of america. The original group of freedom ridersseven african americans and six whitesleft washington, d. Freedom riders is a book that goes into detail about two mens lives, one white and one black, and how theyre journey to help in the civil rights movement made them some of the best of friends. Nashville freedom riders walk down the street in a group, with diane nash at the. Working with rfk and lbj, openly credited saloschin with stopping violence against the freedom riders by suggesting use of the existing. The film will tell a littleknown and groundbreaking story of the integration of glen echo amusement park, near washington, dc. Freedom ride project end human trafficking one mile at a time.
After the freedom rides, zwerg worked as a united church of christ minister until 1975. While the riders attract little media attention, the washington post does publish a photo and short article about the ride. Freedom riders raymond arsenault oxford university press. The saga of the freedom rides is an improbable, almost unbelievable story. After the epic ride, enjoy live music, your favorite food trucks, and activities for all ages at the finish festival on 3rd street between the us capitol building and. They were jailed and beaten, their buses stoned and firebombed. Their stories of personal sacrifice launched a decade of social activism and citizen involvement in the struggle for civil rights that would ultimately change the course of american history.
But of all the indignities visited upon these freedom riders, perhaps the most memorable happened to a young black man named frederick leonard after he and his fellow freedom riders were jailed in jackson, mississippi mississippi being at the time the most racist state in america. Watch freedom riders american experience official site. Feb 05, 2016 congressman john lewis recalls the freedom rides. You may also donate specifically to the freedom ambassador program to help empower youth to address human trafficking through grassroots community projects.
May 4, 1961 freedom riders join together in washington dc to go on their first ride. The main purpose of this organization is to guard the rights of all motorcyclists. The landmark, definitive account of the freedom rides of spring and summer of 1961, a crucial development in the american civil rights movement an entirely revised and shortened edition of the original work, published to outstanding acclaim in 2007. Determined to use this significant law as a toehold on broader civil rights, groups like core congress for racial equality, schooled in the nonviolent resistance demonstrated and utilized by mahatma gandhi, decided to send racially mixed groups of freedom riders on public buses from washington, dc, to new orleans. From may until november 1961, more than 400 black and white. In this new version of his encyclopedic freedom riders, raymond arsenault offers a significantly. The initial ride that departed from washington, dc in may 1961 had only riders on board, but by november of that year, the movement had more than 400.
Raymond arsenault documents their trip in freedom riders. This month marks 56 years since the first freedom ride departed from washington, dc on a journey to various destinations throughout the south. A government lawyers contribution to the freedom riders. His close friendship with john lewis is the subject of ann bausums award winning book for young adults, freedom riders 1986. While in jackson, freedom riders received support from local grassroots civil rights organization womanpower unlimited, which raised money and collected toiletries, soap, candy and magazines for the imprisoned protesters. Freedom riders national endowment for the humanities neh. Katzenbach, now deceased author of some of it was fun. The freedom riders violently fought the segregation of blacks and whites for public transportation systems, and their victory led to the integration of many other places and the making of the civil rights act of 1964. The tale of the freedom riders is somber yet triumphant, setting the tone for the victories that were to come, but serving too as a reminder that no battle is ever completely won. The freedom riders wanted to test whether they could sit wherever they wanted, eat in integrated dining rooms and were able to use integrated facilities such as rest rooms.
In this new version of his encyclopedic freedom riders, raymond arsenault. Before rosa parks of 1955, there was irene morgan of 1944. In birmingham and montgomery, mobs of white supremacists swarmed the bus stations and battered the riders with fists and clubs while local police. Celebrating black history month american university. The saga of the freedom riders is an improbable, almost unbelievable story. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them. One bus was disabled by ku klux klansmen, then firebombed. Freedom riders san francisco, ca about freedom riders. Washington dc through the deep south, defying jim crow laws in buses and. Following several days of nonviolence training, freedom riders and three journalists begin the journey on two separate buses.
The book inspired the 2011 docuseries produced by stanley nelson. Washington freedom was the womens professional soccer franchise in washington dc. Virginia that segregation of interstate transportation facilities, including bus terminals, was unconstitutional as well. The 2011 student freedom ride, which was sponsored by pbs and american experience, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the original freedom rides. Lets board the greyhound bus, which started in washington, d. According to historian raymond arsenault, author of the 2006 book. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The freedom riders challenged this status quo by riding interstate buses in the. Fifty years after the buses left from washington, dc. Freedom ride project end human trafficking one mile at a. The dc team spent the end of last week sending personalized letters to all of the transportation and infrastructure committee along. See exclusive, advance clips from emmy awardwinning filmmaker ilana trachtmans documentary in progress, aint no back to a merrygoround 2019. Donate to the freedom ride project and help us raise awareness about human trafficking and move people to engage in and start projects in their own communities.
The book, a collection of etheridges recent portraits of 80 freedom riders juxtaposed with mug shots from their arrests in 1961, includes interviews with the. Gaining impressive access to influential figures on both sides of the issue, it chronicles a chapter of american history that stands as an astonishing testament to the accomplishment of youth and what can result from the. The group grew and hundreds more freedom riders joined in their cause, with similar protests. In freedom riders, raymond arsenault, a professor of history at. Firmly renouncing violence in the spirit of gandhi, they set the course of civil rights actions that followed. On greyhound with the freedom riders the washington post. As i said in my opening address to faculty and staff in august, one of my goals for the 201011 academic year is to honor james farmer. The book serves a companion piece to the pbs special and provides the finer details and fascinating behindthescenes reportage.
As part of nyu washington, dcs celebration of black history month, the constance milstein and family global academic center will host screenings of two of these films, freedom riders and the loving story to revisit the history of civil rights in america and to reflect on the ideals of freedom and equality that have helped bridge deep racial. Freedom riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated. The freedom riders were greeted with hostility, fear, and violence. The 1961 freedom rides sought to test a 1960 decision by the supreme court in boynton v. Later, he worked as a personnel manager for ibm and at a hospice in tucson, az, where he later retired. This was the first of many such beatings the freedom riders were to receive at the hands of angry mobs. May 16, 2011 the freedom riders bought tickets for trips into southern states from greyhound and trailways, which handled most interstate bus trips.
The freedom riders, then and now history smithsonian. Mar 12, 2014 as part of nyu washington, dc s celebration of black history month, the constance milstein and family global academic center will host screenings of two of these films, freedom riders and the loving story to revisit the history of civil rights in america and to reflect on the ideals of freedom and equality that have helped bridge deep racial. The first leg of the freedom ride from washington made stops in. This freedom ride met little resistance in the upper south. Read the fulltext online edition of freedom riders.
Reveals that the freedom rides of 1961 were not simply a stop on the way to civil rights legislation, but. Robert saloschin obituary washington, dc washington times. By the summer, the rides had evolved into a broadbased movement involving hundreds of activists from local, regional, and national civil rights organizations. Fifty years after the buses left from washington, dc for their historic journey, we have a unique opportunity to commemorate the golden anniversary of the freedom rides. The first freedom rides originated from washington, dc on. This book chronicles in vivid detail the freedom rides of 1961, a critical event in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Freedom riders tells the terrifying, moving, and suspenseful story of a time when white and black volunteers riding a bus into the deep. In alabama, police stood idly by as racist thugs battered them.
In the course of six months in 1961, 450 freedom riders expanded the realm of the possible in american politics, redefining the limits of dissent and setting the stage for the ci. The freedom rides began on may 4, 1961, with a group of thirteen riders recruited and trained by the congress of racial equality core. Freedom rides continued throughout the rest of the summer as successive waves of protesters, now with the benefit of federal protection, headed south for mississippi to take part in protests that were assuming historic proportions. A day in the life of a freedom rider history lessons. Congressman john lewis recalls the freedom rides youtube. The twohour documentary is based on raymond arsenaults book freedom riders. The freedom writers diary 20th anniversary edition.