The museum of the path to fairness and justice

The museum of the path to fairness and justice

By Nora Lee

Rosa Parks

Greensboro Sit-ins

Freedom Riders

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Mongomery, Alabama. She was arrested and was not the only one many women were arrested and put in jail for refusing to give up their seats. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK), a little-known minister in Montgomery who formed the Mongomery Improvement Association (MIA) organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott when he heard about Rosa Parks. The Women's Political Council called for a boycott of Montgomery buses. The instructions were to walk, bike, or any other transportation available to get places. Carpools were organized to help the elderly. 99 percent of the city's African Americans refused to ride buses. 17,000 black riders found other ways to get places. The bus company lost thousands of dollars in revenue. People tried to stop the boycott with violence. Four churches and the homes of King and his friend Abernathy were bombed. The boycott continued through all the violence. On November 23, 1956, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the MIA. Segregated buses were declared unconstitutional. The boycott lasted 382 days. The Mongomery Bus Boycott gave others courage, hope, and empowerment to organize more boycotts in the South. MLK formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The organization was dedicated to Jim Crow Laws and segregation. This allowed MLK to become the leader he was born to be.

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This is the seat on the bus in which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.

The bus sat in a rusted storage shed before The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation received it in 2001. The restored bus now showcased to remember her couragous and inspring story. It's important for children to learn about her story and are able to see the bus that she was on. Rosa Parks gave hope to so many people and set an example as a leader for people to believe in.

Jo Anne Robinson made the Women's Political Council. She as an active part of the bus boycott. In between classes the Women's Political Council made 50,000 flyers to hand out!

This is one the many flyers passed out to spread the word of staying off buses.

5,000 people gathered at Holt Street Baptist Church after the arrest of Rosa Parks. People filled the church and spilled outside to hear him preach about non-violence and the bus boycott. The church is active today but not at the original location. If you are ever in Mongomery, Alabma you should stop by to learn more!

This is Holt Street Baptist Church where people gathered to hear Martin Luther King Jr.

Freedom Riders

On May 4, 1961, a group of Civil Rights Activists (ages 16-61, six white and twelve black) created the Freedom Riders. Their goal was to challenge segregation on interstate buses and terminals. The journey started in Washington D.C., and the intended final destination was New Orleans, Louisiana. The Freedom Riders wanted to test whether they could sit wherever they wanted, use integrated facilities (restrooms), and eat in integrated dining rooms. The Freedom Riders were well aware of the dangerous journey they were headed on. When the Greyhound Bus carrying the Freedom Riders reached the Carolinas, three riders were attacked and some were arrested. They were attacked and fire-bombed again by members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) near Anniston Alabama. When they arrived in Anniston they were attacked yet again by another mob who boarded the bus. The violence continued as mobs became more violent attacking with baseball bats, iron pipes, and more. The bus drivers refused to drive any Freedom Riders. The original Freedom Ride had to be shut down on May 17, 1961, as Attorney General Robert Kennady gave the order. There was lots of debate on racial integration of transportation because of the Freedom Riders. On November 1, 1961, all interstate buses were required to display a certificate that read: "Seating aboard this vehicle is without regard to race, color, creed or national origin, by order of the Interstate Commerce Commission,"

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This is the Greyhound bus that carried the Freedom Riders when it was fire-bombed.

This picture was taken by Joe Postiglione and was spread across the states showing the brutal violence that the Freedom Riders went through. The photo was very important and became a defining civil rights movement. People had understanding of the horrible treatment and got the attention of important leaders.

This poster/signs were important because it gave positive encouragement about integration. The signs had no mention of violence and were great message that were echoed throughout their journey. Peopel passing by could read them and find hope in the future of Civil Rights.

These are the many posters that people held to speak out against segregation on interstate buses.

The only communication and way for people to keep up with the Freedom Riders were through newspapers. This is very important because it gave people knowledge of the horrible events and more reasons to stand up to segregation. The word got around and eventually legal changes were made.

This is The Birmigham News with updates of the Freedom Riders brutal attacks.

Greensboro Sit-ins

On February 1, 1960, four students in Greensboro, North Carolina protested by sitting down at a white-only lunch counter. They were refused service but sat there all afternoon. They continued for the following days and soon almost 100 people were participating in the "sit-in". People were arrested, dragged away, had ketchup and other foods poured on their heads. They sat peacefully and didn't strike back. The students set out to follow MLK's call for nonviolent resistance to segregation. People liked the idea and the method was adapted to many places such as libraries, supermarkets, public swimming pools, and more. Business owners eventually accepted this and began to integrate restaurants and stores. The business owners ultimately chose peace and integration over losing money.

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Photograph taken from the original Greensboro sit-ins.

This was one of the most important sit-ins as it engraved the path to the method. More people adapted the brilliant method. This was very successful because businesses eventually allowed for integration. These four students started it all.

This shows the resilience and respect that the students gave during the sit-ins. They never fought back or had a reaction. The maturity set examples for more sit-ins.

These are the many posters that people held to speak out against segregation on interstate buses.

These peaceful protests also had a role in transition to integration. Many people joined in and silently marched with powerful signs. It is the same method of the sit-ins while marching.

People marching outside the stores/buisnesses for intergration.