2) Watching that movie led me to another one: Freedom Riders - a Stanley Nelson film. In the Freedom Writers movie, they mention freedom riders. I hadn't heard of them and was intrigued. After a little research I came across the second movie, a documentary from the Sundance Film Festival. I haven't seen it yet but it debuts on PBS in May of 2011.
3) If, like me, you couldn't wait to find out more about the forgotten freedom riders, check this out below:
Freedom Riders
Who They Were: Initially 13 men and women (7 blacks and 6 whites) but eventually hundreds. They were supported by the group CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and also SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee).
What They Did: They attempted to ride public buses across the south; the catch was they mixed up society's racial expectations having some whites use the colored only seats, lines, diners, etc. and black people sit in the seats designated for the whites, stand in the white lines, and eat in the white diners.
Why They Did It: They were encouraged by the success of the non-violent sit-ins in the South (most notably Woolworth's in Greensboro, NC) and also wanted to test the Supreme Court ruling in Boynton vs. Virginia which declared that segregated public transportation was unconstitutional.
Why They Did It: They were encouraged by the success of the non-violent sit-ins in the South (most notably Woolworth's in Greensboro, NC) and also wanted to test the Supreme Court ruling in Boynton vs. Virginia which declared that segregated public transportation was unconstitutional.
Where They Traveled: They left from Washington, DC with the intent of ending in New Orleans, LA. However, after several beatings and riots, the ride stopped short in Jackson, MS.
What Happened: The Freedom Riders were yelled at, beaten with baseball bats and iron pipes, kicked and punched (with a heightened aggression towards the white freedom riders who were helping the blacks), arrested, trapped on their bus as it was set on fire, hospitalized, asked to write letters to their loved ones (in case they didn't finish the trip alive), surrounded by mobs, and much, much more.
When They Did It: May 4-17, 1961... that was not even 50 years ago!?! Blacks and whites were beating each other nearly to death to simply ride a bus side by side; fortunately, we have come a long way BUT if you watch the first movie (Freedom Writers), you will see we still have a long way to go.
The Results: After the violence really elevated in Alabama (specifically Anniston and Montgomery) peaking at a riot outside of a church, President Kennedy stepped in and national guardsmen were sent in to break up the scene. More freedom rides happened throughout the south and shortly thereafter segregation (seating on buses, separate lines, bathrooms and diners at bus stops, etc.) for public transportation ended.
What We Can Learn: Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. These relative nobodies, just average citizens, banded together and ACTED on something they believed in; it changed their lives and our country, for the better.
This last clip isn't part of the second movie; it is a video made by Vanderbilt University when they re-traveled the 1961 route with some of the original Freedom Riders. It is long but worth the watch.
Additional source: http://www.tahg.org/module_display.php?mod_id=58&review=yes#1994
Additional source: http://www.tahg.org/module_display.php?mod_id=58&review=yes#1994
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