Mad river theater works presents freedom riders study guide for teacher classroom use performance. The freedom rides was part of a whole rather than a pinnacle. Freedom ride is a confronting young adult novel from awardwinning australian author sue lawson. Teenager robbie knows that things are difficult for local aboriginal families, but thats the way it has always been and its nothing to do with him. They did not agree with racial segregation in restaurants,waiting rooms and terminal buses. The ridein as a way of resisting segregation goes back at least to 1841.
After the alabama encounters, the first freedom riders regrouped, and many more rides were to follow during that fateful year. The freedom riders, then and now fighting racial segregation in the south, these activists were beaten and arrested. Based on real events, this gripping comingofage story about civil rights, racism and indigenous issues is perfectly suited for teens and lovers of historical fiction. The fiftieth anniversary of the freedom rides this year has brought out a number of moving books, films, and other website materials. In saying this, there was very little impact of the freedom rides in the south of america such as alabama as it was viewed as a challenge of authority. At the end of the rides the riders had successfully convinced the federal government to enforce federal laws for the integration of interstate travel. May 1961 nashville students and sncc pick up freedom rides.
Nashville students and sncc pick up freedom rides sncc. The levels of violence by those who opposed the freedom rides was alarming, this made the whites in the north turn against the segregationists in the south. However, the students in nashville, tennessee, who had already successfully challenged segregation there, felt that to give up in. Books depicts the freedom riders era of the civil rights movement.
Significance of the freedom riders the freedom riders. The names of the original freedom riders may 4, 1961 may 17, 1961 the 1961 freedom riders were inspired by the journey of reconciliation, made by civil rights activists in 1947. John lewis and jim zwerg on the front lines of the civil rights audible audio edition. Freedom riders is the powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story of six months in 1961 that changed america forever. Pam munoz ryan author, brian selznick illustrator 4. In 1961, the congress of racial equality core, having recovered from organizational challenges of the 1950s, was eager to claim a central place in the burgeoning struggle in the south.
Freedom riders were groups of white and african american civil rights activists who participated in freedom rides, bus trips through the american south in 1961 to protest segregated bus terminals. The freedom riders inspired african americans all around the country. By ann bausum published by national geographic, 2006 79 pages. Civil rights figures civil rights leaders civil rights movement history channel us history history facts history books the freedom freedom riders united states historia dwarf american history. Kennedys presidency, more than 400 americans participated in a bold and dangerous experiment designed to awaken the conscience of a complacent nation. This film tells the powerful story of the freedom riders taking brave and decided actions to dismantle the structures of discriminationspecifically segregated interstate bus travelthrough nonviolence. Southern states ignored the decision and the federal government chose not to enforce it. The twohour documentary is based on raymond arsenaults book freedom riders. Freedom riders in 1946, the supreme court ruled in morgan v.
Freedom riders dvd,this inspirational documentary is about a band of courageous civil rights activists calling themselves the freedom riders. John lewis and jim zwerg on the front lines of the civil rights movement is a book that should be read and booktalked by librarians and teachers everywhere. Freedom riders revisiting the 1961 freedom rides pbs. It shows how a common interest in justice created the convergent path that enabled these young men to meet as freedom riders on a bus journey south. These two young men, empowered by their successes in the nashville student. Developed in partnership with pbss american experience, the guide democracy in action supports educators and students in their use of the documentary freedom riders. In what author raymond arsenault calls the first historical study of the freedom rides, freedom riders. Watch freedom riders american experience official site. The mob holds freedom rider bus burned outside of anniston al. Freedom riders end racial segregation in southern u. Freedom riders is the definitive history of the 1961 freedom ride campaigns and one of the best books written about the civil rights struggle. No other book on the freedom riders has used such a personal perspective. The freedom riders movement of the 1960s represents a turning point in the greater civil rights movement because it demonstrated an expansion of the movement to youth culture and ended the governments lack of engagement in civil rights. The freedom riders had a great role in achieving civil rights.
The groups were confronted by arresting police officers as well as horrific violence from white protestors along their routes, but also drew international attention to their cause. Watch freedom riders american experience official site pbs. A lot of people went through hell in an attempt to level the plahying field. In 80 pages containing several dozen photographs, a timeline, a resource guide, and an unforgettable true story of heroism amidst the making of american history, freedom riders. For several hours the freedom riders and the congregation sang hymns and freedom songs and listened to testimonials about courage and commitment. The consolidation story, from civil rights to the jaguars deftly weaves an intricate narrative of the 1961 freedom rides, the civil rights. 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 compares and contrasts the childhoods of john lewis and james. Fifty years ago, in the spring and summer of 1961, a brave group of activists dared to commit one of the most dangerous acts imaginable at the time. The names, r esidence s, ages, race and occupations of the freedom. Firstly, the freedom riders placed a great deal of pressure on the federal government to actually do something. The work of writing freedom riders, as with each of my books, starts with lots of reading.
Arrested as a freedom rider in june of 1961, carol ruth silver, a twentytwoyearold recent college graduate originally from massachusetts, spent the next forty days in mississippi jail cells, including the maximum security unit at the infamous parchman prison farm. The freedom rides and the violent reactions that they caused helped the civil rights movement and called attention to the segregation laws of the south. Freedom riders 2 dedication for susan synopsis freedom riders is set in 1961 as two young women from harvard try to decide if they should join the freedom rides of the 1960s. The freedom riders background information what lack of civil rights did the freedom riders oppose.
Grade 59 the incredible courage and determination of young people, black, white, male and female, who risked great personal danger and even death as they participated in the freedom rides during the civil rights movement are the focus of this remarkable book. Freedom riders mug shots eric etheridge demographicpolitical analysis of freedom riders, henry gerner, 1964. John lewis and jim zwerg on the front lines of the civil rights movement. This saga, based on raymond arsenaults book of the same name, features testimony from a fascinating cast of central characters. 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. In 1961, the freedom riders traveled by bus through alabama and mississippi to challenge segregation at southern bus terminals.
Freedom rides and riders civil rights movement veterans. Kennedy was a politician who wanted to participate in the movement, thus creating the second series of this type of movement. The first group of freedom riders, sponsored by core and traveling in two groups on trailways and greyhound buses, was met with so much violence that the rides were abandoned. The act of making a strong public expression of disagreement and disapproval. But as the spirit of hope and justice rose inside the crowded sanctuary, a wholly different mood of defiance and outrage developed outside.
John lewis and jim zwerg on the front lines of the civil. Freedom ridersfreedom riders were african american and white protesters, many associated with the congress of racial equality 1. Virginia that no state could order segregation on interstate buses. 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. Freedom riders compares and contrasts the childhoods of john lewis and james zwerg in a way that helps young readers understand the segregated experience of our nations.
Riders in anniston al, attacking the greyhound bus, smashing the windows, and slashing the tires. From may until november 1961, more than 400 black and white. Pbs american experience, film, freedom riders the website for the pbs american experience film, freedom riders, includes historical material, maps, biographies, teaching guides, and more. The political significance of the freedom rides by tom kahn, 1962. Have ongradelevel and abovegradelevel students research the major events from the civil rights movement and. The second freedom riders movement was created in 1961 by jfk. Freedom riders compares and contrasts the childhoods of john lewis and james zwerg in a way that helps young readers understand the segregated experience of our nations past. This documentary is based partly on raymond arsenaults acclaimed book freedom riders. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
The bus tries to flee, but the attackers give chase, halting it on the outskirts of town, then setting it on fire. Ralph abernathy was a key figure in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and beyond. The documentary by stanley nelson 1674 words 7 pages 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. How did two youthsone raised in an allblack community in the deep south, the other brought up with only whites in the midwestbecome partners for freedom during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Group of civil rights workers who took bus trips through southern states in 1961 to protest illegal bus segregation. Freedom riders compares and contrasts the childhoods of john lewis, growing up. Of the eighteen original freedom riders, two were women, six were white, and twelve were black. Freedom riders tried to use whitesonly restrooms and lunch counters at bus stations in alabama, south carolina and other southern states. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company.
The freedom riders, then and now history smithsonian. The freedom riders risked their lives in the name of freedom. Another one of the major successes of the book is how arsenault fits the freedom riders into the political culture of the time, and also within what is happening throughout the world. Freedom riders is the powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story from awardwinning filmmaker stanley nelson of this six months in 1961 that changed america forever. Although the freedom riders were attacked and threatened with violence from segregationist in the south.
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. In may of 2004, during the 43rd anniversary month of the original freedom rides, i took a freedom ride of my own. In addition, when whites in the north saw the violence used against the freedom riders, they turned against the segregationists in the south. Freedom ride its the summer of 1965 in the small country town of walgaree. The family of a little white girl who gave the riders water to drink was later ostracized by the community. The riders were violently attacked by racists and members of the ku klux klan for their actions. The many injured riders were given minimal to no treatment at the local hospital.