Bobby Kennedy's Freedom Riders: The Student Leader
The year African American and white civil rights activists rode together on a bus was only 55 years ago (Freedom Riders). I find it a little difficult to swallow that this occurred in my mother’s life time, only twenty years before I was born. She was born 1961, which is the year this event occurred. The event was to challenge segregation.
According to the video “Freedom Riders: The Governor”, Alabama Governor John Patterson, did not put up with freedom riders and would defend the Alabama way of life. He did not want to do “what should have been done”. Bobby Kennedy was on side of freedom riders, he demanded the freedom riders had free passage. The Kennedy brothers were shocked, when their political ale (John Patterson) would not take their …show more content…
She eventually became the leader for the Nashville Student Movement. She was not just a pretty girl; she was deeply rooted in non-violence. The school would not serve black people in the cafeteria. Restrooms, pop machines, stores, cars, smoking areas were all separated. This is something she did not see in Chicago, and she was deeply disturbed. It was stated in the video, Diane was one of the most active students, always planning and looking ahead. Always asked the right questions. Diane stated, “I asked him, first of all, Mayor West, do you feel that is wrong to discriminate against a person solely on the bases of the race of color.” Mayor West stated, “I could not agree that is was morally right for someone to sale the merchandise and refuse service.” Diane replied, “I think we were very pleased with the mayor at that moment, and we all applauded” (Freedom Riders: The Student Leader). The Nashville group was very committed to desegregation. When the bombing of the bus occurred, felt like it was an attack on them. Had to make certain freedom riders continued even though there was a good possibility of people getting injured (Freedom Riders: The Student Leader).
This is only a small portion of what when on during this movement. So many segregations, so many fights and losses. We have come a long way from slavery and segregation, but I often wonder if we have come far enough. The freedom riders fought for their rights, as did many other blacks during this time. We may no longer have separate restrooms, entrances or vehicles but has segregation really
According to the video “Freedom Riders: The Governor”, Alabama Governor John Patterson, did not put up with freedom riders and would defend the Alabama way of life. He did not want to do “what should have been done”. Bobby Kennedy was on side of freedom riders, he demanded the freedom riders had free passage. The Kennedy brothers were shocked, when their political ale (John Patterson) would not take their …show more content…
She eventually became the leader for the Nashville Student Movement. She was not just a pretty girl; she was deeply rooted in non-violence. The school would not serve black people in the cafeteria. Restrooms, pop machines, stores, cars, smoking areas were all separated. This is something she did not see in Chicago, and she was deeply disturbed. It was stated in the video, Diane was one of the most active students, always planning and looking ahead. Always asked the right questions. Diane stated, “I asked him, first of all, Mayor West, do you feel that is wrong to discriminate against a person solely on the bases of the race of color.” Mayor West stated, “I could not agree that is was morally right for someone to sale the merchandise and refuse service.” Diane replied, “I think we were very pleased with the mayor at that moment, and we all applauded” (Freedom Riders: The Student Leader). The Nashville group was very committed to desegregation. When the bombing of the bus occurred, felt like it was an attack on them. Had to make certain freedom riders continued even though there was a good possibility of people getting injured (Freedom Riders: The Student Leader).
This is only a small portion of what when on during this movement. So many segregations, so many fights and losses. We have come a long way from slavery and segregation, but I often wonder if we have come far enough. The freedom riders fought for their rights, as did many other blacks during this time. We may no longer have separate restrooms, entrances or vehicles but has segregation really