The Freedom Riders

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Recommended: Black Power Movement in History grade 12

A group of people risked their life to obtain equality for African Americans in the south. The Freedom Riders were a group of around 13 people. Most of them were African Americans but there were always a few white skinned people in the group as well. There was no set leader for the Freedom Riders. The Freedom Riders rode interstate buses into the Southern United States. The south was referred to as the most segregated part of the U.S. The main goal of the Freedom Riders was to desegregate and become “separate but equal.” They had also set out to defy the Jim Crow Laws. The Freedom Riders had a little bit of help from two court cases: Irene Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia and Boynton v. Virginia. These court cases ruled that it was unjust to enforce segregation on buses. This made it easier for the Freedom Riders. Just because the buses were desegregated didn’t make it easier for the Freedom Riders though they were harassed, beaten upon, and were called extremely rude and derogatory terms. The Freedom Riders took an alternative approach to protesting. No violence was used by the Freedom Riders whatsoever. This brought a question to mind: to ask the question what were the strategies of the Freedom Riders and how were they effective in the south. Were they successful? The Freedom Riders used strategies such as Sit INS in local bars, Non-violent protests and the Montgomery Bus Boycotts and the lack of support from the officials. The Freedom riders were very successful in their attempts to decimate segregation in the south. One of the strategies used by the freedom riders were sit ins. Sit INS is an action defined as one or more people occupying an area for protest. They just sat in a segregated bar or lunch counters. The Freedom... ... middle of paper ... ... used the police from local authorities. All in all the Freedom Rides were a major part in the success of the Civil Rights Movement. The Freedom Riders were one of the few groups to go in and face the segregated south. Their historic and remarkable actions are inspirational to those who live today. The Civil Rights Movement was very successful due to the help from the Freedom Riders. All it took was to see African Americans to put their own lives in danger and for white people to use them as punching bags. Lastly, Racism is still going on today and there is still the Bull Connors of it as well. God created everyone in his own image so we are all made equal. Everyone should be treated equally. It is very sad to see the Freedom Riders walk away with very serious injuries but that’s what they had to do. The Freedom Riders are an inspiration to everyone living today.

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