DISCUSSION TOPIC: MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, 1955-1956

AND THE FREEDOM RIDES OF 1961

The Primary Question

• How would you begin to compare and contrast the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Freedom Rides as entry points into the American Civil Rights Movement?  What seems most interesting, shocking and/or surprising about each?

Secondary Question

• Assess the actions of and interaction between two or more of the following groups in either the Montgomery Bus Boycottor the Freedom Rides:  1) the movement's leadership; 2) the other participants within the movement; 3) Southern politicians; 4) other Southern whites; 5) the federal government and its different agencies; 6) other group/s that you identify as significant.  Note that none of the groups above should be considered as monolithic in nature.

Possible Starting Places

•   Montgomery Bus Boycott:

•   Martin Luther King And The Montgomery Story:  A contemporary comic book history of the movement.

• Montgomery Bus Boycott (Dec. 5, 1955 - Dec. 21, 1956).

• Freedom Rides Of 1961:

•   Marian Smith Holmes, "The Freedom Riders, Then And Now," Smithsonian (February 2009).

•   "Freedom Riders," American Experience, PBS, 2012:  A feature 2-hour documentary.

Montgomery Bus Boycott In The News

•   Ulish Carter, "The Montgomery Bus Boycott Started It All Yet The Man Behind It . . . Lost In History," New Pittsburgh Courier, February 16, 2014.

• Amanda Thomas, "Exhibit Marks 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott," Washington Post, December 1, 2005.

Freedom Rides In The News

•   James Patterson, "'Freedom Rider Diary,' By Carol Ruth Silver," SF Gate, February 21, 2014.

•   Clint Schemmer, "Freedom Rides From '60s Recalled," Fredericksburg News, February 17, 2014.

• James Nye, "Alabama Police Chief Apologizes To Freedom Rider Congressman For 1961 Beating By Ku Klux Klan," Daily Mail, March 4, 2013.

•   Matthew Shaer, "In America's Deep South, A Front Seat For Freedom Riders," Christian Science Monitor, July 13, 2011.

• Marisol Bello, "Alabama Town Faces History 50 Years After Freedom Rides," USA Today, June 9, 2011.

• "Freedom Riders Get Place In History 50 Years Later," USA Today, May 21, 2011.

• "50 Years After The Freedom Riders," Washington Post, May 6, 2011.

• Michael Cass, "Freedom Riders Mark 50 Years," USA Today, May 6, 2011.

•   "Slideshow: Remembering The Freedom Riders," Grio, May 4, 2011.

•   Larry Bleiberg, "Remembering The Freedom Rides 50 Years Later," Los Angeles Times, April 24, 2011.

•   Ewen MacAskill, "Freedom Riders Hit The Road Again, 50 Years After U.S. Civil Rights Milestone," Guardian, May 27, 2011.

• Bernard Lafayette, Jr., "Op-Ed Contributor: The Siege Of The Freedom Riders," New York Times, May 19, 2011.

• Gina Bellafante, "Voices From The Buses On The Road To Civil Rights," New York Times, May 15, 2011.

•   Mike Hale, "An Explorer Of Black History's Uncharted Terrain," New York Times, May 13, 2011.

•   Angela Tuck, "Fifty Years Later, Members Of The Freedom Riders Recall Their Heroic Stand Against Segregation And Racist Hatred," Nashville Scene, May 12, 2011.

•   Chris Richardson, "Freedom Riders Remembered 50 Years Later," Christian Science Monitor, May 5, 2011.

• Claire O'Neill, "Photos From 'Life' On The Freedom Riders' 50th Anniversary," NPR, May 4, 2011.

• "Civil Rights-Era Freedom Rides: 50 Years Later," Los Angeles Times, April 24, 2011.

• Alice Thomas-Tisdale, "Freedom Riders Of 1961 Ridicule Mississippi At Chicago Gathering," Jackson Advocate.

•   Theo Emery, "On A Trip Through History, Students Join Freedom Riders," New York Times, January 29, 2007.

•   Eric Foner, "Bound For Glory," New York Times, March 19, 2006.

•   William Grimes, "When Mile By Fearful Mile America Rode To Freedom," New York Times, January 25, 2006.

• "'Freedom' Ride To Mississippi," Guardian, May 25, 1961.

Rosa Parks In The News

•   Nell Irvin Painter, "Mother Of The Movement: 'The Rebellious Life Of Mrs. Rosa Parks,' By Jeanne Theoharis," New York Times, March 29, 2013.

•   Ashley Southall, "Statue Of Rosa Parks Is Unveiled At The Capitol," New York Times, February 27, 2013.

•   "Rosa Parks Statue Honours US Civil Rights Legend," BBC News, February 27, 2013.

• Charles B. Blow, "Op-Ed Columnist: Rosa Parks, Revisited," New York Times, February 1, 2013.

•   Jeremy W. Peters and Julie Bosman, "Rosa Parks Won A Fight, But Left A Licensing Rift," New York Times, October 8, 2006.

•   Monica Davey, "In Detroit, A Day To Honor Rosa Parks," New York Times, November 3, 2005.

•   Michael Janofsky, "Thousands Gather At The Capitol To Remember A Hero," New York Times, October 31, 2005.

•   Felicia R. Lee, "Grieving For Parks, Rights Leaders Ponder Future," New York Times, October 31, 2005.

• Juan Williams, "Op-Ed Contributor: The Long History Of A Bus Ride," New York Times, October 31, 2005.

•   "Obituary: Rosa Parks," BBC News, October 25, 2005.

•   "Civil Rights Champion Rosa Parks Dies," Guardian, October 25, 2005.

• Luix Overvea, "Rosa Parks Took Her Stand For Civil Rights -- By Sitting Down," Christian Science Monitor, November 29, 1985.

Web-Sites

•   "1956: King Convicted For Bus Boycott," BBC On This Day.

•   "Montgomery Bus Boycott," Amistad Digital Resource.

• Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956), Martin Luther King, Jr. And The Global Freedom Struggle.

• Montgomery Bus Boycott, History Learning Site:

• Montgomery Bus Boycott, Spartacus Educational:

• Freedom Riders, American Experience:  The companion web-site for the PBS documentary.

•   Freedom Rides Of 1961 -- Articles And Documents:

•   "1961: Freedom Riders Spark Montgomery Riots," BBC On This Day.

Montgomery Bus Boycott Video and Audio Sources

• "Jeanne Theoharis: 'The Rebellious Life Of Mrs. Rosa Parks,'" Diane Rehm Show, WAMU, February 6, 2013.

• "Jo-Ann Robinson: The Other Heroine Of The Montgomery Bus Boycott," Tell Me More, NPR, February 4, 2011.

• "Bus Boycott Changed Social Landscape, " News And Notes, NPR, December 6, 2005.

• "Civil Rights Leader Recalls Boycott," News And Notes, NPR, December 6, 2005.

• "50th Anniversary Of Montgomery Bus Boycott," Day To Day, NPR, December 5, 2005.

• "Montgomery Bus Boycott Revisited," New And Notes, NPR, December 5, 2005.

• "Montgomery Transit System In Poor Shape," All Things Considered, NPR, December 3, 2005.

• "Montgomery Bus Boycott Celebrations," News And Notes, NPR, December 2, 2005.

• "Monument Proposed For Civil Rights Pioneer," News And Notes, NPR, November 3, 2005.

•   "Civil Rights Icon Rosa Parks Dies," NPR, October 25, 2005.

•   "The Legacy Of Rosa Parks," Talk Of The Nation, October 25, 2005.

•   "Rep. John Lewis On Rosa Parks' Enduring Legacy," All Things Considered, October 25, 2005.

• "Rosa Parks 1913-2005: We Air A Rare 1956 Interview With Parks During The Montgomery Bus Boycott," Democracy Now, October 25, 2005.

•   "Rap Song Puts Rosa Parks In Spotlight," News And Notes, January 14, 2005.

Freedom Rides Video And Audio Sources

•   "Ain't Scared Of Your Jails, 1960-1961," Episode 3, Eyes On The Prize.

•   "Remembering The 'Freedom Riders,' 50 Years Later," Talk Of The Nation, NPR, May 5, 2011.

• "Freedom Riders Reflect On 50th Anniversary," Tell Me More, NPR, May 4, 2011.

•   "Get On The Bus: 50 Years Of 'Freedom Rides,'" Fresh Air, WHYY, April 28, 2011.

•   "Get On the Bus: The Freedom Riders Of 1961," Fresh Air, WHYY, January 12, 2006.

•   "A Founder Of CORE Recalls The Freedom Rides," Fresh Air, WHYY, January 12, 2006.

Articles

• Erin Overbey, "Calvin Trillin Reports From The South," New Yorker (July 21, 2011).

•   Ellen Spears, "Memorializing The Freedom Riders," Southern Spaces (June 29, 2009).

• Eric Foner, "Rosa Parks: A Woman Of Substance," Nation (November 7, 2005).