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Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961
On May 4, 1961, a group of thirteen black and white civil rights activists launched the Freedom Ride, aiming to challenge the practice of segregation on buses and at bus terminal facilities in the South. The Ride would last twelve days. Despite the fact that segregation on buses crossing state lines was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1946, and segregation in interstate transportation facilities was ruled unconstitutional in 1960, these rulings were routinely ignored in the South. The thirteen Freedom Riders intended to test the laws and draw attention to the lack of enforcement with their peaceful protest. As the Riders traveled deeper into the South, they encountered increasing violence and opposition. Noted civil rights author Larry Dane Brimner relies on archival documents and rarely seen images to tell the riveting story of the little-known first days of the Freedom Ride. With author's note, source notes, bibliography, and index.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2017
32 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
Larry Dane Brimner
162 books32 followersLarry Dane Brimner is the recipient of the 2018 Robert F. Sibert Award for the most distinguished informational book for children for his title Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961. He is known for his well-researched, innovative, and award-winning nonfiction for young readers, and is the author of multiple acclaimed civil rights titles, including Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights; and Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
March 19, 2018
The County library system has it as YA but it has a lot of white space and uses a fairly simple text. I would consider it J. Just because it covers violence and hatred shouldn't keep it from being J. As Brimner noted, the heroine who brought the beat up Freedom Riders buckets of water to wash their tear soaked eyes from the smoke was only 12. The power is as much in photos as in the text. This deserves the Sibert Award! The text is a bit understated but is quite powerful too. The restrained text is very fitting to the style of the Freedom Riders who were modeling Ghandi's belief in nonviolence. But when you turn the last page of text and look at the photograph there, it hits you right between the eyes!
I pretty much read this in one sitting. It is a short and powerful book. It will be very useful to teachers explaining the Freedom Fighters. I knew very little of this and I learned a lot. This is highly recommended.
I pretty much read this in one sitting. It is a short and powerful book. It will be very useful to teachers explaining the Freedom Fighters. I knew very little of this and I learned a lot. This is highly recommended.
June 20, 2020
Short informative account of the Freedom Riders, and the violence they encountered. Lots of interesting photos included.
December 22, 2017
Get this into your classroom. Book talk this with your students, read aloud excerpts, and then leave for them to grab up. Make this part of an integrated unit of study. Buy a set for small groups to read and discuss. Spend time looking closely at the photographs. Introduce words like perseverance, determination, courage, tenacity.
Brimner never fails. His writing is straightforward and to the point. This is what happened + You can judge from there. The layout and design of this book is aesthetically appealing - students will not be overwhelmed by pages and pages of running text. Instead--the large print, the spacious layout and design allow the reader to take a breath and then breathe into this serious topic, to contemplate, to begin to question whether they could step up and ACT like the freedom riders did.
I read this book a few days ago and the content has stayed with me. It's the kind of book students could talk about in small groups and respond to in writing or some other type of response. Teachers could ask them to wrestle with questions like "How did strategy play a role in this movement?" or "What was important about how people from all walks of life, from different races play a role in this movement?" or "What did you have to be willing to do to be a freedom rider? Mentally and physically?" Powerful potential.
Brimner never fails. His writing is straightforward and to the point. This is what happened + You can judge from there. The layout and design of this book is aesthetically appealing - students will not be overwhelmed by pages and pages of running text. Instead--the large print, the spacious layout and design allow the reader to take a breath and then breathe into this serious topic, to contemplate, to begin to question whether they could step up and ACT like the freedom riders did.
I read this book a few days ago and the content has stayed with me. It's the kind of book students could talk about in small groups and respond to in writing or some other type of response. Teachers could ask them to wrestle with questions like "How did strategy play a role in this movement?" or "What was important about how people from all walks of life, from different races play a role in this movement?" or "What did you have to be willing to do to be a freedom rider? Mentally and physically?" Powerful potential.
August 9, 2018
Sibert Medal (2018) - The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award, established by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2001 with support from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the preceding year. The award is named in honor of Robert F. Sibert, the long-time President of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. of Jacksonville, Illinois. ALSC administers the award.
A fabulous piece of literature that significantly contributes to the History of the Civil Rights era. Although cataloged as a Children's book, I sincerely believe adults and teens would get a lot out of this, as well!
A fabulous piece of literature that significantly contributes to the History of the Civil Rights era. Although cataloged as a Children's book, I sincerely believe adults and teens would get a lot out of this, as well!
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June 21, 2018I would use the web strategy to talk about what exactly the children think a freedom rider is. This would be from previous knowledge. Then after we read the book I would have them add in examples from the story too.
The questions that I would ask would be the following:
Creating Question:
Formulate what you think will happen to the 13 friends, as they journey on the bus to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.
Evaluating Question:
Argue why you know that everyone in our society deserves equal rights.
-Because every person is a person no matter their race. In today's day in age racism is not accepted. Back in the 1960's it was not the same. They had to do many different things in order to have the same rights that they have now today. These rights should have just been naturally given to them, but our society in the 1960's was corrupt. Today we know that everyone can go wherever they would like. We all can share this world and live happily.
Analyzing Question:
Identify some of the friends who were on the bus. Give descriptions of them and some facts about them from the reading.
"-James Farmer: An African American male who was the organizer of the freedom ride in 1961.
-John Lewis: An African American male who was a student from Tennessee. He was studying theology. Lewis wanted to be a preacher and wanted to be involved in this activist movement.
-Walter Bergman: A White male who was the oldest freedom rider on the bus. He is from Michigan and is a professor."
Page 19
Applying Question:
Apply some of the struggles the freedom riders went through to if they happened to you today. How would you handle it? Would this type of unacceptable be accepted today?
Understanding Question:
Paraphrase what happens to the freedom riders and their bus on page 57 until the end of the book.
Remembering Question:
Describe some characteristics of the freedom writers. What are some of their strengths? Did they have any weakness's?
The questions that I would ask would be the following:
Creating Question:
Formulate what you think will happen to the 13 friends, as they journey on the bus to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.
Evaluating Question:
Argue why you know that everyone in our society deserves equal rights.
-Because every person is a person no matter their race. In today's day in age racism is not accepted. Back in the 1960's it was not the same. They had to do many different things in order to have the same rights that they have now today. These rights should have just been naturally given to them, but our society in the 1960's was corrupt. Today we know that everyone can go wherever they would like. We all can share this world and live happily.
Analyzing Question:
Identify some of the friends who were on the bus. Give descriptions of them and some facts about them from the reading.
"-James Farmer: An African American male who was the organizer of the freedom ride in 1961.
-John Lewis: An African American male who was a student from Tennessee. He was studying theology. Lewis wanted to be a preacher and wanted to be involved in this activist movement.
-Walter Bergman: A White male who was the oldest freedom rider on the bus. He is from Michigan and is a professor."
Page 19
Applying Question:
Apply some of the struggles the freedom riders went through to if they happened to you today. How would you handle it? Would this type of unacceptable be accepted today?
Understanding Question:
Paraphrase what happens to the freedom riders and their bus on page 57 until the end of the book.
Remembering Question:
Describe some characteristics of the freedom writers. What are some of their strengths? Did they have any weakness's?
November 24, 2017
This book is a great resource for students or classes studying the Civil Rights Movement and especially the Freedom Riders. It is packed with archival photos of the riders, as well as images of other protests such as marches and sit-ins. Key figures in the Freedom Ride such as the riders, organizers, and "Bull" Connor are shown, but there are also images such as signs posted by the KKK welcoming visitors to Tuscaloosa and even one shot of a young child wearing the white robe and hood of the KKK. The text walks through events in chronological order, narrating the actions of the riders, the response of law enforcement and those opposed to integration, and comments on what was shared about the ride in the media of the time.
The format of the book is large, like a coffee table edition. This makes the photos an excellent size for viewing details. The font size is correspondingly large, as well. A section on "Landmark events before the Twelve Days in May" serves as background for the story, highlighting court cases such as Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education. The story of the ride itself begins with a cast of characters, "Who's on the Buses?" which gives the name, race, and age of each rider. The closing section of the book gives a more detailed description of each rider's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Back matter also includes a bibliography, source notes, index, and picture credits.
Highly recommended for middle grades and up, especially classrooms and school libraries providing U.S. History materials to students. I received a copy from the publisher for review purposes.
The format of the book is large, like a coffee table edition. This makes the photos an excellent size for viewing details. The font size is correspondingly large, as well. A section on "Landmark events before the Twelve Days in May" serves as background for the story, highlighting court cases such as Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education. The story of the ride itself begins with a cast of characters, "Who's on the Buses?" which gives the name, race, and age of each rider. The closing section of the book gives a more detailed description of each rider's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Back matter also includes a bibliography, source notes, index, and picture credits.
Highly recommended for middle grades and up, especially classrooms and school libraries providing U.S. History materials to students. I received a copy from the publisher for review purposes.
March 25, 2018
It is hard to imagine the courage it took for those 13 men and women to board those two Greyhound buses on May 4, 1961 as the Freedom Riders set off from Washington, D.C. bound for New Orleans, Louisiana. They surely knew some of what they might face as they attempt to highlight how the law is being ignored and how segregation still exists on those buses. But as frightening as the anticipation of what might lie ahead as the buses headed further south might have been, how much harder would it have been to climb back on the buses after some of the violence these men and women saw and experienced! In his usual thorough fashion, Larry Dane Brimner puts his readers right on the bus with the Freedom Riders, charting their course through various states including Virginia, South Carolina and Alabama, as they meet violence with nonviolence. The book contains several large black and white photographs as well as plentiful white space and large font size and carefully describes what happens over the course of those 12 days in May. In addition to providing context for the bus rides into the South, the author includes brief notes on all 13 participants. I'm pleased to be able to offer this volume to my students who are interested in social justice and civil rights as well as the history of segregation in the United States.
December 7, 2017
_*_*_*_*_*
In May 1961, thirteen individuals from different backgrounds (black and white, young and old, northern and southern) boarded buses in Washington, D.C. with a plan to defy the Jim Crow laws of the south and integrate buses. They experienced hate and violence during their journey and a few were gravely injured. Twelve Days in May first gives context for the freedom rides by detailing the major court cases up to that point and then tells the full, unvarnished story of those twelve days.
_*_*_*_*_*
Full-page images, first person accounts and emphasized text all contribute to this very strong addition to the author's nonfiction books about the civil rights movement. The story is told chronologically and pictures take the forefront. Readers could spend a long time analyzing the photos in this book to enhance their understanding of the events and luckily the photos are frequent and large. The bibliography, suggested source list, index and biographies of riders are appended.
In my opinion, everyone should be exposed to this book. It would be a great addition to civil rights units. Perfect for grades 5+!
In May 1961, thirteen individuals from different backgrounds (black and white, young and old, northern and southern) boarded buses in Washington, D.C. with a plan to defy the Jim Crow laws of the south and integrate buses. They experienced hate and violence during their journey and a few were gravely injured. Twelve Days in May first gives context for the freedom rides by detailing the major court cases up to that point and then tells the full, unvarnished story of those twelve days.
_*_*_*_*_*
Full-page images, first person accounts and emphasized text all contribute to this very strong addition to the author's nonfiction books about the civil rights movement. The story is told chronologically and pictures take the forefront. Readers could spend a long time analyzing the photos in this book to enhance their understanding of the events and luckily the photos are frequent and large. The bibliography, suggested source list, index and biographies of riders are appended.
In my opinion, everyone should be exposed to this book. It would be a great addition to civil rights units. Perfect for grades 5+!
January 13, 2018
As Martin Luther King, Jr. Day approaches you should check out this book. Larry Dane Brimner has put together a wonderful book filled with historically accurate information and photographs arrived in a very engaging fashion.
I wasn't yet born when the events covered in this book happened but as a historian I have learned a bit about them. Usually history is presented in a dry fashion but the layout of this book makes one eager to keep reading. Not only that, but if you slow down and look at the photos you will understand even more. Besides photos there are also a political cartoon from the period that made my blood boil.
The most moving part of the book is the honest descriptions of the people who took part in the Freedom Ride. While they are all heroes they also all just every day men and women, black and white, who decided it was time to do something. Here's to hoping more of us can follow their example today before we lose so much of what it has taken over a century and a half to accomplish.
I wasn't yet born when the events covered in this book happened but as a historian I have learned a bit about them. Usually history is presented in a dry fashion but the layout of this book makes one eager to keep reading. Not only that, but if you slow down and look at the photos you will understand even more. Besides photos there are also a political cartoon from the period that made my blood boil.
The most moving part of the book is the honest descriptions of the people who took part in the Freedom Ride. While they are all heroes they also all just every day men and women, black and white, who decided it was time to do something. Here's to hoping more of us can follow their example today before we lose so much of what it has taken over a century and a half to accomplish.
February 17, 2018
On February 12, 2018 the American Library Association Youth Media Awards aired live from approximately 10:00 am to 11:00 am EST. It doesn't get any better than watching this event with a friend and colleague and two classes of fifth grade students. There were congratulatory yells, clapping, laughing, jumping up and down and verbal comments shared among those watching in that classroom.
When the 2018 Sibert Medal title was announced, one voice, mine, was a bit louder than the others. Twice Twelve Days In May: Freedom Ride 1961 (Calkins Creek, an imprint of Highlights, October 24, 2017) written by Larry Dane Brimner was renewed from our public library. I had it on the top of the stack next to my computer. For some reason, I knew this book was special. I was not ready to return it to the library. Now I know why. I read it cover to cover in a single sitting the next day.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
When the 2018 Sibert Medal title was announced, one voice, mine, was a bit louder than the others. Twice Twelve Days In May: Freedom Ride 1961 (Calkins Creek, an imprint of Highlights, October 24, 2017) written by Larry Dane Brimner was renewed from our public library. I had it on the top of the stack next to my computer. For some reason, I knew this book was special. I was not ready to return it to the library. Now I know why. I read it cover to cover in a single sitting the next day.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
September 18, 2017
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I just watched the documentary, I'M NOT YOUR NEGRO and this book was the perfect companion to that powerful movie about racial discrimination. This book beautifully describes the events of the 1961 Freedom ride. Filled with real pictures and real facts, the story is interspersed with words that are larger and emphasized.
INTEGRATION.
JAIL. NO BAIL.
KEEP THE RACES APART.
KEEP THEM SEPARATE.
This book has shorter chapters to keep middle graders interested and engaged. I learned so much about the Freedom Ride. This is an important book for readers.
I just watched the documentary, I'M NOT YOUR NEGRO and this book was the perfect companion to that powerful movie about racial discrimination. This book beautifully describes the events of the 1961 Freedom ride. Filled with real pictures and real facts, the story is interspersed with words that are larger and emphasized.
INTEGRATION.
JAIL. NO BAIL.
KEEP THE RACES APART.
KEEP THEM SEPARATE.
This book has shorter chapters to keep middle graders interested and engaged. I learned so much about the Freedom Ride. This is an important book for readers.
February 19, 2021
13 Civil Rights Activists, 12 Days, Supreme Court Ruling from 1946 not supported or enforced in the South in 1961, rare archival photos and the journey of peaceful protesters regarding the segregation and racism faced on a 12 Day ride for Equality....
A fantastic historical glimpse into those seeking justice and equality, Civil rights Historian Larry Dane Brimner does a fantastic job of providing this Middle-Grade audience into a world that they can help change themselves, by looking back to move forward.
This book is also an Award Winner for the Sibert (Juvenile Non-Fiction) and well-deserved.
A fantastic historical glimpse into those seeking justice and equality, Civil rights Historian Larry Dane Brimner does a fantastic job of providing this Middle-Grade audience into a world that they can help change themselves, by looking back to move forward.
This book is also an Award Winner for the Sibert (Juvenile Non-Fiction) and well-deserved.
December 22, 2017
This is an excellent middle-grade nonfiction book about the Freedom Ride of 1961. Brimner keeps the language simple enough for younger readers to understand, but doesn't talk down. The book is filled with quotes from Riders and photographs from the time. The end matter includes biographies of the Riders, an excellent bibliography, source notes for the quotations, and an index.
While this book is geared toward younger readers, it also serves as an excellent introduction for adults who want to learn the pertinent details of the Freedom Ride of 1961 in an engaging manner.
While this book is geared toward younger readers, it also serves as an excellent introduction for adults who want to learn the pertinent details of the Freedom Ride of 1961 in an engaging manner.
March 6, 2018
Sibert Medal 2018. Black typeface on white pages alternates with white typeface against black backdrops to stark effect, and words taken from quotations, segregation signs, or slogans from the ride occasionally pop out from the pages. Archival photos depict the ride and violent confrontations, including the firebombing of one bus. This well-researched and accessible account of a precedent-setting protest ends with an epilogue and updates on the 13 riders.
March 21, 2018
A powerful book that walks the reader through a day by day account of a Freedom Ride in 1961. The daily breakdown of their brave journey, the descriptions of people involved coupled with the photographs make this a perfect choice for students studying the Civil Rights Movement. The text is organized in an easy to read design that keeps the reader fully engaged. I will be recommending this to our 5th grade teachers and students.
March 31, 2018
A quick read. The Freedom Riders faced hatred and prejudice as they used civil disobedience to change segregation laws. The narration is factual and with an observant view of the violence and not sensationalized. Would pair well with "We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March" by Cynthia Levinson for discussions.
February 17, 2018
Great book about a hard topic. I like the way the book is laid out, the photos used and the text styles all make it highly readable, especially for a young audience. It's a damn shame that we are back here as a nation, though.
March 15, 2018
This is a wonderful resource to help students understand the methods used and the sacrifices made by people involved in the civil rights movement. It really brings the Freedom Ride to life. I highly recommend it.
December 19, 2018
Sibert Award winner. Excellent narrative and use of primary source photographs. This book makes me embarrassed for Alabama.
May 23, 2018
Strikingly designed, the present tense, terse narrative has a documentary feel. The courage these people possessed is astounding. Excellent addition to any collection.
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April 22, 2019Intermediate Nonfiction
Bloom's Taxonomy
Knowledge:
Describe what Jim Crow was.
Comprehension:
Explain how the Indian leader Gandhi influenced the Freedom Riders and lunch counter Sit-ins.
Application:
Write a letter from the viewpoint of a Freedom Rider to the President of the United States. Tell President Kennedy about what motivated you to participate and about your experience.
Dear Mr. President,
My decision to join the Freedom Riders in May was not an easy one. I knew that there were many dangers that would face me however, I could not sit back and watch the injustice towards my African American countrymen any longer.
As we progressed further south, it became more and more dangerous for us to try to demonstrate in a calm non violent manner that the Jim Crow laws supported by segregationists are wrong. Many of my fellow riders were beaten to the point they needed medical treatment and at times that was refused because of intimidation by the segregationists. We had bombs thrown in one bus and were forced to disembark only to be faced with an angry mob that beat us. Many times lawmen turned away or watched attacks against us as the occured.
It is imperative that laws are changed and all countrymen and women are made to feel secure regardless of their race. We hope that our actions showed our strength through our nonviolent reactions ad our commitment to this idea of desegregation. We ask that you look closely at the policies and practices that are unfairly affecting so many in our country.
Respectfully,
Naomi Nielsen
Analysis:
Summarize the role the Ku Klux Klan and segregationists had in the Freedom Rides.
The Ku Klux Klan and Segregationists were angered by the threat of changes in their daily life. These people were so committed to their belief in their racial superiority that they were willing to commit acts of violence bordering on outright murder, in order to maintain the status quo. These groups even pressured hospitals and their staff to refuse treatment to people violating the Jim Crow laws and customs they were fighting to protect. These groups chased down the buses and when they couldn’t access the riders themselves, destroyed the buses by breaking windows, slashing tires and even making gasoline bombs to throw inside to force riders off. The idea behind these acts was intimidation in order to prevent change.
Synthesis:
Write a tweet (maximum of 20 words) from the viewpoint of a Freedom Rider.
May fourteenth. After leaving Atlanta, tires were slashed. Mob threw bombs on the bus. Forced off to face attackers.
Evaluation:
Write a newspaper article detailing the hardships and dangers of the trip and experiences of the first Freedom Riders.
Riding for Freedom: the Cost of Desegregation
It all started on May 4th, 1961 in Washington, D.C. Thirteen men and women of various ages, black and white, began a trip to challenge the customs of segregation on a journey to Alabama. These riders attempted to use all facilities as equals throughout the entirety of their trip. What follows is a brief account of their experience.
What began with ‘cold stares’ in Richmond, developed into being refused service by waiters, arrests for shoe shines designated for ‘whites only’, arrests and fines, and eventually physical attacks. May 9th saw physical attacks on three of the riders. John Lewis, Albert Bigelow and Genevieve Hughes are confronted by two young white men as they attempt to go into the white only waiting room. From this point, tensions continue to escalate resulting in a chase and attacks on May fourteenth.
It is Mother’s Day; seven Freedom Riders are aboard a Greyhound bus that is leaving Atlanta. Along this route is the city of Anniston, Alabama. As the bus pulls in, it is quickly surrounded by an angry mob. Undercover police block the door, preventing outsiders from boarding. Windows are broken and police finally clear a path for the bus. At this time, tires are slashed. The bus is followed by Ku Klux Klan members and segregationists. As the bus is forced to slow, the tires blow out isolating the riders on the bus from direct assistance that could be provided. Gasoline bombs are thrown through the windows causing the riders to exit the bus and face the violence of the mob outside. The injured riders are finally taken to a hospital where they are treated and released. This only after the white riders exit the ambulances, refusing to be treated if the black riders aren’t shown the same care.
Buses in the area are shut down. The riders attempt to find planes out, but those are also halted due to bomb threats. It takes Representative Seigenthaler of the Department of Justice stepping in to help these riders. He was sent by President Kennedy; with his help, the riders board a plane and are in New Orleans about an hour later. Their journey is over, but not their story.
Bloom's Taxonomy
Knowledge:
Describe what Jim Crow was.
Comprehension:
Explain how the Indian leader Gandhi influenced the Freedom Riders and lunch counter Sit-ins.
Application:
Write a letter from the viewpoint of a Freedom Rider to the President of the United States. Tell President Kennedy about what motivated you to participate and about your experience.
Dear Mr. President,
My decision to join the Freedom Riders in May was not an easy one. I knew that there were many dangers that would face me however, I could not sit back and watch the injustice towards my African American countrymen any longer.
As we progressed further south, it became more and more dangerous for us to try to demonstrate in a calm non violent manner that the Jim Crow laws supported by segregationists are wrong. Many of my fellow riders were beaten to the point they needed medical treatment and at times that was refused because of intimidation by the segregationists. We had bombs thrown in one bus and were forced to disembark only to be faced with an angry mob that beat us. Many times lawmen turned away or watched attacks against us as the occured.
It is imperative that laws are changed and all countrymen and women are made to feel secure regardless of their race. We hope that our actions showed our strength through our nonviolent reactions ad our commitment to this idea of desegregation. We ask that you look closely at the policies and practices that are unfairly affecting so many in our country.
Respectfully,
Naomi Nielsen
Analysis:
Summarize the role the Ku Klux Klan and segregationists had in the Freedom Rides.
The Ku Klux Klan and Segregationists were angered by the threat of changes in their daily life. These people were so committed to their belief in their racial superiority that they were willing to commit acts of violence bordering on outright murder, in order to maintain the status quo. These groups even pressured hospitals and their staff to refuse treatment to people violating the Jim Crow laws and customs they were fighting to protect. These groups chased down the buses and when they couldn’t access the riders themselves, destroyed the buses by breaking windows, slashing tires and even making gasoline bombs to throw inside to force riders off. The idea behind these acts was intimidation in order to prevent change.
Synthesis:
Write a tweet (maximum of 20 words) from the viewpoint of a Freedom Rider.
May fourteenth. After leaving Atlanta, tires were slashed. Mob threw bombs on the bus. Forced off to face attackers.
Evaluation:
Write a newspaper article detailing the hardships and dangers of the trip and experiences of the first Freedom Riders.
Riding for Freedom: the Cost of Desegregation
It all started on May 4th, 1961 in Washington, D.C. Thirteen men and women of various ages, black and white, began a trip to challenge the customs of segregation on a journey to Alabama. These riders attempted to use all facilities as equals throughout the entirety of their trip. What follows is a brief account of their experience.
What began with ‘cold stares’ in Richmond, developed into being refused service by waiters, arrests for shoe shines designated for ‘whites only’, arrests and fines, and eventually physical attacks. May 9th saw physical attacks on three of the riders. John Lewis, Albert Bigelow and Genevieve Hughes are confronted by two young white men as they attempt to go into the white only waiting room. From this point, tensions continue to escalate resulting in a chase and attacks on May fourteenth.
It is Mother’s Day; seven Freedom Riders are aboard a Greyhound bus that is leaving Atlanta. Along this route is the city of Anniston, Alabama. As the bus pulls in, it is quickly surrounded by an angry mob. Undercover police block the door, preventing outsiders from boarding. Windows are broken and police finally clear a path for the bus. At this time, tires are slashed. The bus is followed by Ku Klux Klan members and segregationists. As the bus is forced to slow, the tires blow out isolating the riders on the bus from direct assistance that could be provided. Gasoline bombs are thrown through the windows causing the riders to exit the bus and face the violence of the mob outside. The injured riders are finally taken to a hospital where they are treated and released. This only after the white riders exit the ambulances, refusing to be treated if the black riders aren’t shown the same care.
Buses in the area are shut down. The riders attempt to find planes out, but those are also halted due to bomb threats. It takes Representative Seigenthaler of the Department of Justice stepping in to help these riders. He was sent by President Kennedy; with his help, the riders board a plane and are in New Orleans about an hour later. Their journey is over, but not their story.
June 21, 2019
I think this would be perfect for a Social Studies crossover, especially for a civil rights lesson. I think it would help students understand just how hard it was to gain the rights we have today.
Questions:
Remembering: What day did the freedom ride begin?
Understanding: Why not fight back while being beaten? Why non-violence?
Applying: Construct a timeline of the Freedom Ride with 10 points or less.
May 4: Freedom Ride begins in Washington, D.C. May 5: Freedom Ride makes its first stop in Petersburg, Virginia. May 7: Ed Blankenheim is refused service for sitting at the colored-only counter for lunch. Later that day the station manager gives in and serves James Peck, Genevieve Hughes and Walter Bergman when they sit at the colored-only counter. May 8: Joe Perkins is the first Freedom Rider to be arrested. He stays in jail, refusing bail. May 9: In rock Hill, South Carolina Al Bigelow and John Lewis are attacked because Lewis attempts to enter the white-only waiting room at the Greyhound terminal. May 10: Freedom Riders desegregate the Rock Hill bus terminals. In Winnsboro, South Carolina Hank Thomas and James Peck are arrested. May 13: Freedom Riders arrive in Atlanta, Georgia. They have dinner with Martin Luther King Jr. May 14: The buses are attacked, one bus goes up in flames. Black Freedom Riders are only given medical treatment because the white Freedom Riders refused treatment if their friends weren't getting any. May 15: Freedom Riders are forced to fly to New Orleans, Louisiana because they are unable to get a bus to Montgomery, Alabama. Their flights are delayed several times due to bomb threats. The Freedom Riders finally make it to New Orleans, and are given a warm welcome.
Analyzing: Explain why the Freedom Riders experienced more resistance and violence along the way.
The farther they got into their journey, the closer they were to the heart of the south, where the ideologies they were fighting against originated and where still held by many people. They also gained more publicity along the way and the KKK took notice and decided to act with violence.
Evaluating: Justify the Jail-No-Bail policy. Is it worth leaving fighters in jail?
Creating: Write a diary entry as a member of the Freedom Ride.
Questions:
Remembering: What day did the freedom ride begin?
Understanding: Why not fight back while being beaten? Why non-violence?
Applying: Construct a timeline of the Freedom Ride with 10 points or less.
May 4: Freedom Ride begins in Washington, D.C. May 5: Freedom Ride makes its first stop in Petersburg, Virginia. May 7: Ed Blankenheim is refused service for sitting at the colored-only counter for lunch. Later that day the station manager gives in and serves James Peck, Genevieve Hughes and Walter Bergman when they sit at the colored-only counter. May 8: Joe Perkins is the first Freedom Rider to be arrested. He stays in jail, refusing bail. May 9: In rock Hill, South Carolina Al Bigelow and John Lewis are attacked because Lewis attempts to enter the white-only waiting room at the Greyhound terminal. May 10: Freedom Riders desegregate the Rock Hill bus terminals. In Winnsboro, South Carolina Hank Thomas and James Peck are arrested. May 13: Freedom Riders arrive in Atlanta, Georgia. They have dinner with Martin Luther King Jr. May 14: The buses are attacked, one bus goes up in flames. Black Freedom Riders are only given medical treatment because the white Freedom Riders refused treatment if their friends weren't getting any. May 15: Freedom Riders are forced to fly to New Orleans, Louisiana because they are unable to get a bus to Montgomery, Alabama. Their flights are delayed several times due to bomb threats. The Freedom Riders finally make it to New Orleans, and are given a warm welcome.
Analyzing: Explain why the Freedom Riders experienced more resistance and violence along the way.
The farther they got into their journey, the closer they were to the heart of the south, where the ideologies they were fighting against originated and where still held by many people. They also gained more publicity along the way and the KKK took notice and decided to act with violence.
Evaluating: Justify the Jail-No-Bail policy. Is it worth leaving fighters in jail?
Creating: Write a diary entry as a member of the Freedom Ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2019
Questions
Remembering: Who was the organizer and leader of the Freedom Ride 1961? (page 19)
Understanding: Summarize the incident that happened with Person in the shoeshine chair? Why did the Freedom Riders want to stay in jail when they were arrested? (page 33)
Applying: Use the knowledge you obtained from the book to make a web about the Freedom Riders?
Analyzing: What was the purpose of the Freedom Riders?
Answer: The Freedom Riders were activist both black and white who rode interstate buses to protest against segregation. The Freedom Riders purpose was to end racial discrimination/segregation and call attention to the laws that were put in place but still not being obeyed. The Freedom Riders wanted to challenge/test the states that did not follow the U.S Supreme Court’s decision in Boynton v. Virginia (1960).
Evaluating: Justify the importance of the Freedom Riders and the impact they had for equal rights?
Answer: The importance the Freedom Riders had on making an impact for equal rights was that they were able to protest non-violently effectively. The Freedom Riders began their journey in May to end in New Orleans, Louisiana to celebrate the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Through this journey, they were able to protest against segregation and get other people of race white and black to join them. They were able to demonstrate that laws were still not being followed even if they were made and that white and blacks were still being treated differently. Therefore, because of the Freedom Riders and the actions and stand they took, they were able to draw attention to the horrible situations and join the Civil Right Movement and with the media that followed their story they were also able to draw attention to the situation as well.
Creating: Write a letter to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on why he should join the freedom riders.
Possible content crossover: This would be a great crossover with social studies/history to show a historical event that happened in history that changed today's outcome. I also think it would be a good lesson to stand up for things that you believe in and fight for one's rights since discrimination can still occur today.
Remembering: Who was the organizer and leader of the Freedom Ride 1961? (page 19)
Understanding: Summarize the incident that happened with Person in the shoeshine chair? Why did the Freedom Riders want to stay in jail when they were arrested? (page 33)
Applying: Use the knowledge you obtained from the book to make a web about the Freedom Riders?
Analyzing: What was the purpose of the Freedom Riders?
Answer: The Freedom Riders were activist both black and white who rode interstate buses to protest against segregation. The Freedom Riders purpose was to end racial discrimination/segregation and call attention to the laws that were put in place but still not being obeyed. The Freedom Riders wanted to challenge/test the states that did not follow the U.S Supreme Court’s decision in Boynton v. Virginia (1960).
Evaluating: Justify the importance of the Freedom Riders and the impact they had for equal rights?
Answer: The importance the Freedom Riders had on making an impact for equal rights was that they were able to protest non-violently effectively. The Freedom Riders began their journey in May to end in New Orleans, Louisiana to celebrate the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Through this journey, they were able to protest against segregation and get other people of race white and black to join them. They were able to demonstrate that laws were still not being followed even if they were made and that white and blacks were still being treated differently. Therefore, because of the Freedom Riders and the actions and stand they took, they were able to draw attention to the horrible situations and join the Civil Right Movement and with the media that followed their story they were also able to draw attention to the situation as well.
Creating: Write a letter to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on why he should join the freedom riders.
Possible content crossover: This would be a great crossover with social studies/history to show a historical event that happened in history that changed today's outcome. I also think it would be a good lesson to stand up for things that you believe in and fight for one's rights since discrimination can still occur today.
May 19, 2018
4.5
Great, informative book for teens on the Freedom Rides that took place in the 1960s. It's a short book with a lot of photographs that documents the Freedom Riders' attempts to show the world how the South is not following the law after the cases of Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia (1946) and Boynton v. Virginia (1960). These two cases ruled that it was unlawful and unconstitutional to continue segregation in interstate transportation and to enforce it among interstate travelers at bus station facilities (i.e. waiting rooms, bathrooms, restaurants at these places). Of course Jim Crow in the South had ignored the law, and so the Freedom Riders made it their cause to travel to these bus terminals and desegregate them - as it was within their constitutional rights to do so. However, as the book chronicles their bravery, we also get a glimpse of the pure terror and brutality inflicted on those who decided to oppose Jim Crow. Not only was Jim Crow enforced by regular, white citizens as well as terrorist groups like the Klu Klux Klan - but it seeped into every aspect of life. The police, ambulance drivers, hospital staff, and even doctors refused to give the same service to black people. Some of them upheld segregation because of their commitment to bigotry and hatred, some of them did it because of their fear of retaliation from the Klu Klux Klan (i.e. when the KKK threatens to bomb a hospital that gives service to some of the black freedom riders after being beaten by a barbaric mob when they arrive in Alabama and almost killed when the bus is set on fire, as the mob blocks the doors when the passengers try to escape, hoping they will be burned to death).
This is a tough read because it highlights the shameful history of racism, violence against black people, and segregation in the South, but it's important to know and reflect on this history.
Great, informative book for teens on the Freedom Rides that took place in the 1960s. It's a short book with a lot of photographs that documents the Freedom Riders' attempts to show the world how the South is not following the law after the cases of Morgan v. Commonwealth of Virginia (1946) and Boynton v. Virginia (1960). These two cases ruled that it was unlawful and unconstitutional to continue segregation in interstate transportation and to enforce it among interstate travelers at bus station facilities (i.e. waiting rooms, bathrooms, restaurants at these places). Of course Jim Crow in the South had ignored the law, and so the Freedom Riders made it their cause to travel to these bus terminals and desegregate them - as it was within their constitutional rights to do so. However, as the book chronicles their bravery, we also get a glimpse of the pure terror and brutality inflicted on those who decided to oppose Jim Crow. Not only was Jim Crow enforced by regular, white citizens as well as terrorist groups like the Klu Klux Klan - but it seeped into every aspect of life. The police, ambulance drivers, hospital staff, and even doctors refused to give the same service to black people. Some of them upheld segregation because of their commitment to bigotry and hatred, some of them did it because of their fear of retaliation from the Klu Klux Klan (i.e. when the KKK threatens to bomb a hospital that gives service to some of the black freedom riders after being beaten by a barbaric mob when they arrive in Alabama and almost killed when the bus is set on fire, as the mob blocks the doors when the passengers try to escape, hoping they will be burned to death).
This is a tough read because it highlights the shameful history of racism, violence against black people, and segregation in the South, but it's important to know and reflect on this history.
December 12, 2017
This nonfiction book starts with the events leading up to the Freedom Rides in 1961 and then provides a day by day account of those rides. For those not familiar with the Freedom Rides, 13 men and women boarded buses in the north and headed into the southern United States in order to test the Jim Crow laws still in effect in the south. Federal law at that time had outlawed "separate but equal" facilities for blacks and whites but those laws were completely ignored in southern states. The Freedom Riders tested the laws at each stop with white riders going into areas designated as "colored only" and black riders going into the whites only bathrooms, waiting rooms and lunch counters. The deeper south the Riders went, the more opposition they encountered including beatings from the KKK and nearly being burned to death when their bus was set on fire all while some law enforcement officers ignored what was happening. The Riders had dedicated themselves to nonviolence and when images of the racist acts were publicized, it was a wake up call for some of the U.S.
The story of the Freedom Riders is amazing and horrifying but the treatment in this book didn't grab me as much as I expected. However, it is presented in a very straightforward, easy to understand manner and would definitely be a good introduction for those unfamiliar with the time. It is also a good bok to show people today how easily certain rights can be taken away when people don't stand up for what is right.
The story of the Freedom Riders is amazing and horrifying but the treatment in this book didn't grab me as much as I expected. However, it is presented in a very straightforward, easy to understand manner and would definitely be a good introduction for those unfamiliar with the time. It is also a good bok to show people today how easily certain rights can be taken away when people don't stand up for what is right.
March 18, 2019
Through my schooling career, I have been taught that the Freedom Rides were an essential part of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. However, I never learned any deep details or information about this extraordinary act. All I knew was, it was Civil Rights supporters who boarded buses and drove through the Jim Crow run South. I chose this book in the hopes of learning more about a pivotal event in American history.
I think the author's usage of images in this picture book is the strongest part of this book. It is one thing to just describe an event and leave it up to the reader's imagination to set the scene. The usage of the images of the events, I feel provides a power visual to readers. I believe these photos also aided in the surprising factor of this book, the shock that this actually happened to real people. After reading through the book several times, the author wrote this book flawlessly and I don't think that any part of this book was effective.
I think this book could provide another avenue to teaching students about the Civil Rights Movement. As mentioned before, I was aware of the event, but never learned about the details of it. I think if reading and showing students this book, it could open their eyes to just how crazy the Civil Rights time was. In reading the book, and giving students a visual, I feel like it provides relevance to student's learning. I would use this book as a free write with the prompt being, "Would you be a Freedom Rider? Why or why not?" allowing students to connect with the event and the book.
I think the author's usage of images in this picture book is the strongest part of this book. It is one thing to just describe an event and leave it up to the reader's imagination to set the scene. The usage of the images of the events, I feel provides a power visual to readers. I believe these photos also aided in the surprising factor of this book, the shock that this actually happened to real people. After reading through the book several times, the author wrote this book flawlessly and I don't think that any part of this book was effective.
I think this book could provide another avenue to teaching students about the Civil Rights Movement. As mentioned before, I was aware of the event, but never learned about the details of it. I think if reading and showing students this book, it could open their eyes to just how crazy the Civil Rights time was. In reading the book, and giving students a visual, I feel like it provides relevance to student's learning. I would use this book as a free write with the prompt being, "Would you be a Freedom Rider? Why or why not?" allowing students to connect with the event and the book.
August 12, 2018
By 1960, the U.S. Supreme court had ruled that there could be no segregation of lunch counters, bathrooms and the like on interstate travel. However, Jim Crow laws in the South ignored this ruling and segregation was very much still in existence. To bring attention to this injustice, thirteen riders split up between two busses and made a journey from Washington D.C. to New Orleans, Louisiana. This book gives a closer look at the courage of the riders and the dangers they faced. As the busses stopped at various stops along the way, the riders experienced different levels of discrimination. The further south the riders travelled, the more intense and dangerous the journey became. I found it shocking how the local law enforcement would “stand down” for the first 15-minutes to “give the segregationists time to welcome the riders”. This was a dangerous journey that thankfully shone a spotlight on the segregation still existing in the south and it was the catalyst that brought about the 1964 Civil Rights Act. I think readers will appreciate the white text on black pages and the black and white photos throughout the book. The photos are interesting and there were a few I hadn’t seen before - like the KKK welcome sign in Tuscaloosa.
April 3, 2018
There were typos in this book, which is something I really struggle with.
The author included a list of who exactly was on the Freedom Ride and whether they were black or white, which is a resource I find to be really helpful when the author goes on to refer to each person by last name. Without this, it can be tricky for students who struggle to create a picture in their mind as there are so many different names.
That being said, it still felt a little difficult to follow and was a bit too sequential (this happened, then this happened, then this happened); this made it easy to check out. Overall, it's a super important story that must be told and features incredible photos, but I felt like I could have/should have been more engaged while reading given the outrageous nature of the content.
The author included a list of who exactly was on the Freedom Ride and whether they were black or white, which is a resource I find to be really helpful when the author goes on to refer to each person by last name. Without this, it can be tricky for students who struggle to create a picture in their mind as there are so many different names.
That being said, it still felt a little difficult to follow and was a bit too sequential (this happened, then this happened, then this happened); this made it easy to check out. Overall, it's a super important story that must be told and features incredible photos, but I felt like I could have/should have been more engaged while reading given the outrageous nature of the content.
December 23, 2018
One of the 2019 Battle of the books. I honestly didn't know about the freedom riders until reading this book! What a harrowing and incredible story. I'm so glad my Hannah has the opportunity to learn about the freedom ride of 1961.
October 3, 2020
With help from a timeline, photographs, and captions, this is the re-telling of the Freedom Riders and the 12 days they spent trying to peacefully draw attention to the laws being violated in the South. Their bravery and determination is beyond admirable!
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