Freedom Riders 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice

Thursday, 05 May 2011 13:30

Freedom Riders 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice

Written by Scott LaMar, Director of Radio Smart Talk

Radio Smart Talk for Friday, May 6:

They were major and critical events in the Civil Rights movement – the Freedom Rides. In 1961, as federal judges ruled segregated mass transit unconstitutional, a group of volunteers traveled by bus from Washington D.C. to southern states, in defiance of Jim Crow laws.

Author Ray Arsenault takes us on their journey in his book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice. An abridged edition of the book is now available in paperback, as a companion to an upcoming American Experience film on the Freedom Riders, which you can see on witf-tv Monday, May 16th at 9pm.

On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, I'll welcome your questions for Ray Arsenault about the Freedom Riders, and their role leading the way in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

LISTEN TO PROGRAM:

Related Video

Watch the full episode. See more American Experience.

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comments

# Robert 2011-05-06 10:04

Mr. Arsenault mentioned Jackie Robinson earlier. I read a book about Robinson’s involvement in the civil rights movement after his retirement from baseball. In the book, Robinson was quoted as saying he thought President Kennedy was uncomfortable around African-Americans because Robinson sensed he had never really been around them. Eventually, Robinson felt Kennedy came around to civil rights.

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