Caption: From May until November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives — and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment — for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Pictured: In Annisto, Credit: Corbis
Image by: Corbis 
From May until November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives — and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment — for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Pictured: In Annisto 

Freedom Riders (Student Narrated Version)

From: PBS
Length: 00:03:32

From May until November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives — and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment — for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. The 50th anniversary of the freedom rides is being marked with the broadcast of the documentary Freedom Rides, and a 2011 student freedom ride. **This version of the piece is narrated by a student on the 2011 Freedom Ride. Read the full description.
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Freedom Riders (Student Narrated Version)
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In 1961, segregation seemed to have an overwhelming grip on American society. Many states violently enforced the policy, while the federal government, under the Kennedy administration, remained indifferent, preoccupied with matters abroad. That is, until an integrated band of college students — many of whom were the first in their families to attend a university — decided, en masse, to risk everything and buy a ticket on a Greyhound bus bound for the Deep South. They called themselves the Freedom Riders, and they managed to bring the president and the entire American public face to face with the challenge of correcting civil-rights inequities that plagued the nation.

 

Freedom Riders (Student Narrated Version) | 00:03:32

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Piece Description

In 1961, segregation seemed to have an overwhelming grip on American society. Many states violently enforced the policy, while the federal government, under the Kennedy administration, remained indifferent, preoccupied with matters abroad. That is, until an integrated band of college students — many of whom were the first in their families to attend a university — decided, en masse, to risk everything and buy a ticket on a Greyhound bus bound for the Deep South. They called themselves the Freedom Riders, and they managed to bring the president and the entire American public face to face with the challenge of correcting civil-rights inequities that plagued the nation.

 

Broadcast History

Premieres Monday, May 16, 2011, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET on PBS.

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

The month of May marks the 50th year anniversary of the historical and ground breaking freedom rides. For six months, waves of riders flooded the south on commercial bus and train lines challenging segregation laws. As one of the most important first steps of the civil rights movement, the freedom rides ultimately brought an end to segregation in bus and rail stations. The work the riders accomplished half a century ago is still influencing young people committed to civic engagement today. Student Diana Mahoney brings us the story.

OUTRO:

The documentary film FREEDOM RIDERS: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE airs on PBS on May 16th at 9/8c**. You can follow the 2011 Student Freedom Riders online at pbs.org/freedomriders.

**We recommend mentioning the generic PBS airdate, using local tune-in information (e.g.): The documentary film American Experience: Freedom Riders airs on local PBS station _____ on Monday at _____pm.

If you need your local broadcast information, please contact either Leila Rao, Joanna Zwanger or visit http://www.pbs.org/tv_schedules to check for local listings information.

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Related Website

www.pbs.org/freedomriders

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