MONTGOMERY BOYCOTT
By Nicole H.
African Americans were treated unfairly, contrary to the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments that promised voting rights and equal treatment. During this era, African Americans attempted to fight the constant struggle of segregation. An attempt that actually worked was the boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama bus system in 1955. This boycott was influenced by Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat for a white passenger. This boycott seemed to work because it economically impaired the bus system.
THE BOYCOTT
In Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, teenager Claudette Colvin was arrested for sitting in a white section on the bus. Colvin was convicted. The Women's Political Council wrote letters to city officials complaining about the lack of black bus drivers, rude white drivers, and unreasonable seating policies on the bus. The members of the Women's Political Council proceeded to write and circulate a flyer calling for a boycott on December 5th, the day Rosa Parks was to be tried in municipal court. As the news spread, the people held a meeting to plan a one day boycott. On December 5, the boycott was put into action. A meeting was held that evening where over 5,000 people agreed to stay off the buses as long as necessary. At first, the boycott was asking for a few new rules out of courtesy. They were not looking to change the segregation law itself. The people just wanted the city to hire some black bus drivers and first-come-first-serve seating. With bus company officials losing money, they wanted to agree to these terms and conditions quickly. However, stubbornness from the city officials and violence against black citizens led attorney Gray to go after the segregation ordinance. This strategy succeeded.
THE AFTERMATH
One year after the Montgomery boycott ended, people were riding the buses in peace. Blacks now had a sense of confidence at what they were capable of accomplishing. This boycott taught, not only African Americans, but whites that if they did not accept segregation, it did not have to exist. With an attitude of desegregation, there were many wonderful achievements in furthering the civil rights of blacks.
THE BOYCOTT
In Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, teenager Claudette Colvin was arrested for sitting in a white section on the bus. Colvin was convicted. The Women's Political Council wrote letters to city officials complaining about the lack of black bus drivers, rude white drivers, and unreasonable seating policies on the bus. The members of the Women's Political Council proceeded to write and circulate a flyer calling for a boycott on December 5th, the day Rosa Parks was to be tried in municipal court. As the news spread, the people held a meeting to plan a one day boycott. On December 5, the boycott was put into action. A meeting was held that evening where over 5,000 people agreed to stay off the buses as long as necessary. At first, the boycott was asking for a few new rules out of courtesy. They were not looking to change the segregation law itself. The people just wanted the city to hire some black bus drivers and first-come-first-serve seating. With bus company officials losing money, they wanted to agree to these terms and conditions quickly. However, stubbornness from the city officials and violence against black citizens led attorney Gray to go after the segregation ordinance. This strategy succeeded.
THE AFTERMATH
One year after the Montgomery boycott ended, people were riding the buses in peace. Blacks now had a sense of confidence at what they were capable of accomplishing. This boycott taught, not only African Americans, but whites that if they did not accept segregation, it did not have to exist. With an attitude of desegregation, there were many wonderful achievements in furthering the civil rights of blacks.