A simple act of defiance more than 60 years ago triggered one of the most celebrated civil rights campaigns in history. John Kirk examines how the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955 launched the career. "As you grow older, you'll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don't you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash." (23.40)
VIEW MOREIn Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks is jailed for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man, a violation of the city's racial segregation laws. "In ones and twos, men got out of the cars. Shadows became substance as lights revealed solid shapes moving toward the jail door. Atticus remained where he was." Chap.15 pg. 202
VIEW MOREShe was tired after spending the day at work as a department store seamstress. She stepped onto the bus for the ride home and sat in the fifth row — the first row of the "Colored Section." "The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box." (23.38-40)
VIEW MOREFind out more about the history of Montgomery Bus Boycott, including videos, interesting articles, pictures, historical features and more. Get all the facts on HISTORY.com "Your father's no better than the nigggers and trash he works for!" Chapt.11 pg.135
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