Montgomery Bus Boycott

GOAL

The goal of the boycotters was to end seating segregation on buses (Brinkley, 747). While, Rosa Parks was a huge part of starting this boycott about the buses, it was the whole black community that was seeking justice and a change. Their short term goal was to intergrate the buses but their long term goal was to begin a change in the segregation, especially in a nonviolent way led by King (Kohl, 47).

Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955-1956

The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted exactly 381 days, starting 4 days after the arrest of Rosa Parks; it lasted from December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956 (History.com Staff). This was an extended protest against the segregated seating in Montgomery, Alabama by boycotting (not using) the bus system in their town. This was a direct response to the arrest of Rosa Parks, a beloved civil rights leader in Montgomery, who refused to give her seat to a white man on the bus. (Brinkley, 474)

Many boycotters walking to their destination rather than using a bus.

Rosa Parks at the police department getting fingerprinted after she was arrested.

LEADER

The main leader was Martin Luther King Jr., the son of a well known minister from Atlanta. King was a pastor in Montgomery and advocated for nonviolent protest (Brinkley, 747-8).

One lone white woman rides the bus while the boycott is happening

SUCCESS OR FAILURE

I believe that the Montgomery Bus Boycott was a huge success because on December 5th, 1956, the Supreme Court removed the Jim Crow bus law and made it illegal for buses to discriminate and have segregated seating (History.com Staff). Also, this boycott was one of the first legitamite and successful protests against segregation that was nonviolent. Due to its success, it lifted up King as a civil rights leader and led to more nonviolent protests (Brinkley, 747-48). The fact that it was nonviolent and successful is what made this so significant and unique. Being led by King added to its significance, as it would contribute to a new way of protesting.

Information Citations:

Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
Kohl, Herbert. Should We Burn Babar? Essays on Children’s Literature and the Power of Stories. New York City: The New Press, 2016. Print, 31-47.
History.com Staff. "Montgomery Bus Boycott." History. A+E Networks, 2010. Web. 22 April. 2016. <http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/montgomery-bus-boycott>.

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