Montgomery Bus Boycott - Essay Example

Montgomery Bus Boycott Montgomery Bus Boycott Introduction There was a time in history when Africans were only living as slaves in the United States. The blacks during this time had no rights or freedom in the public. Fortunately, today American has abolished segregation, it has broken down discrimination and racism, and black Americans now have the opportunity to live free lives within the American society. Getting these civil rights was not an overnight event; it was a hard and long fight to ensure freedom for blacks. There are a number of events that took place to give African Americans civil rights and freedom and abolish segregation. One of these important events was Montgomery bus boycott (Burns, 2007). This event began in the December of 1955 and finished in the following year after the court’s rule favored the blacks. This essay will discuss the historical and contemporary causes, historical interpretations, and the outcomes of the Montgomery bus boycott. History of the Montgomery bus boycott On December of the year 1955, the American cops arrested Rosa Parks, a forty-year-old African American for refusing to give her bus seat to a white man. Rosa Parks was also among the supporters of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) movement. The NAACP organization played a very vital role of ensuring that black Americans enjoyed their rights and freedom and segregation abolishment (Carson, 2005). The organization was searching for a black American who would stand in the court for a test case. Before the arrest of Rosa Parks and chosen by NAACP for the test case, the cops had also arrested another two black women for a similar case and the organization had tried to use these two for the test case (Burns, 2007). Unfortunately, neither of the two proved to be appropriate for the court test case whose main aim was to stop segregation. The time the cops arrested Rosa Parks for failure of giving up her bus seat to a white, NAACP knew that she was the appropriate candidate for the test case. After Rosa’s fingerprinting and taken to jail, the court gave her an opportunity to make one phone call, whereby she called Reverend, E.B Nixon who was the NAACP president in Montgomery, Alabama. He called other NAACP officials such as the Washington D.C NAACP, Reverend A. Philip Randolph, and Martin L. King whereby after holding a meeting they decided to start a protest on 5th December the trial day for Rosa Parks’ in front of the court (Carson, 2005). The following day, the NAACP distributed flyers to every black American including elementary, junior, and high schools around Montgomery announcing the protest. There were also posters in all bus stations that warned drivers and blacks not to ride that day for freedom (Burns, 2007). This marked the start of the Montgomery bus boycott. The boycott highly affected the history of U.S. and specifically the rights and freedom of black Americans forever. The protest was against the bus segregation policy. On the Rosa Parks’ trial day, almost the entire black community boycotted riding the buses a protest that highly affected the bus operation systems. This is because an approximately 66% of the bus riders were the black Americans indicate most of the bus company’s income came from the blacks (Carson, 2013). The supporters of the NAACP movement were very sure that the Montgomery bus boycott was going to change the way the whites were treating the blacks. The blacks’ community used a non-violence protest to fight for their freedom and rights (Freedman, 2006). They only decided to stop riding the buses indicating that they were tired with the unfair treatment from the community, bus system, and the U.S. government. They would gather in the First Baptist Church to discuss about the protest whereby these meetings served as the backbone and inspired blacks about the boycott. Historical and contemporary causes of the event There were a number of factors, which led to the Montgomery bus boycott. Many of the battles of the blacks fighting for their freedom and rights were due to the case of “Plessy vs. Ferguson” in the year 1986. During this case, separate, although equal standards were established. This portrayed that there was enforcement of segregation between African Americans and the White, although the segregation was to remain equal between these two communities (Carson, 2013). This followed the establishment of the “Jim Crow” policies. Jim Crow’ customs and laws enforced blacks’ discrimination and race segregation in the United States, since the beginning of the 19th century through the 1960s. Jim Crow’ laws were applicable everywhere with bus segregation being a good example. This was a main cause of the Montgomery bus boycott since without ‘Plessy vs. Ferguson’ case, there would be no bus segregation and therefore the Montgomery bus boycott would not have occurred (Freedman, 2006). The issue of bus segregation reached its climax when a black woman, Rosa Parks refused to allow a white man to sit on her bus seat. This event influenced the NAACP supporters to start a protest ‘Montgomery bus boycott’ that highly affected the history of U.S. and specifically the rights and freedom of black Americans forever. The arrest of blacks such as Rosa Parks gave the leaders of the NAACP organization what they referred to as a perfect candidate to take part in the test case in the court (Carson, 2013). Rosa Parks’ refusal to adhere to the unfair laws opened a new chapter in the freedom and civil rights protest in America ‘Montgomery bus boycott”. There were pressures in the Montgomery for a long time trying to address the practices of public transport system that treated black Americans as lower-class citizens. These pressures increased when the cops arrested Claudette Colvin, a fifteen-year-old black girl following her refusal to allow a white man sit on her bus seat. In the year 1955, both the ICC and the Supreme Courts issued a ruling that prohibited bus carriers from using their own segregation laws on black riders, asserting that doing so was a violation of the anti-discrimination of the Interstate Commerce Act. However, neither the ICC’s nor the Supreme Court’s rules addressed the issue of Jim Crow’ laws in the public transport, a factor that caused the Montgomery bus boycott. The cops arrested many black-Americans due to sitting in the front seats on buses and not giving up their bus seats to the white men. This showed how black Americans were discriminated and treated as slaves in the United States (Freedman, 2006). This was a main factor that forced black Americans to support the Montgomery bus boycott. Historical interpretations of the Montgomery bus boycott Interpretation 1: the origin of the Montgomery bus boycott by David J. Garrow Although many people are familiar with the main issue leading to the arrest of Rosa Parks as her refusal of giving up her bus seat to a white man, Garrow’s interpretation of this event gives a more sophisticated understanding. According to Garrow, it was not tiredness that made Rosa Parks not to give up her bus seat to a white rather; she was a participant in an organized movement to ensure a social change allowing black Americans to enjoy their rights and freedom in the entire segregated south (Garrow, 2005). There were two aspects of the segregation protest, which noteworthy. The first aspect was the organization of the events behind the movement. Garrow reveals that the organization of the blacks’ movement was lasting for a period of six years before the arrest of Rosa Parks. However, disunity and factionalism were the main factors that hampered the previous protests. Indeed, there were at least two other blacks who were arrested for a similar offense, however, their arrests had not influenced any noteworthy organized response (p. 22). In addition, the arrest of Rosa Parks and the subsequent Montgomery bus boycott were well organized that their victory is attributable to events well planned. The supporters of the boycott had already planned both the arrest of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott earlier even before they happened (p. 26). According Garrow, the movement organizers chose Rosa Park precisely because both her dignity and character would make them win the battle. Interpretation 2: parting the water by Taylor Branch People always argue that Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man because she was tired. However, Rosa Parks further criticized this as a lie and states that she was not physically tired, or more tired than she used to be after a usual working day, the only tired she was, was tired of unfair laws and giving in (Branch, 2008). Taylor Branch gives us a sophisticated look at this issue. Although many authors portray Rosa Parks as a meek and a passive, black woman who spontaneously protested against the Montgomery segregated bus operation Taylor Branch shows that Rosa Parks was already a seasoned activist before 1955. Rosa Parks characterizes herself as being an individual whose life history was full of rebellion against racial discrimination and injustice (p. 1955). The Branch supports his argument by claiming that Rosa Parks had been taking part in many civil rights rebels before her arrest. In addition, Rosa and her husband had founded the Scottsboro Boys’ defense group and she was a member of the NAACP organization in the year 1943, twelve years before her arrest (p. 1959). Interpretation 3: Race Rebels by Robin Kelly Robin Kelly provides a popular portray of Rosa Parks as a troublemaker, rebel, or a misfit. Indeed, Rosa Parks, although she is more popularly known black critics who fought for the rights and freedom of black Americans, she was not the first black American to fight against segregation (Kelly, 2006). More importantly, although people credit Rosa Parks’s arrest as the main cause of the civil rights and freedom movement, Robin Kelly interprets that Alabama’s bus structure was the background of the struggle for civil rights and freedom over bus rights segregation for almost ten years prior to Parks’s arrest. Outcomes of the Montgomery bus boycott The outcomes of the Montgomery bus boycott were significant in several fronts. To begin with, people regard the Montgomery bus boycott as a protest event on behalf the black Americans’ freedom and civil rights protesting many actions in front of the court to ensure that both the white and black communities received equal treatment (Harris & Terborg-Penn, 2008). The main purpose of the boycott was to stop injustice and discrimination for African Americans. Secondly, the leadership of Martin Luther King made him to emerge as the most prominent leaders for the freedom and civil rights’ movement. However, the main outcome of the Montgomery bus boycott was that the African Americans got what they desired most (Levy, 2008). The court issued a rule to end injustice and discrimination. African Americans were now free to sit where they want in the public buses and do things freely without going to jail. The main positive outcome of the Montgomery bus boycott was that in the year 1956, U.S. Supreme Court issued a rule that stated that bus segregation was illegal in America. This was highly significant towards the future of the black Americans since they were sure that they would no longer be victims of injustice and discrimination. The Montgomery bus boycott brought employment improvements to the black Americans. The whites could beat, mistreat, and punish the blacks as well as working for lower wages (Harris & Terborg-Penn, 2008). However, the NAACP movement brought some improvements in workplace after campaigning for equal salaries and better working opportunities for the learned black Americans. The NAACP and the Montgomery bus boycott led to a good voting system through campaigning for voter registration and teaching the black lawyers on how to handle their cases. However, despite the positive outcomes, the Montgomery bus boycott also led to some negative outcomes. During the Montgomery bus boycott, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) carried out some attacks to the boycott leaders (Verney, 2006). This led to loss of life of some black Americans and property damage. Conclusion In conclusion, the abolishment of black Americans, injustice, and segregations was not an overnight event. Blacks Americans fought for their rights and freedom in the United States for many years. The Montgomery bus boycott is one of the events that took place to give African Americans civil rights and freedom and abolish segregation. Apart from ensuring civil rights, Montgomery bus boycott also improved the employment opportunities for the black Americans. If it were not for the early black American leaders who highly struggled to ensure that African Americans received fair treatment, Africans would still be living as slaves in the United States. References Branch, T. (2008). Parting the Waters. America in the King Years. Vol 1 (1954–63). Retrieved on 27th March 2014, from: http://historicalthinkingmatters.org/rosaparks/1/resources/interpretation2/ This article discusses the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man because she was tired. Branch gives a sophisticated look at this issue and argues that although many authors portray Rosa Parks as a meek and a passive, black woman who spontaneously protested against the Montgomery segregated bus operation Taylor Branch shows that Rosa Parks was already a seasoned activist before 1955. This article is relevant to this essay it shows the historical interpretation of Montgomery bus boycott Burns, S. (2007). Daybreak of freedom: The Montgomery bus boycott. Chapel Hill, NC [u.a.: University of North Carolina Press. The content of this book describes how black American fought for their freedom and civil rights. The book’s content covers the Montgomery bus boycott as one of the movements that led to freedom of the black Americans. The book is useful in writing of this essay since covers the history and outcomes of the Montgomery bus boycott. Carson, C. (2005). The Struggle for Freedom: A History of African Americans. Retrieved on 27th March 2014, from: http://www.amazon.com/The-Struggle-Freedom-Americans-Combined/dp/0205832407 Carson, in his article describes how black American struggled for their freedom. The article also provides details of the history of African American. The article is a relevant source in writing this essay since it discusses how the blacks struggled for their civil rights through protests such as the Montgomery bus boycott. Carson, C. (2013). American civil rights movement. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved on 27th March 2014, from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/119368/American-civil-rights-movement/288198/Montgomery-bus-boycott-to-the-Voting-Rights-Act This article gives a discussion on the American civil rights movement ‘Montgomery bus boycott’. The article is a relevant source in writing this essay as it provides a detailed content on the contemporary and historical causes of the Montgomery bus boycott. The article further provides information on the outcomes of the Montgomery bus boycott. Freedman, R. (2006). Freedom walkers: the story of the Montgomery bus boycott. New York, Holiday Freedman in his book provides a full detailed story of the Montgomery bus boycott. The book is useful in the writing of this essay since it provides a detailed history, causes, and the negative and positive outcomes of the movement. Garrow, D. (2005). The Origins of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Southern Changes. Vol 7(21-27 ) Retrieved on 27th March 2014, from: http://historicalthinkingmatters.org/rosaparks/1/resources/interpretation1/ This article provides a detailed content covering the origin of the Montgomery bus boycott. Garrow gives a sophisticated interpretation on the major cause and origin of the Montgomery bus boycott. This article is useful in this essay since it provides information about the historical interpretations of the origin of the Montgomery bus boycott. Harris, R. L., & Terborg-Penn, R. (2008). The Columbia guide to African American history since 1939. New York, Columbia University Press. Harris and Terborg-Penn in their book gives a guide to African American history since the year 1939. The book widely covers the history of the Montgomery bus boycott and its outcomes. The book’s content covers the Montgomery bus boycott as one of the movements that led to freedom of the black Americans. Kelly, R. (2006). Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class. Retrieved on 27th March 2014 from: http://historicalthinkingmatters.org/rosaparks/1/resources/interpretation3/ Kelly in his article gives a discussion on the main rebels against segregation, injustice, and discrimination to the black Americans. The article further shows how black Americans were discriminated by the whites and how this discrimination influenced the black leaders such as Rosa Parks to plan for freedom rebellions. The article gives a sophisticated interpretation on how Rosa Parks was involved in race rebels even before her arrest. Levy, P. B. (2008). The civil rights movement. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. This book gives a discussion on the American civil rights movement ‘Montgomery bus boycott’. The book is a relevant source in writing this essay as it provides a detailed content on the contemporary and historical causes of the Montgomery bus boycott. The book further provides information on the outcomes of the Montgomery bus boycott. Verney, K. (2006). The debate on black civil rights in America. Manchester [u.a.: Manchester University Press. This book covers a debate on the black civil rights movement in American. The book discusses the historical causes, interpretations, and the outcomes of the Montgomery bus boycott. The book provides a full detailed story of the Montgomery bus boycott and is useful in the writing of this essay since it provides a detailed history, causes, and the negative and positive outcomes of the movement. Read More