2. Background
• Began May 4, 1961
• Interracial group boarded a Greyhound and Trailways bus and
traveled from D.C. to New Orleans
• Goal was to end public transportation segregation laws in the
South
• Started as a small movement, grew to be much larger
• As buses traveled deeper into south, white groups brutally
beat them and many died
• Movement began to grow and ended up being much larger
than originally planned
3. The Film
• Nelson shows the struggle for equality that the blacks faced during the
Civil Rights era
• The film shows how poorly Attorney general Robert Kennedy, and John F.
Kennedy handled the situation
– Kennedys were in a tough spot. They knew they had to fight for the
rights of the blacks, but many of their supporters were white
supremacists living in the south
• The film shows that if the U.S. government had stepped up, much less
suffering of blacks would have occurred during the 1960’s and 70’s
4. Nelson effectively communicates the struggle for equality by appealing to the viewers
emotions. Pictures, interviews, and videos of the struggle were all used to communicate
the central message of the film. Nelson interviewed a few of the original freedom riders,
which was arguably the most effective way of showing how brutal the whites truly were.
5. Nelson wants the viewer to be empathetic towards
the blacks who were oppressed during this time.
Through strong pictures and videos, the viewer
leaves with a feeling of guilt and sadness for all of the
people who suffered. Nelson also, by taking shots at
how the Kennedys handled the situation, wants the
viewer to feel somewhat guilty and angry with the
way the situation was handled by the government.
6. Sources
• Nelson used interviews from people who experienced the freedom rides
first-hand
– Original freedom riders
• Described what it was like being a part of it, how they were
treated, and what happened afterwards
– Riders that joined the movement later on
• Described how and why more people joined the movement later
on, even if they resisted it at first
– People whose family members were part of beating the freedom
riders
• Described what it was like knowing what was happening to the
blacks and not being able to stop it
– Authors and historians
• Videos of the movement were used
– Speeches from Martin Luther King Jr. and others
7. After seeing this film, it is clear that human choices have
a local and global impact. The blacks were oppressed
and the government did nothing to stop it at first, and
it got out of control. Had the government stepped in, the
oppression may have stopped earlier. Even today, the
black community feels like they still sometimes are not
given the same opportunities as whites are.
Local and Global Impact
8. The freedom rides were an effective way of gaining equality and rights. Although many
people were killed, and it took years and years to have success, the freedom rides were
definitely an effective social movement. With the recent election of Barack Obama,
blacks are finally starting to feel that they have gained equality. The choices that white
supremacists made during the 1960’s and 70’s have still effected how blacks live today.
