These are actual Freedom Riders, now elderly, sitting together decades after risking their lives to challenge segregation in the American South.
he original courageous Freedom Riders movement began in 1961.
The first group, organized by Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), had 13 original Freedom Riders:
• 7 Black riders
• 6 white riders
They left Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1961, riding interstate buses into the Deep South to challenge segregation in bus terminals after Supreme Court rulings had already declared it unconstitutional.
After brutal mob attacks in Alabama, including the firebombing of a bus in Anniston and savage beatings in Birmingham and Montgomery, more activists joined. The movement quickly expanded beyond the original 13.
By the end of 1961, more than 400 Freedom Riders had participated across the South. Many were arrested and sent to Mississippi’s notorious Parchman Prison.
Hezekiah Watkins
At just 13 years old, Watkins became the youngest Freedom Rider ever arrested. His involvement happened almost by accident when he went to the Jackson, Mississippi, Greyhound station to see the riders arrive. In the chaos, he was swept up by police and sent to the notorious Parchman State Penitentiary. Initially placed on death row to intimidate him, he spent several days in the prison before being released. This traumatic experience did not deter him; he went on to become a lifelong activist, dedicated to educating others about the struggle for justice in Mississippi.
Joan Trumpauer Mulholland
A rare figure in the movement, Mulholland was a white woman from a privileged Southern background who turned her back on social expectations to fight for racial equality. By the time she joined the Freedom Rides, she was already a seasoned activist involved in sit-ins. In 1961, she was imprisoned in Parchman for over two months. She later became the first white student to enroll at Tougaloo College, a historically Black institution, and was a primary organizer for the 1963 March on Washington. She famously survived a near-lynching during the Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in.
Ameen Tuunagane (Willie James)
Known during the movement as Willie James, Tuunagane was a relentless civil rights organizer and Freedom Rider. He was part of the waves of activists who traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, to challenge Jim Crow laws. His work extended far beyond the buses; he was deeply involved in voter registration drives and community organizing, often operating in high-risk areas where the threat of police and vigilante violence was constant. His commitment focused on the intersection of political power and basic human dignity.
Carol Ruth Silver
A recent law school graduate at the time, Silver joined the Freedom Rides to put her legal principles into practice. She was arrested in Jackson and, like many others, served time in Parchman Penitentiary. During her incarceration, she kept a secret diary on scraps of paper, documenting the harrowing conditions and the psychological tactics used by guards. Her later career was defined by this experience; she became a prominent lawyer and politician in San Francisco, continuing her advocacy for civil rights and educational reform for decades.
Kredelle Pettway
Pettway was a dedicated activist who participated in the movement during the height of the 1960s racial tensions. As a young woman, she joined the ranks of those demanding the desegregation of public facilities in Alabama and Mississippi. Her contribution highlights the essential role of local youth and women in maintaining the momentum of the movement. She faced the constant threat of the Ku Klux Klan and state-sanctioned violence, standing firm in the belief that the "separate but equal" doctrine was a moral and legal failure.
Have yall met school age white boys? They are very violent individuals and a lot of them lack empathy. They bring guns to school and their parents supply them. He was afraid for his life.
Are you just rage baiting or are you truly this brainwashed? How are you not aware of how often boys push each other in school? Especially the ones who play sports. Imagine if they all went around stabbing each other in the heart every time. Hell, professional athletes are constantly shoving each other over disputes. Should they be able to just start shooting and stabbing each other?
Police handcuff & detain Black 16 year old—for walking home with hands in his pockets.
"He was acting like someone who commits crimes," said officer.
"When people grab their crotch area it's fair to assume—especially in this neighborhood—they could have a gun."
Jeremiah said it was a chilly day so when he was walking on the sidewalk he put his hands in his pockets.
Officer could give no further explanation to his mother why he put her son in handcuffs—other than he "looked suspicious."
Police Chief Shannon Bagley issued a statement defending the officer's actions —but refused to provide the name officer involved.
Incident occurred in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Trying to hide Black history. But Harriet Tubman was the first American woman to lead a military assault. During the Combahee River Raid, 700 Black people were liberated. Put some respect on her name
🕊️🌹♥️ Due to today being Juneteenth, I wanted to make a post about Eric Mays, a councilman, a hood humanitarian, and a soul that brought (and still brings) many smiles and laughs to people's faces today. When I think of Eric Mays, I think of Black History.
To many people, Eric Mays was someone who was hilarious, unapologetic, and stood on business no matter who was in front of him. To me, as somebody who spent a lot of time researching him, I learned that there was much more to the man than the viral clips. Beneath the jokes, arguments, and headlines was someone who genuinely cared about people.
He was known for standing out in the cold and snow to help the homeless, spoke openly about his love for the Bible, and carried with him the influence of his father, who was a pastor. He never seemed afraid to speak up for Black people, challenge racism, or defend what he believed was right, even when it made him unpopular. Like all human beings, he was flawed and misunderstood at times, but his passion for his community was undeniable.
As a proud son of Flint, he represented the city with heart, conviction, and authenticity. His impact reached far beyond city council meetings and internet memes. In his own way, he became a hero to many.
Forever missed. I pray he ascended peacefully and found rest. 🕊️🌹♥️
In a new video, Jo Frost, aka Supernanny, warns that some modern parents are hindering their kids’ independence by choosing short-term convenience over teaching basic life skills.
The Instagram post featuring the video is filled with comments from teachers agreeing with her that it’s a growing concern.
@Jo_Frost
ASK YOURSELF WHY GM AND FORD ARE TRYING TO GET BILLS PASSED TO KEEP INDIVIDUALS AND CAR REPAIR SHOPS FROM WORKING ON OUR VEHICLES.
Is this auto repair technician right?
Then yall try to erase the origin story of the black woman that literally popularized the term and it’s literally apart of her brand. You try to belittle the black womans impact and say it’s just a term to empower women when it literally wouldn’t be able to be trademarked and monetized if it wasn’t for her promotion of term around her brand. The bitches that trademarked it and told others they couldn’t use it, when they didn’t contribute to it becoming so popular in the first place, are the divisive ones.
@imoutaatownn Yaw love to say it originated blazee blazee it’s a fucking word to empower women not to say only certain people can do this or that it’s just girls having fun and when someone of non color does it it’s a problem stop dividing us we are all one in the end trying to get a 💰
Brain rot to the umpteenth power fr or rot by racism. Did you miss all the parts about how they’re making money off of something a black woman created and preventing other people from using it, like black women for example?? It’s not just girls having fun, it’s girls having fun because they’re profiting off of culture they don’t contribute to, only take from.
@imoutaatownn Wellll um.. I feel like hot girl isn’t for just blk ppl it’s for every girl stop trying to make everyone be a bad thing it’s just girls having fun stfu with this ideology it’s mental sickness like stop oppressing ppl and let ppl be people dawggg