Background Information.
During the year 1955 there were many difficulties faced by the blacks. They faced economical, social, political, and physical disadvantages. Since the judges and jurors were whites who had more power and were often bias against the blacks. The blacks weren't given proper voting rights and had to pay poll tax which wasn't affordable and take a literacy test to become potential voters. As most of the blacks were segregated in the schools, they failed the literacy tests. They were physically abused by the Klu Klux Klan who hated the blacks and beat them horrendously. They had no money or jobs hence they had poor diets and housing facilities. They experienced racial discrimination in public properties like transportation, colleges, bathrooms, libraries, restaurants, churches, and clubs. They weren't allowed to try out clothes; they had to draw a diagram of their leg and through that diagram they had to figure out which clothes fit them. The Jim Crows laws further strengthened the idea of discrimination and parked the up rise of the civil rights movement and black power.
Claudette Colvin fought against segregation of blacks in buses. When she was 15 and riding on the bus back home from school when a white man approached her and commanded her to move. She refused and shouted that it was her constitutional right to sit on that seat. The police brutally dragged her out of the bus and her books fell, flying out of her lap. She scratched one of the cops and she was thrown in jail. She broke down crying after. Her schoolmates called her mom who sent for Reverend Johnson to bail her out of jail. Despite Claudette's marvelous fight against racial discrimination, she's been forgotten today. She didn't tell her story once she moved to NYC and after the Rosa Parks incident, her mom advised her to stay quite about her story and let Rosa Park's story add flame to the civil rights movement.
Claudette Colvin fought against segregation of blacks in buses. When she was 15 and riding on the bus back home from school when a white man approached her and commanded her to move. She refused and shouted that it was her constitutional right to sit on that seat. The police brutally dragged her out of the bus and her books fell, flying out of her lap. She scratched one of the cops and she was thrown in jail. She broke down crying after. Her schoolmates called her mom who sent for Reverend Johnson to bail her out of jail. Despite Claudette's marvelous fight against racial discrimination, she's been forgotten today. She didn't tell her story once she moved to NYC and after the Rosa Parks incident, her mom advised her to stay quite about her story and let Rosa Park's story add flame to the civil rights movement.
Essential Questions
- Can you argue that Colvin was the start of the Civil Rights Movement? Colvin can be viewed to many as the start of the movement since she was before Rosa Parks was is widely perceived as the start of the movement. This can be argued because it was the first notable act that is in recorded history that is an act of protest and standing up to injustice against colored people during the 50's and 60's.
- Why was Colvin forgotten in US History? Colvin was forgotten in US History since she was viewed as a rowdy and uneducated teenager that just wanted to stir up trouble as this was the perceived notion of standing up against Jim Crow at the time. Colvin was one of the darkest shades of black which mattered at the time in terms of treatment from whites as well as her being jailed and viewed as a criminal. This contributed to her not receiving the recognition she deserved from the media or history textbooks who glance over the story and focus on Rosa Parks.
- Why did you think Civil Rights leaders chose Rosa Parks as the face of the boycott instead of Colvin? Civil Rights leaders chose Rosa over Colvin as the face of the Montgomery Bus Boycott for several reasons. Rosa was an established member of society in which she contributed to the community through philanthropic work while her husband owned a business. Colvin was a teenager who just wanted to stand up to racial injustices on the bus and had no societal status. Rosa was also lighter skinned which went well with the white people at the time since the level of skin pigmentation matter in society at the time and determined how you where viewed as a person. Rosa was a member of the NAACP which looked good for civil rights leaders to advocate her as she had a history of preaching equality. Colvin had none of these advantages so she went widley unnoticed in US history unjustly.
Where It Happened:
Why Was Claudette's Case Suppressed?
Colvin's March 1955 arrest quickly drew the attention of leaders in the black community. The NAACP had been searching for a test case to argue against segregation, and Colvin's attorney, Fred Gray, thought this might be it. But after some consideration, the NAACP opted to wait for a different case. There were several reasons for this decision: Colvin's conviction for violating segregation laws had been overturned on appeal (though a conviction for assault on a police officer stood). Colvin's age was another issue—as Colvin told NPR in 2009, the NAACP and other groups "didn't think teenagers would be reliable." The 15 year old also became pregnant a few months after her arrest.However, Colvin felt that her being working class and having darker skin also played a large part in the NAACP's distancing itself. As she told The Guardian in 2000, "It would have been different if I hadn't been pregnant, but if I had lived in a different place or been light-skinned, it would have made a difference, too. They would have come and seen my parents and found me someone to marry."
Primary Sources
*Pictures of the Primary sources follow this section*
The audience of the document is the American public that are reading the article to inform them on what's going on with the black girl that has disobeyed the law in Montgomery. It shows the coverage of the events of what happened during the event and its aftermath.The point of view expressed in the document is that Colvin was an emerging civil rights activist that needs to kept at bay by the police in Montgomery.The impact of the document in developing the story is that it is one of the first articles written about her event at the time and describes the actual account of what happened in the journalist and police point of view.
dakrólak. “Claudette Colvin: 3/26/1955.” Astound Me: D.A. Królak, 27 Mar. 2016, dakrolak.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/claudette-colvin-chicago-defender-3-26-1955-news/.
From Twice Toward Justice Book
The picture represents Jim Crow segregation and continued discrimination towards minorities like Mexicans that was prevalent during the time of the Colvin boycott. Its significance is showing the bravery Colvin had to break the cycle of racial discrimination put into place by Jim Crow at the age of 15 and serves as a reason why she should have been the center of the boycott instead of Rosa Parks.
Full Arrest Record
The purpose of the arrest report is to explain the reasons why Colvin was detained, obtain her personal information, and get her fingerprints. The report comes from the police department in Montgomery that came from a complaint from a white male named Robert Clare.The impact on the story of Colvin is that it shows the exact reasons why she was arrested and well as showing the rampant racism at the time as the report refers to nationality as “negro”
City of Montgomery Police Department. Arrest Report for Claudette Colvin &Bullet; Online King Records Access (OKRA), Stanford University, 14 Nov. 1988, okra.stanford.edu/en/permalink/document550302-001.
Colvin Pic
The picture represents the young Colvin during the time that she refused to move to the back of the bus which the courage she had at such a young age. The significance of the picture is that it shows that she could take a stance against discrimination at any age and defy the odds while Rosa went to protest at around 50 years old.
Adler, Margot. “Before Rosa Parks, There Was Claudette Colvin.” CommonLit, 15 Mar. 2009, www.commonlit.org/texts/before-rosa-parks-there-was-claudette-colvin.
Document about Parks and the boycott that mentions “Colbert”
The audience of the document is the American people to explain to them the Rosa Parks incident and a similar incident that happened before which was the Claudette incident. The point of view expressed in this document was from that of the Negroes and how they were arrested and their need to start a movement for the blacks to receive equal status in society.
Azbell, Joe. “‘Negro Groups Ready Boycott of City Lines.".” "Negro Groups Ready Boycott of City Lines." :: Alabama Textual Materials Collection, Montgomery Advertiser, 4 Dec. 1955, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/6474/rec/12.
Flier saying that Rosa Parks is yet another case of this happening
This flier is written to target African Americans in Montgomery. It could partially be speaking to whites, but only those who are pro-integration. The flier says that Rosa Parks’ case was yet another unfair affair on the buses. It speaks as though the author is fed up with these situations. This flier shows that people knew this wasn’t the first case, but that Parks was the last straw.
Boycotter, Anonymous. “Flier Encouraging People to Participate in a Bus Boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, after the Arrest of Rosa Parks.” Alabama Textual Materials Collection, Alabama Department of Archives, 30 May 2013, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/5609/rec/532.
Montgomery Negro’s reasons for the bus boycott
This notice was directed toward the Montgomery public. It was also targeting the whites and the government of the US. The Negroes were talking about how they were segregated in buses and discriminated against the whites due to overgrowing white supremacy. They talked about how the blacks were mistreated in the buses and how so many blacks were jailed. Women and children were thrown out of the bus.they wanted the bus drivers to stop abusing them and proposed that the seating should be in first come first serve basis. This relates to Claudette Colvin as she was the girl who fought for her constitutional right in the bus.
Journal, Alabama. “Notice to The.” Alabama Textual Materials Collection, Alabama Journal, 25 Dec. 1955, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/6470/rec/704.
Blacks sitting in white section
This picture represents black people sitting in the bus. It is significant towards Claudette Colvin's case because she was imprisoned and abused because she fought for the right to sit on the bus that was segregated based on race.
Adams, Robert. “African Americans Seated in the White Section of a Bus in Birmingham, Alabama, during an Integration Attempt.” Alabama Media Group Collection, 1956, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/amg/id/14518/rec/12.
Alabama archives to search: http://archives.state.al.us/
Colvin Bus Picture
The picture represents the type of buses that were used during the bus boycott to help people visualize where Colvin did the boycott as a 15 year old girl. Its significance is that it is the picture that shows where arguably the Civil Rights Movement originated with Colvin and more so with Rosa Parks as she gained more international acclaim.
“Claudette Colvin Rejected Segregation on an Alabama Bus Nine Months Before Rosa Parks.” PushBlack, 24 Aug. 2016, pushblack.org/2016/08/24/claudette-colvin-rejected-segregation-alabama-bus-nine-months-rosa-parks/
Journal, Alabama. “Notice to The.” Alabama Textual Materials Collection, Alabama Journal, 25 Dec. 1955, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/6470/rec/704.
The audience of the document is the American public that are reading the article to inform them on what's going on with the black girl that has disobeyed the law in Montgomery. It shows the coverage of the events of what happened during the event and its aftermath.The point of view expressed in the document is that Colvin was an emerging civil rights activist that needs to kept at bay by the police in Montgomery.The impact of the document in developing the story is that it is one of the first articles written about her event at the time and describes the actual account of what happened in the journalist and police point of view.
dakrólak. “Claudette Colvin: 3/26/1955.” Astound Me: D.A. Królak, 27 Mar. 2016, dakrolak.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/claudette-colvin-chicago-defender-3-26-1955-news/.
From Twice Toward Justice Book
The picture represents Jim Crow segregation and continued discrimination towards minorities like Mexicans that was prevalent during the time of the Colvin boycott. Its significance is showing the bravery Colvin had to break the cycle of racial discrimination put into place by Jim Crow at the age of 15 and serves as a reason why she should have been the center of the boycott instead of Rosa Parks.
Full Arrest Record
The purpose of the arrest report is to explain the reasons why Colvin was detained, obtain her personal information, and get her fingerprints. The report comes from the police department in Montgomery that came from a complaint from a white male named Robert Clare.The impact on the story of Colvin is that it shows the exact reasons why she was arrested and well as showing the rampant racism at the time as the report refers to nationality as “negro”
City of Montgomery Police Department. Arrest Report for Claudette Colvin &Bullet; Online King Records Access (OKRA), Stanford University, 14 Nov. 1988, okra.stanford.edu/en/permalink/document550302-001.
Colvin Pic
The picture represents the young Colvin during the time that she refused to move to the back of the bus which the courage she had at such a young age. The significance of the picture is that it shows that she could take a stance against discrimination at any age and defy the odds while Rosa went to protest at around 50 years old.
Adler, Margot. “Before Rosa Parks, There Was Claudette Colvin.” CommonLit, 15 Mar. 2009, www.commonlit.org/texts/before-rosa-parks-there-was-claudette-colvin.
Document about Parks and the boycott that mentions “Colbert”
The audience of the document is the American people to explain to them the Rosa Parks incident and a similar incident that happened before which was the Claudette incident. The point of view expressed in this document was from that of the Negroes and how they were arrested and their need to start a movement for the blacks to receive equal status in society.
Azbell, Joe. “‘Negro Groups Ready Boycott of City Lines.".” "Negro Groups Ready Boycott of City Lines." :: Alabama Textual Materials Collection, Montgomery Advertiser, 4 Dec. 1955, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/6474/rec/12.
Flier saying that Rosa Parks is yet another case of this happening
This flier is written to target African Americans in Montgomery. It could partially be speaking to whites, but only those who are pro-integration. The flier says that Rosa Parks’ case was yet another unfair affair on the buses. It speaks as though the author is fed up with these situations. This flier shows that people knew this wasn’t the first case, but that Parks was the last straw.
Boycotter, Anonymous. “Flier Encouraging People to Participate in a Bus Boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, after the Arrest of Rosa Parks.” Alabama Textual Materials Collection, Alabama Department of Archives, 30 May 2013, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/5609/rec/532.
Montgomery Negro’s reasons for the bus boycott
This notice was directed toward the Montgomery public. It was also targeting the whites and the government of the US. The Negroes were talking about how they were segregated in buses and discriminated against the whites due to overgrowing white supremacy. They talked about how the blacks were mistreated in the buses and how so many blacks were jailed. Women and children were thrown out of the bus.they wanted the bus drivers to stop abusing them and proposed that the seating should be in first come first serve basis. This relates to Claudette Colvin as she was the girl who fought for her constitutional right in the bus.
Journal, Alabama. “Notice to The.” Alabama Textual Materials Collection, Alabama Journal, 25 Dec. 1955, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/6470/rec/704.
Blacks sitting in white section
This picture represents black people sitting in the bus. It is significant towards Claudette Colvin's case because she was imprisoned and abused because she fought for the right to sit on the bus that was segregated based on race.
Adams, Robert. “African Americans Seated in the White Section of a Bus in Birmingham, Alabama, during an Integration Attempt.” Alabama Media Group Collection, 1956, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/amg/id/14518/rec/12.
Alabama archives to search: http://archives.state.al.us/
Colvin Bus Picture
The picture represents the type of buses that were used during the bus boycott to help people visualize where Colvin did the boycott as a 15 year old girl. Its significance is that it is the picture that shows where arguably the Civil Rights Movement originated with Colvin and more so with Rosa Parks as she gained more international acclaim.
“Claudette Colvin Rejected Segregation on an Alabama Bus Nine Months Before Rosa Parks.” PushBlack, 24 Aug. 2016, pushblack.org/2016/08/24/claudette-colvin-rejected-segregation-alabama-bus-nine-months-rosa-parks/
Journal, Alabama. “Notice to The.” Alabama Textual Materials Collection, Alabama Journal, 25 Dec. 1955, digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/singleitem/collection/voices/id/6470/rec/704.
Secondary Sources
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
The purpose of the book was to not only shed light on Colvin’s actions, but also to serve other biographical purposes. It develops the overall story of Colvin by providing a more complete overview of her childhood and the response that the media and culture had on her that made her not be remembered. The point of view is that Colvin was unfairly represented in society and should have been the face of the Civil Rights Movement.
Book: Hoose, Phillip. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. Turtleback Books, 2009.
NY Times article on Claudette
The article was written to elaborate on how the Civil Rights movement actually occurred. People had to take action against oppression rather than just sitting down and letting things go by. The article supports Colvin’s story because there are quotes from her regarding her experiences. This provides an accurate depiction of what Colvin went through rather than speculation. The point of view of the article was of someone who supported the Civil Rights movement and desegregation.
Barnes, Brooks. “From Footnote to Fame in Civil Rights History.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Nov. 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/books/26colvin.html.
CORE Congress of Racial Equality: 'The First ‘Rosa Parks.’
The main purpose of this document was to talk about the case of Claudette Colvin. It emphasises how Claudette Colvin’s story affected the Montgomery Bus Boycott and how the NAACP had covered the Claudette Colvin’s case because she was pregnant. The point of view of this document expresses the similarities and differences between the Claudette Colvin’s case and Rosa Parks’s case.
CORE Congress of Racial Equality: “The First ‘Rosa Parks.’” Claudette Colvin, CORE, 2014, www.core-online.org/History/colvin.htm.
The purpose of the book was to not only shed light on Colvin’s actions, but also to serve other biographical purposes. It develops the overall story of Colvin by providing a more complete overview of her childhood and the response that the media and culture had on her that made her not be remembered. The point of view is that Colvin was unfairly represented in society and should have been the face of the Civil Rights Movement.
Book: Hoose, Phillip. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. Turtleback Books, 2009.
NY Times article on Claudette
The article was written to elaborate on how the Civil Rights movement actually occurred. People had to take action against oppression rather than just sitting down and letting things go by. The article supports Colvin’s story because there are quotes from her regarding her experiences. This provides an accurate depiction of what Colvin went through rather than speculation. The point of view of the article was of someone who supported the Civil Rights movement and desegregation.
Barnes, Brooks. “From Footnote to Fame in Civil Rights History.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Nov. 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/books/26colvin.html.
CORE Congress of Racial Equality: 'The First ‘Rosa Parks.’
The main purpose of this document was to talk about the case of Claudette Colvin. It emphasises how Claudette Colvin’s story affected the Montgomery Bus Boycott and how the NAACP had covered the Claudette Colvin’s case because she was pregnant. The point of view of this document expresses the similarities and differences between the Claudette Colvin’s case and Rosa Parks’s case.
CORE Congress of Racial Equality: “The First ‘Rosa Parks.’” Claudette Colvin, CORE, 2014, www.core-online.org/History/colvin.htm.