Freedom Riders Research Paper

Although the term social justice has a specific denotation; it has different connotations that vary based upon unique and particular life experiences. The website Business Dictionary defines social justice as: “ the fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race, religion, etc., are to be treated equally and without prejudice” (“Social Justice”). While this definition gives a clear and general meaning of the word, the term has a different significance and interpretation to different people. While some individuals see it as equal rights for everyone, others may see it as equal rights within a social system. The difference in what individuals perceive …show more content…
Like the Greensboro Four, The Freedom Riders aimed to dismantle segregation laws in the South, however, not just in places like North Carolina; we are talking the deepest South. While desegregation was issued by the courts however, Jim Crow in the south had prevented blacks from having the natural rights they sought. The Freedom Riders’ goal was to test Jim Crow and fight for the natural rights of their people. The first freedom ride left D.C on May 4, 1961. This bus was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans, Louisiana. The leader of CORE James Farmer, was leading the 13 riders. A big opponent of the riders was Bull Connor, police commissioner in Alabama. Him and his officers looked the other way as Klu Klux Klan members beat freedom riders to a pulp. Although this tragic event occurred, the riders kept going south. This persistence and unwilling to be broken defines social justice for these riders as no matter how hard they got beaten, they kept pushing and pushing, fighting for what they believed in. Our trip to both the National Museum of American History and the Museum of African-American History and Culture provided both myself and fellow students the opportunity to experience the strive for social justice that all these individuals made. Seeing the actual lunch counter that the Greensboro Four sat in, made me picture that I was there with them. I stopped for a moment, closed my eyes, and pictured the scene in front of me. History was made right at this very counter. Although the lunch counter is an object, it serves as a symbol for social justice and the de-segregation of lunch

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