By: Managerrie Winston
Fifty years after the first Freedom Ride Texas Southern University students discussed today’s issues and passions of their generation.
Students were moved by the history of the Freedom Riders and have become inspired to take action in their own communities to bring about needed changes.
“When I was introduced to the Freedom Riders by my father I become succumbed with an awakening," senior Tamiko Bynum said.
"I felt like there were so many things going on in my community that will never change unless we take on a call for action.”
On May 4, 1961 the Freedom Riders went in route through the Deep South to challenge Jim Crow laws and bring about a revolution; the riders were grappled by hatred and brutality, having police often at times not to intervene.
By November 1961 after months of ridicule the Freedom Riders won the battle when the Interstate Commerce Commission put rules in place that prohibited segregation on public transportation facilities.
One main issue for the young adults of this generation is education, many feel that minorities students and the schools they attend are often left behind not receiving proper funding to provide all the tools needed to be successful in this day in age.
“Successfully integrating minorities, primarily African and Latino Americans, into the educational mainstream will be a solid factor in majority of us succeeding in the school system and thus prospering throughout our lives," junior Cassandra Mitchell said.
"With an increase of technical, scientific, and basic literacy of Americans at large, we will not fall behind the nations with which we are increasingly competing for world leadership.”
Some students felt that because of the problems in the education system students have began to lack certain characteristics causing students to become unconcerned entities.
“Because of the low student achievement in U.S. schools," senior Gregory Keyes said. "This causes students to lack the urge to make their learning experience a competition for success, ambition and the motivation to achieve aren't really inspired in our education system anymore and that was the main thing past civil rights figures worked for.”
Students expressed that this nation has came along way since the time of the Freedom Riders but unfortunately has not yet done away with forms of racism.
“Even with the election of our first black President African Americans have not surpassed the race card," junior Taylor Jennings said.
"We see our president get questioned about his methods and get bashed for his decisions, racism is still relevant in this day in age it is just hidden and swept up under the rug.”
On May 6, 2011 forty students from various backgrounds and walks of life will take a ride through the history of the Freedom Riders joined by Stanley Nelson the Director of the new documentary “ American Experience“, these modern day college students will experience the journey the Freedom Riders went on.
Texas Southern University students are thankful for the fight the Freedom Riders put up for them to be able to leave normal lives with no color barriers being in place, but still feel that the fight is not over.
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