This is just a shoutout to people here to remind them one of the best documentaries of last year is airing tonight on PBS at either 9:00pm or 8:00pm.
Check for your local listing.
From award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson (Wounded Knee, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, The Murder of Emmett Till), “Freedom Riders” features testimony from a fascinating cast of central characters: the Riders themselves, state and federal government officials, and journalists who witnessed the Rides firsthand. The two-hour documentary is based on Raymond Arsenault’s book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice.
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Updated:
samdiener started to live blog and I am updating with his comments throughout the show. Thanks samdiener
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 06:06:16 PM PDTsuggested to do live blogging diary On this. I was busy watching the show and did not check back but enjoyed the conversation of those who did. Here are highlighted live blogging comments below.
Opening is Dramatic (1+ / 0-)
But I'm concerned with starting immediately in 1960. Maybe they'll go back and discuss prior history later?
I sure hope they'll go back and discuss the Journey of Reconciliation (freedom riders in 1948).
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 06:10:54 PM PDT
That was at least visited in another (0+ / 0-)
program — but I don't recall the program. Also the sit ins at an officer's club in the 40s in PA.
I'm asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about real change in Washington ... I'm asking you to believe in yours. Barack Obama
1947. But, yes, important to point out... (1+ / 0-)
...the beginnings. I did it here in "50 years ago today, 'Freedom Riders' risked their lives against cowards to smash Jim Crow."
Don't tell me what you believe. Tell me what you do and I'll tell you what you believe.
I like the Comment by Siegenthaler (3+ / 0-)
About how the humanity of the black women who worked in his house were invisible to him.
And the focus on Kennedy's courting segregationist support and his regarding the civil rights movement as a nuisance is quite good. It's essential to understand what an opponent of the freedom rides and the civil rights movement the Federal Government was.
Footage of Nonviolent Direct Action Training (3+ / 0-)
And good footage too! As a nonviolent direct action trainer, I've never seen that footage before. I wonder if there is more of that footage available that we as trainers could access.
They haven't explained the Nashville role yet and why they're interviewing the Nashville folks, though I'm sure they will.
Hank Thomas' comment fascinating (0+ / 0-)
Concerned that they would allow for integration on a one-time basis as they came through and then regress.
Good they went back to 1946 and Morgan (2+ / 0-)
and her amazing successful Supreme Court case. The importance of that case is underestimated. oh no. But then they skipped back to 1961. This was the point where the Journey of Reconciliation story should have been told.
Gov. Alabama Instigating Violence (2+ / 0-)
I had never seen that footage before. Chilling.
Vivid Descriptions of Firebombing of Bus (1+ / 0-)
and the brutality of the attacks. White woman's testimony about how as a girl her father was part of the racist crowd attacking abut she gave water.
Highway patrolperson stopped it, but of course didn't try to arrest any of the racist attackers.
Powerful Description of Role of Government (0+ / 0-)
Both city and federal in setting up the murderous attacks in Birmingham. Especially the role of the FBI in setting up the attacks. Good that they said Hoover was more powerful than RFK, but omitted any explanation of why. Didn't explain that Hoover had evidence of JFK's affairs, and held this over RFK.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 06:36:36 PM PDT
Which Paper Said (2+ / 0-)
"Police let hoodlums beat at will." They got it right from the beginning. Brave headline. The camera should have pulled back to give that paper credit.
reedom Rider Cox brilliant (1+ / 0-)
framing of issue as a challenge to Governor Patterson and Pres. Kennedy in cold war terms 'cause that's what Kennedy cared about.
Again, Patterson's response blaming the victims and thus instigating further violence is utterly chilling. Peck's inspiring even awesome determination to prove that the violence would not work to stop the protests. Hard to imagine that kind of courage. What would I have done? What would you have done?
RFK: "Who the Hell is Diane Nash?" (2+ / 0-)
I love it.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 06:48:51 PM PDT
Lafayette (1+ / 0-)
Points out that the students had to drop out of college in the middle of finals. But Nash's determination to not allow violence against nonviolent demonstrators to be victorious, and the understanding that if it was it would make even more violence likely -- tipped the scales.
I wish the doc gave a little more of the backstory of some of the nonviolent activists - Peck, Nash, Lafayette, Vivian, etc.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 06:55:09 PM PDT
Nash was on Tavis Smiley (1+ / 0-)
the other night discussing it all including the phone call from RFK telling her to stop them from coming.
I'm asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about real change in Washington ... I'm asking you to believe in yours. Barack Obama
by samddobermann on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:18:57 PM PDT
Siegenthaler (2+ / 0-)
Great on his discussion with Nash. Sieganthaler yelling at Nash. Nash, "We can't let violence overcome nonviolence." Siegenthaler clearly awed and maybe even ashamed?
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 06:57:14 PM PDT
Governor Refuseed to take JFK's Call (0+ / 0-)
Patterson refused to take call. The documentary doesn't say that JFK was refusing to enforce the Morgan Supreme Court case.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:01:28 PM PDT
Mother said talk with Lady of House (1+ / 0-)
if there's trouble. Good advice.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:03:08 PM PDT
Hoffa and Teamsters (2+ / 0-)
refuse to support the riders and say no drivers will drive. Big unions' racism - sad.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:04:44 PM PDT
Fascinating that Commisioner Public Safety (1+ / 0-)
in discussion with Siegenthaler said that as law enforcement official I could protect them if I get the order from you. The pressure from the freedom riders and, finally, the pressure from Federal Government, put Patterson in a bind. These are the kinds of dilemmas nonviolent action is designed to create for opponents. Textbook case.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:08:32 PM PDT
Mob Attack on Reporters (2+ / 0-)
Before attack on freedom riders in Montgomery. Vivid description of white women yelling "Kill them niggers" with babies in their arms.
Zwerg and Lewis and Frederick Leonard testimony about their courage under attack.
Attack on Siegenthaler too. That, finally, moved JFK to act.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:13:06 PM PDT
Zwerg Testimony from Hospital Bed (1+ / 0-)
We're going to keep coming. Amazing.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:14:24 PM PDT
Pay Attention to the Caliber of Reporters, (1+ / 0-)
anchors etc. you see & hear in the original audio & video.
We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy.... --ML King "Beyond Vietnam"
Sometimes (2+ / 0-)
But also the reports also refer to "the inter-racial violence" instead of the white racist violence. That obscures the reality of what was happening.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:28:41 PM PDT
Good on the dissapointment of student (1+ / 0-)
leaders with MLK's refusal go to on the ride and how this would lead to future splits in the movement.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:29:55 PM PDT
Leaving Montgomery (1+ / 0-)
How did they find a driver who was willing to drive? Was it because the National Guard was involved? Doc didn't explain and I don't know the answer.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:31:36 PM PDT
Great on way student activists (1+ / 0-)
through their awesomely nonviolent bravery and assertiveness, pushed both the rest of the civil rights leaders, including MLK, and the federal government to finally provide a modicum of support.
MS Deal between RFK and Sen Eastland (4+ / 0-)
Grotesque. Again the Kennedy administration refused to enforce the Supreme Court's rulings as Julian Bond so clearly says. Why isn't this looked on in a way parallel to Andrew Jackson's refusal to enforce the Supreme Court's order in the Cherokee cases?
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:37:41 PM PDT
Great Defiance of RFK & JFK (1+ / 0-)
Despite their insulting the "wisdom" of the freedom riders. Inspiring to hear how courage is like "yeast" that motivated more and more to pick up and join the struggle.
Wonderful how Parchman prison became university of nonviolence - just like the jails and CO camps for the WWII conscientious objectors became universities of nonviolence for the previous generation.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:49:24 PM PDT
Love Moment Where Bernard Lafayette (1+ / 0-)
describes using "Quaker consensus" do we really want to risk losing our toothbrushes? Okay, we'll sing with our mouth's closed despite being 8 to a cell built for two.
by samdiener on Mon May 16, 2011 at 07:54:12 PM PDT
I know I am having a viewing party with children and hubby. So I just would like to share this and hope others can tune in.
I have been hearing from people in the documentary community that it is an amazing documentary that can still teach you something new even if you think you know all about the civil right's history.