Seventy-five years ago the Supreme Court declared segregation in interstate transportation to be unconstitutional – a ruling that was virtually ignored by the South. In response, a courageous group of interracial activists invented the concept of the Freedom Ride; riding buses and trains side-by-side to force enforcement of the ruling. Their reward was 30 days on a chain gang. Societal change would have to wait until the more famous Freedom Rides of the 1960s.
In the early 1990s, “Simply Superior” host Robin Washington brought together the survivors of that ride for a reunion retracing their trip for a national PBS documentary, “You Don’t Have to Ride Jim Crow!” He now presents the program, which has earned numerous national honors as well as sparked the dedication of several state historic markers, as a new radio documentary, premiering on “Simply Superior.”
In addition, a selection of songs adapted from the PBS score and re-invented as Broadway show tunes will be featured as performed by a Twin Ports ensemble 15 years ago.
Episode Credits
- Robin Washington Host
- Paul Damberg Producer
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