Who Is The Civil Rights Activist?

In social movements there are always the popular hero’s that everyone has heard about, then there are people who were equally as credible in the movement that were rarely heard of. When it comes to the Civil Rights movement, specifically the Montgomery Bus Boycott, two of the most popular names that are discussed are Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. Very seldom do you hear about Ralph Abernathy, Edgar Daniel Nixon, Fred Gray, Claudette Colvin, and JoAnn Robinson. Those people also played major roles in the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. From coming up with the idea of the boycott to making new organizations for the African American population to join. Without their activism in the bus boycott who knows how far it would have gotten
In the late 1940s Robinson experienced the prejudices underlying racial segregation firsthand when she was yelled at for sitting in the empty white section of a city bus; the driver pulled over to yell at her and Robinson got off the bus, fearing that he would hit her. (Phibbs 2009) When Robinson became president of the Women’s Political Council in 1950, she focused the organization's something to desegregate the buses. Working with attorney Fred Gray as her mentor, she met with then mayor of Montgomery William Gayle. (Phibbs 2009) The city's leadership was not interested in integrating buses. Since the city leadership was not interested, Robinson put together a boycott. Following the arrest of Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955, Robinson distributes flyers that she had written urging for Montgomery's African Americans to boycott city buses on December 5. (Phibbs 2009) With the help of the chairman of Alabama State's business department and a couple of her students, Robinson distributed over 50,000 flyers overnight calling for the boycott. When the first day of the boycott succeed, the Montgomery Improvement Association, with Martin Luther King Jr. as its leader, came to manage the boycotts continuation. (Phibbs 2009) Soon after, Robinson was appointed to the MIA's executive board and produced the organization's weekly newsletter at King's personal request. For her role as a leader of the boycott,
The two formed an incredible bond and would become leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. (Phibbs 2009) In 1955, the pair and E.D. Nixon founded the Montgomery Improvement Association and took part in organizing the bus boycott that would last over a year. (Phibbs 2009) Rosa Parks arrest triggered the organization of the bus boycott. The boycott caught the country's attention but also brought violence; both Abernathy's home and church were damaged by bombs. The danger did not frighten Abernathy. He knew that by any means necessary a changed was needed. Abernathy along with others worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the boycott. After a year, all their efforts paid off when segregation of the buses was proved unconstitutional. Abernathy went on to do many other great things in the civil rights