May 4, 1961: Freedom Riders Board Buses to New Orleans
On this day in 1961, a group of Freedom Riders set off from the nation’s capital to New Orleans. There were thirteen in total - male and female, black and white, young and old- who set out in two separate buses.
Their goal was to test and challenge segregated travel facilities throughout the South.
Click the American Experience interactive map to retrace the Freedom Rides of 1961.
Source: to.pbs.org
In celebration of this year’s Black History Month, PBS will showcase an expansive lineup of programs profiling the rich history, culture and contributions of African Americans.
From the abolition of slavery to the rise of the black power movement, these programs take a profound look into a variety of historical events and individuals.
Watch full-length black history programs now on PBS.org.
JANUARY 30, 1948: GANDHI ASSASSINATED
On this day in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu extremist.
Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent movement to free India from British colonial rule inspired American civil rights activists who had immersed themselves in Ghandi’s teachings and viewed non-violence as an effective way to challenge the tyranny of the Jim Crow South.
