Art exhibit commemorates attack on Freedom Riders |
montgomeryadvertiser.com
One of the most violent moments of the civil rights era occurred in
Montgomery 50 years ago and today Alabama State University is
unveiling a series of artistic depictions of what happened on May 20,
1961.
On that day, civil rights activists dubbed "Freedom Riders," were
attacked at Montgomery's Greyhound Bus Station where angry whites
assaulted them with baseball bats, chains, fists and whatever else they
could get their hands on.
Local authorities were virtually non-existent during the attack, and
the activists were saved from further beatings by Alabama Public Safety
Director Floyd Mann who withdrew his gun and waded into the mob until
the violence stopped.
Books have been written and documentaries have been shown on television
about the incident, but ASU is presenting something unique today -- an
artistic look at what occurred at the bus station half a century ago.
Presented by the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and
African-American Culture, the paintings will have their debut this
afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. at the facility at 1345 Carter Hill Road.
The exhibit continues through May 31.
The exhibition, titled: "No Crystal Stair: A Climb to Freedom," features
works by Arthur Bacon, Ricky Calloway, Marcella Muhammad, Lee Ransaw
and Charlotte Riley-Webb.
Presented in vivid colors, the paintings depict the violence, the anger
and the sorrow that resulted from a seminal moment in America's civil
rights movement.
"The pieces in the exhibit honor the gallant contributors to
African-Americans' struggle for freedom by the Freedom Rides and by
others who sought to force the nation to live up to its creed of
justice and equality for all regardless of race," ASU spokesman Ken
Mullinax said.
ASU graduate student Rolundus Rice, who is helping to promote the
exhibit, said Saturday afternoon that it is one of several events that
will be presented during the 50th anniversary of the bus station
violence.
"These artists present a vivid, clear voice to what happened that day,"
he said. "It further galvanized public support for the movement, and we
are pleased to invite the public to join us."
(2 of 2)
The riders were testing federal edicts prohibiting segregated bus
seating and services in the South. The beatings they took woke the
nation to incidents that only grew worse as the 1960s progressed.
Assassinations of civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. and Medgar Evers and the murders of three civil rights activists
in Alabama and Mississippi led to arrests of Ku Klux Klansmen who were
responsible.
"I vividly remember the tumultuous times that led to the riots during
the '60s, the demand for equality and legislative changes that many
take for granted today," said Riley-Webb, who plans to be at the exhibit
today.
After years of delays, the Greyhound Bus Station where the violence
occurred is slowly being turned into a museum at 210 S. Court St.
A panel depicting various aspects of the incident at the bus station was
unveiled a few years ago and work is continuing on the interior.
The building is owned by the U.S. General Services Administration while
the Alabama Historical Commission has the lease and is working with
local groups to help commemorate the event.
--
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110213/NEWS01/102130337/Art-exhibit-commemorates-attack-on-Freedom-Riders%3E
Via InstaFetch
montgomeryadvertiser.com
One of the most violent moments of the civil rights era occurred in
Montgomery 50 years ago and today Alabama State University is
unveiling a series of artistic depictions of what happened on May 20,
1961.
On that day, civil rights activists dubbed "Freedom Riders," were
attacked at Montgomery's Greyhound Bus Station where angry whites
assaulted them with baseball bats, chains, fists and whatever else they
could get their hands on.
Local authorities were virtually non-existent during the attack, and
the activists were saved from further beatings by Alabama Public Safety
Director Floyd Mann who withdrew his gun and waded into the mob until
the violence stopped.
Books have been written and documentaries have been shown on television
about the incident, but ASU is presenting something unique today -- an
artistic look at what occurred at the bus station half a century ago.
Presented by the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and
African-American Culture, the paintings will have their debut this
afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. at the facility at 1345 Carter Hill Road.
The exhibit continues through May 31.
The exhibition, titled: "No Crystal Stair: A Climb to Freedom," features
works by Arthur Bacon, Ricky Calloway, Marcella Muhammad, Lee Ransaw
and Charlotte Riley-Webb.
Presented in vivid colors, the paintings depict the violence, the anger
and the sorrow that resulted from a seminal moment in America's civil
rights movement.
"The pieces in the exhibit honor the gallant contributors to
African-Americans' struggle for freedom by the Freedom Rides and by
others who sought to force the nation to live up to its creed of
justice and equality for all regardless of race," ASU spokesman Ken
Mullinax said.
ASU graduate student Rolundus Rice, who is helping to promote the
exhibit, said Saturday afternoon that it is one of several events that
will be presented during the 50th anniversary of the bus station
violence.
"These artists present a vivid, clear voice to what happened that day,"
he said. "It further galvanized public support for the movement, and we
are pleased to invite the public to join us."
(2 of 2)
The riders were testing federal edicts prohibiting segregated bus
seating and services in the South. The beatings they took woke the
nation to incidents that only grew worse as the 1960s progressed.
Assassinations of civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. and Medgar Evers and the murders of three civil rights activists
in Alabama and Mississippi led to arrests of Ku Klux Klansmen who were
responsible.
"I vividly remember the tumultuous times that led to the riots during
the '60s, the demand for equality and legislative changes that many
take for granted today," said Riley-Webb, who plans to be at the exhibit
today.
After years of delays, the Greyhound Bus Station where the violence
occurred is slowly being turned into a museum at 210 S. Court St.
A panel depicting various aspects of the incident at the bus station was
unveiled a few years ago and work is continuing on the interior.
The building is owned by the U.S. General Services Administration while
the Alabama Historical Commission has the lease and is working with
local groups to help commemorate the event.
--
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20110213/NEWS01/102130337/Art-exhibit-commemorates-attack-on-Freedom-Riders%3E
Via InstaFetch
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