They were called the freedom riders, and this introspective documentary charts the course of their eight month act of nonviolent protest, an act that changed the course of history. American experience freedom riders tv episode 2011 imdb. Special thanks to wgbh, the american experience, and pbs for their 2011 movie, freedom. Mark samels, executive producer for american experience, wgbh. Organized by the congress of racial equality core, the selfproclaimed freedom riders came from all strata of american society black and white, young and old, male and female, northern and southern. Inside the classroom, erin gruwell encounters hostility and racial divisions. During these training sessions, core members were subjected to staged verbal and physical attacks to prepare them for what was to. Freedom riders, directed and produced by stanley nelson and presented by the acclaimed pbs series american experience, is a twohour documentary film about the hundreds of civil rights activists who challenged segregation in interstate transport in the american south during the. The muchanticipated documentary freedom riders, which tells the story of a group of civil rights activists who 50 years ago challenged segregation in the american south, premieres at. Dan shores 20 opera freedom ride, set in new orleans, celebrates the freedom riders. The twohour documentary is based on raymond arsenaults book freedom riders. Attracting a diverse group of volunteersblack and white, young and old, male and female, secular and religious, northern and southernthe freedom rides of 1961 took the civil rights struggle out of the courtroom and onto the streets of the jim crow south.
We are on the 2011 student freedom riders bus rolling toward augusta, ga. From pbs and american experience this inspirational documentary is about a band of courageous civilrights activists calling themselves the freedom riders. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the freedom rides, the film to be shown monday on pbs is a story of ennobled youth and noxious. Developed in partnership with pbs s american experience, the guide democracy in action supports educators and students in their use of the documentary freedom riders.
Based in part on the book freedom riders by raymond arsenault. Dec 22, 2009 freedom riders 2010, 2 hours in 1961, during the first year of john f. Kennedys presidency, more than four hundred americans participated in a bold and dangerous experiment designed to awaken the. Freedom riders features testimony from the riders themselves as well as from state and federal government officials, and journalists who witnessed the rides firsthand. The pbs documentary freedom riders, which airs monday at 9 p. The story of americas black patriots premieres on pbs stations in february in commemoration of black history month in the united states. Stories from the heart follows idealistic teacher erin gruwell as she tries to reach 150 atrisk students who were labeled unteachable.
Oprah says she was inspired to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the freedom rides after seeing the pbs documentary freedom riders. Jan 01, 2006 this book is an amazing account of the freedom riders college students who braved jail, beatings, and indeed their lives in the summer of 1961 to desegregate interstate bus travel. They were a brave lot and now its a great dvd explaining the why, who and where. Freedom riders dvd in 1961, segregation seemed to have an overwhelming grip on american society. From may until november 1961, more than 400 black and white. The story behind a courageous band of civil rights activists called freedom riders who in 1961 challenged segregation in the american south. Freedom riders tells the terrifying, moving, and suspenseful story of a time when white and black volunteers riding a bus into the deep. This is an excerpt from john blakes 2004 book children of the movement. Based on raymond arsenaults recent book, this documentary film offers an. American experience is a production of wgbh boston. The bus of hope the story of the legendary freedom riders. These video segments document the events and accomplishments of the freedom riders, and introduce you to the real human stories of those who helped change our history.
American experience observes the 50th anniversary of a seismic event in the american civil rights movement in freedom riders, an electrifying twohour documentary premiering monday, may 16, on. It is easy to imagine freedom riders, attaining the status of eyes on the prize, the multipart film on the history of the civil rights. This film tells the powerful story of the freedom riders taking brave and decided actions to dismantle the structures of discriminationspecifically segregated interstate bus. This film tells the powerful story of the freedom riders taking brave and decided actions to dismantle the structures of discriminationspecifically segregated interstate bus travelthrough nonviolence. This documentary tells the rise and fall of the black panther party, one of the 20th centurys most alluring and controversial organizations that captivated the. Freedom riders, directed and produced by stanley nelson and presented by the acclaimed pbs series american experience, is a twohour documentary film about the hundreds of civil rights activists who challenged segregation in interstate transport in the american south during the spring and summer of 1961. Freedom riders is the powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story of six months in 1961 that changed america forever. Democracy in action a study guide to accompany the film freedom riders. Feb 23, 2010 in the spring of 1961, black and white civil rights activists rode buses to protest the segregationist policies of the deep south marian holmes, brian wolly, photos courtesy of corbis, getty. Gaining impressive access to influential figures on both sides of the issue, it chronicles a chapter of american history that stands as an astonishing testament to the accomplishment of youth and what can result from the incredible combination of personal conviction and.
Freedom riders a documentary from american experience coming may 16 to all public television stations. May 04, 2011 freedom riders, a new pbs documentary for the 50th anniversary today is the 50th anniversary of the freedom rides, an 18 day civil rights campaign in which a group of young people boarded a u. A new documentary on pbs stations captures the political complexities and drama of a pivotal chapter in civil rights history. The selected book is coming of age in mississippi, and the featured documentary is utahs freedom riders. American experience freedom riders season 23 episode 11.
Proceeds from sales of the book funded college scholarships for many of the original freedom writers. This documentary of the freedom riders of 1961 gives an indepth story of the true civil rights figures. Freedom riders inspire new generation of arab protest leaders. The story of the freedom riders was broadcast around the world. Opinion remembering the freedom riders the new york times. The documentary by stanley nelson 1674 words 7 pages stanley nelson chronicles the journey of a group of individuals, known as the freedom riders, whom fought for the rights of african americans to have the same amenities and access as the caucasians. Freedom riders documentary explores events that pushed the. The film is based in part on the book freedom riders. The world premiere of the opera freedom ride takes place on saturday, february 8 in chicago and will run for three nights. Aresnaults book became a primary source for a the pbs american experience documentary, freedom riders an excellent twohour show that first aired in midmay 2011 and has since won numerous awards. Freedom riders is augmented on the pbs website with 12 shorter films that amplify parts of the story. Its 1994 and long beach, california is a racially divided community filled with drugs, gang warfare and homicides. May 16, 2011 freedom riders is augmented on the pbs website with 12 shorter films that amplify parts of the story.
But i didnt think anybody was going to be violent because there was nothing violent about me, gaffney said in the pbs documentary freedom riders. The book was a new york times bestseller and has been published in over a dozen languages. Firmly renouncing violence in the spirit of gandhi, they set the course of civil rights actions that followed. Freedom riders is a 2010 american historical documentary film, produced by firelight media for pbs american experience. Gaining impressive access to influential figures on both sides of the issue, it chronicles a chapter of american history that stands as an astonishing testament to the accomplishment of youth and what can result from the. Original funding for freedom riders provided by liberty mutual insurance, the alfred p. Use this guide to the documentary film freedom riders to help students explore. He risked his life photographing the 1961 freedom riders. Shocking photo created a hero, but not to his family. Overcoming the limitations of a familiar format thanks to the sheer heroism of its tale, freedom riders digs deep into a critical chapter of the civil rights struggle and brings it to life in a. One of the cars is a 1962 plymouth and the other is a 1963 chevrolet. This is the fundamental research text for the 1961 freedom rides, and was the basis for the pbs documentary which came out on the 50th anniversary of the freedom. From may until november 1961, more than 400 black and white americans risked their livesand many.
Mar 28, 2019 the name paid homage to 1960s civil rights group, the freedom riders. Freedom riders a documentary from american experience coming. Sloan foundation, the corporation for public broadcasting and pbs stations. Freedom riders coming to pbs may 16 behind the scenes. Petersburg historian raymond arsenault, which was the basis for a pbs documentary that won three emmy awards, has now played a part in an opera. It included interviews and news footage from the freedom riders movement. Freedom riders revisiting the 1961 freedom rides pbs. Directed by stanley nelson, it marked the 50th anniversary of the first freedom ride in may 1961 and first aired on may 16, 2011.
Filmmaker stanley nelson and original freedom rider joan mulholland talk about the documentary the freedom riders. The story behind a courageous band of civil rights activists called the freedom riders who creatively challenged segregation in the american south in 1961. This should be in every high school for students to watch and have an understanding about the civil rights struggle. The film documents the freedom riders journey, which began with intense training. Watch freedom riders american experience official site pbs. It was the first unambiguous victory for the civil rights movement, says raymond arsenault, author of the book freedom riders, on which the pbs. Freedom riders, a new pbs documentary for the 50th anniversary today is the 50th anniversary of the freedom rides, an 18 day civil rights campaign in which a group of young people boarded a u. A documentary about the freedom riders with interviews from participants. The kennedy administration found itself on the defensive. The twopart, fourhour documentary is fighting for freedomat home and abroad. Pbs doc tells story of black american soliders international documentary association. Among them is mckinneys affecting account of helping survivors of the bombedout bus in. Gaffney was one of a handful of journalists who chronicled the violence endured by the freedom riders as they challenged segregation in the south.
May 16, 2011 now so too does this genre of documentary film. Some footage used about 40 minutes into the movie show alabama state trooperhighway patrol cars that clearly postdate the springsummer 1961 freedom riders movement. Remember as a young girl, watching tv news reports about the freedom riders. Download democracy in action, a study guide to freedom riders. Freedom riders film to premiere may 16 brandeisnow.
The name paid homage to 1960s civil rights group, the freedom riders. Special thanks to wgbh, the american experience, and pbs. The muchanticipated documentary freedom riders, which tells the story of a group of civil rights activists who 50 years ago challenged segregation in the american south, premieres at 9 p. Pbs in 2012 broadcast freedom riders as part of its american experience series. Thomas armstrong, freedom rider janet braunreinitz, freedom the children shall lead freedom rides documentary on vimeo. Remembering the freedom riders, 50 years later fifty years ago, seven black people boarded buses with six white people in washington, d. May 16, 2011 a new documentary on pbs stations captures the political complexities and drama of a pivotal chapter in civil rights history. Freedom riders documentary explores events that pushed the civil rights movement on the road to change with freedom riders by david barron staff writer,by david barron. May 16, 2011 freedom riders documentary explores events that pushed the civil rights movement on the road to change with freedom riders by david barron staff writer,by david barron. May 15, 2011 it was the first unambiguous victory for the civil rights movement, says raymond arsenault, author of the book freedom riders, on which the pbs series is based.
Saw this on pbs years ago, and it was still great viewing. This inspirational documentary is about a band of courageous civil rights activists calling themselves the freedom riders. Freedom riders is the powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story from awardwinning filmmaker stanley nelson of this six months in 1961 that changed america forever. Freedom riders dvd,this inspirational documentary is about a band of courageous civil rights activists calling themselves the freedom riders. Pbs freedom riders marks civil rights milestone chicago.
The freedom rides of 1961 were a pivotal moment in the long civil rights. Apr 16, 2020 gaffney was one of a handful of journalists who chronicled the violence endured by the freedom riders as they challenged segregation in the south. Many states violently enforced the policy, while the federal government, under the kennedy administration, remained indifferent, preoccupied with matters abroad. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. Learn about the freedom riders, a courageous band of african american and white civil rights activists who in 1961 rode together on buses throughout the american south to challenge segregation. The documentary release coincides with the books 20th anniversary. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Freedom riders documentary explores civil rights events. The children shall lead freedom rides documentary on vimeo. Deliberately violating jim crow laws by traveling together through the deep south, 400 blacks and whites practice nonviolent activism. Gaining impressive access to influential figures on both sides of the issue, it chronicles a chapter of american history that stands as an astonishing testament to the accomplishment of youth and what can result from the incredible. For any inquiries about the documentary progress, please contact live planet or erin gruwell education project. Kennedy addressed the voice of america claiming that great progress had been made on the issue of race relations, and that a person of color might one day be president of the united states. Scott bushman, program coordinator and pastpresident of the cache valley historical society, will lead the book discussion and pbs utah producer nancy green will answer questions about the film.
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