Exploration 7: Ain't Scared - Zeb Lucas

     I learned so much from watching this documentary, I was aware of the awful treatment that many African Americans received during the sit-ins and freedom rides, but this documentary gave me a look inside of what many of them were thinking, and just how awful it really was. What they went through on the Freedom Rides, being met by angry mobs of klansmen and yet they kept going. They were even arrested, but as John Lewis said: they wore it "Like a badge of honor." It is an incredible story of their determination, and how it changed America for the better. Without the actions of these students, without them taking a stand with their peaceful and non-violent protests, things would have been so different. Who knows what would have happened, or how long it would have taken for the segregation of the counters, and interstate travel to come to an end.

     One tactic that I thought was extremely interesting would be the Freedom Rides. The fact that these young men and women were willing to risk their lives, riding through the South knowing that they would meet controversy blows my mind. They wanted a change, and they were willing to do whatever is necessary to get that change. Even after being met by an angry mob of Klansmen in Birmingham, and the other bus that was firebombed outside of Aniston that hospitalized twelve Freedom Riders, yet they continued with the Freedom Rides. Their dedication to the cause was incredible I feel that Jim Zwerg said it best: "Segregation must be stopped, it must be broken down. Those of us who are on the Freedom Ride, we will continue the Freedom Ride. I'm not sure that I'll be able to, but we're going on to New Orleans no matter what happens. We're dedicated to this, we'll take hitting, we'll take beating. We're willing to accept death. But we're going to keep coming until we can ride from anywhere in the South to any place else in the South without anybody making any comments, just as American citizens." Even after he had been severely beaten and hospitalized he still wouldn't quit. This brought attention to the necessary changes that needed to be made throughout the South and within the ICC. Racism was rampant and something needed to be done. The Freedom Riders ultimately forced people to pay attention to the issue and make the necessary changes.