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Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Jason Reed

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Claudette Colvin was an African American teenager who was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Her arrest came nine months before Rosa Parks' more famous arrest for the same offense, and Colvin's case helped to inspire the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

by Muata Ashby

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	143 pages
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Colvin was born in Montgomery in 1939. She was a bright and inquisitive child, and she excelled in school. In 1955, she was a 15-year-old student at Booker T. Washington High School. On March 2, 1955, Colvin was riding home from school on a crowded bus when a white man boarded the bus and demanded that she give up her seat. Colvin refused, and the bus driver called the police. Colvin was arrested and charged with violating the city's segregation laws.

Colvin's arrest sparked outrage in the African American community in Montgomery. The NAACP took up her case, and she was represented by a young lawyer named Fred Gray. Colvin's case went to trial in May 1955, and she was found guilty of violating the city's segregation laws. She was sentenced to a $100 fine and a 30-day suspended sentence.

Colvin's arrest and conviction helped to galvanize the African American community in Montgomery. In December 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Parks' arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted for over a year and helped to bring about the desegregation of public transportation in Montgomery.

Colvin participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and she continued to fight for civil rights throughout her life. In 1956, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a nurse and a social worker. She also became involved in the civil rights movement, and she participated in marches and demonstrations. In 1968, she was one of the original members of the Black Panther Party.

Colvin's story is an important reminder of the courage and determination of the people who fought for civil rights in the United States. She was a pioneer who helped to pave the way for the desegregation of public transportation and for the civil rights movement.

Timeline of Claudette Colvin's Life

1939: Born in Montgomery, Alabama
1955: Arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white man
1955: Convicted of violating the city's segregation laws
1955: Participates in the Montgomery Bus Boycott
1956: Moves to New York City
1968: Becomes one of the original members of the Black Panther Party

Legacy of Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin's legacy is one of courage, determination, and perseverance. She was a pioneer who helped to pave the way for the desegregation of public transportation and for the civil rights movement. Her story is an inspiration to us all.