The Montgomery Bus Boycott and The Women Who Started IT By James H. Cone
Discuss Robinson’s arrival at Alabama State University and her involvement in the Women’s Political Council. Discuss how Robinson became involved in the WPC. Identify the first president of this organization, how/when/why the group was organized, its membership. Discuss the role of the Women’s Political Council and Robinson in the origin of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Explain the incident relating to the arrest of Rosa Parks on a local bus, and Park’s reaction to this encounter. What factors prompted Park’s to defy Jim Crow ordinance on city buses? Discuss Robinson’s and the WPC’S roles in the origin of the bus protest with the printing of flyers that encouraged blacks to boycott city buses. Discuss the development of the boycott relating to: Blacks’ reaction to the call for a protest against segregated bus service. The formation and work of the Montgomery Improvement Association and Robinson’s role in this organization in bus protest. The roles of ministers in this effort, the unity of middle and walking class blacks to ensure the success of the boycott, the importance of the carpool system, and, in general, the sacrifices blacks made in this effort. Point out blacks initial and later demands for improved bus service. Point out opposition and support of the boycott by local whites, including violence. Discuss the role of Martin Luther King as leader of the boycott. Analyze the role of ASU’s president, faculty, staff and students in the bus boycott. Discuss the repression ASU faculty suffered as a result of their participation in bus boycott. Analyze Robinson’s and the WPC’s overall importance in Montgomery blacks’ protest against Jim crow bus service.
