How Did The Montgomery Bus Boycott Impact The Civil Rights Movement

At the peak of the 20th century's Civil Rights Movement era, Montgomery's African American citizens began the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The city bus boycott originally began on December 1, 1955 when a young woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on the bus. Because of Parks' refusal, she and a few of her colleagues were thrown off the city bus and arrested for disturbing the "peace" AKA "Civil Disobedience". This incident trial blazed an eleven-month long bus boycott in the city of Montgomery that would change not only Montgomery, AL, but America for the better for decades to come. Many Americans have no interest in learning about African American history or the Civil Rights Movement. Consequently, many individuals

in this country believe that Rosa Parks was just another black woman on the city bus who happened to get arrested for her refusal to give up her seat to a Caucasian male. 
Little may know that Mrs.

Rosa Lousie McCauley Parks was a devout activist and secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) where she collaborated with other prominent civil rights leaders including then Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, E.D. Nixon, Jo Ann Robinson, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Women's Political Council, who were adamant about making change in the segregated South. The plan of a bus boycott had been in fruition long before Mrs. Parks decided to volunteer as tribute. Women like Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith both refused to give up their seat and were arrested, but they didn't seem to have big enough reputation to make any major moves in the boycott plan. Once Mrs. Parks was arrested, E.D. Nixon and colleagues informed the African American bus riders (who were mostly the African American female working class) that they made up seventy-five percent of the Montgomery's city bus population. If the African American community could stick together and boycott all bus rides, the city would have no choice but to hear African Americans out in their plight for equal human rights. Nixon planned the beginning of the boycott on the 5th of December in 1955. There was a meeting held at the church of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.  where they made official plans for the bus boycotts. It was at this meeting where the leaders organized the Montgomery Improvement

Association.  
As the boycott began, churches bought and rented out cars for the citizens to travel in until the boycott was over. Leaders decided the boycott would not end until the city bus station was legally integrated. Fortunately, a year later, the court case Browder v. Gayle was heard by the Supreme Court and the segregation of city buses in the city of Alabama was eradicated! On the 20th day in December of 1956, after 381 long days of boycotting, African American were able to enjoy the fruits of their labor with joy and happiness knowing that through unity, they accomplished their goals. This event was only the beginning to a drama-filled, triumphant era in American history.  
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a complete success and became a clear illustration of Black power and unity in the face of oppression.

Many African American living outside of Alabama (even in other countries!) were ecstatic about the victory in Montgomery. As African American, we began to see that we could change our predicament and that we would no longer be afraid to fight for what we believed in. The use of newspapers, flyers, and films were how African Americans got the word out about the boycott. According to the Negro History Bulletin, African American had found a way to transport African Americans throughout the city with church vehicle carpooling, but they were often harassed by police who were aggravated by the boycott and the entire Civil Rights Movement. The church and many other activists tried their best to get insurance for all of the vehicles they were using to transport citizens, but many angry White insurance agents would maliciously deny an African American of insurance to make sure African Americans had no method of

transportation.  
This may not have ever been known, if the black press hadn't emphasized the continuous neglect of African people in Alabama and other racist Southern states. The black press also spoke about Alabama's Attorney General trying to shut the NAACP down by filing a petition requesting that they provide records of all chapters in the state of Alabama and each chapter's list of paid members and other record information during the past twelve months that could incriminating to the NAACP organization. The NAACP believed that they were protecting their own members by refusing to give up the records of their organization. Fortunately, the NAACP could see through the courts and realized that member of the NAACP would be in grave danger if hateful racist Caucasian leaders found out where they lived and worked. According to the black press, Alabama's government was actively trying to destroy the progress of the African American people. They began to constantly make local laws that would stop the act of carpooling in African-American communities in Montgomery. Citizens were always harassed and never seemed to get many peace throughout they days of the boycott. It seems like so much was piling up against these people, but they pushed on through it. Even the NAAPCP was bombarded with harassing threats and also fined $100,00 for refusing to give the court their record keepings.  
Many white Southern media outlets had a different story when it came to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, they did not speak of the corruption and misconduct from White people as a result of the boycott, mostly about what they African-Americans (Negros) were doing so badly. According to the "Montgomery Advertiser", white citizens of Birmingham were confused as to why African Americans wanted to protest and seemed to not understand the meaning of "for further instructions, attend the mass meeting". The only reason the newspaper found out about the mass meeting is because some African American maids asked their white employers to give them the day off to protest and attend the mass meeting. These women immediately told the newspaper the gossip. The Montgomery Advertiser even interviewed the reverend of the meeting place to see who had written the anonymous letter persuading African American to not ride the city buses and attend the mass meeting. Of course, the reverend did not speak one name to the press, but gave them an invitation to attend the meeting (of course they didn't go). One thing I could not find in the African American press that I did find in the white southern press and that was a statement from the Montgomery City Lines manager, Mr. J. H. Bagley, after his knowledge of the flyers being passed around the town informing African-Americans to not ride the city bus Monday during Mrs. Parks hearing. 
Mr. Bagley stated:  
"The Montgomery City Lines is sorry if anyone expects us to be exempt from a state or city law. We are sorry that colored people blames us for any state or city ordinance which we didn't pass. We have to obey all laws just like any other citizen. We had nothing to do with the laws being passed, but we expect to abide by all laws, city or state, to the best of our ability." 

National Press got word of the boycott right ass things began to heat up between the African American citizens and the White citizens in the community. In order for other African American communities to stand up for what they believed in, I believe that it was necessary for all national press to cover this bus boycotts. New York Times were one of the first national media coverages to bring a voice to the people of Montgomery as they fought for equal rights. According to the New York Times article just two –month after the start of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the bus line was forced to jack up their prices to due to the drastic drop in revenue. Seventy-five percent of their revenue was gone to carpooling and protesting in the streets. 
 The New York Times was also very informative when it came to the values of the African American Mongomery citizens. To begin riding the city bus lines again, activists, leaders, and citizens wanted 1) adoption of a "first-come-first-served" rule as is in effect in other Alabama cities such as Mobile and Huntsville.  Under this plan Negroes would continue to load from the rear and whites from the front, but the seating, once established, would remain fixed.  2) Greater courtesy on the part of drivers; Negro bus riders have complained of rude, insulting treatment, and 3) employment of Negro drivers on routes serving predominantly Negro areas. 
Media played an integral role in informing the masses of the Mongomery Bus Boycott. This act of nonviolence was one of the first (but definitely not last) united acts performed by the African American culture and covered by not only African media, but southern white press and national press all over the country.