Dear editor,
Sixty-four years ago this month, the original Freedom Riders, seven Blacks and six whites, left Washington, D.C., to travel to the South and expose our country and the world to the systemic racism that existed there.
Race had divided our country.
These bus riders simply wanted the freedom to sit at lunch counters together. For that, their buses were torched, and they were beaten and imprisoned upon arriving in Jackson, Mississippi.
Their numbers swelled, however, to over 400 individuals — both Black and white — from all across the country who had come to join the ride.
Thankfully, the news covered these travesties and the rest of the country, and the government, eventually stepped in to enact CHANGE.
At just 18 years old, Georgia’s Charles Person was the youngest among the original Freedom Riders, and he went on to serve in the Marines and defend the country he loved — but that country did not love him back quite so much.
Unfortunately, Charles contracted Agent Orange while serving and was in a wheelchair for years before passing away early this year. He was predeceased by John Lewis, another Georgian who was also an original Freedom Rider and later became a U.S. congressman representing our state.
That leaves Hank Thomas, yet another very successful Georgian entrepreneur, as the only remaining member of the original 13 Freedom Riders. Unfortunately, however, Hank is not doing well physically himself these days.
Charles Person wrote a book published in 2021 about the Freedom Riders, Buses are a Comin’: Memoir of a Freedom Rider, so history would never forget. Now, we are taking the next step with the Charles Person Freedom Readers to help ensure that happens. We lost Charles when he passed away early in January, and feel this is a great way to honor him.
The Charles Person Freedom Readers is a group of thirteen 18-year-olds from our local high school in Greensboro, the same city where Charles made his last public speaking engagement in August last year. Each of these students has agreed to read the book and then write book reports not only about The Freedom Riders, but also to address the present divide in our country.
This time, however, it is not Black versus white, but Republican versus Democrat.
This divide is even affecting current pending legislation, HR 1247, intended to recognize the Freedom Riders with a congressional gold medal collectively. However, this legislation has been languishing in Congress for over two years, with the two sides unwilling to satisfy the required votes. This bill remains in limbo only because of the party divide, not because of the content. Politics divides our country.
My group, which can include you, could join us in taking the Freedom Readers concept from city to city, to our high schools and citizens.
Please consider becoming a Charles Person “Freedom Reader.” The original heroes wanted to end race division; together, we can encourage young new heroes who want to end political division through reading this story.
For more information, go to LetDCkNOW.org.
Randall Harman, Putnam County