Dear Editor,
There is probably history on steroids being made now, but another historic event took place this month that has not been covered by the press. However, it does mark one of our greatest moments in America.
We lost one of the two remaining of the original 13 Freedom Riders, a true American hero in Charles Person, a Georgian. At the time of the ride, he was just 18, the youngest rider, which only leaves one still alive, Hank Thomas, also a Georgian who was 19 at the time.
For those of you too young to know what the Freedom Riders were, they were six whites and seven Black people who took two buses down to the South to sit at lunch counters together.
At various stops along the way, the buses were set on fire, the riders were beaten up, and when the press finally covered it, over 400 more “freedom riders” came out, both Black and white from all over the country, to get thrown into Mississippi’s infamous Parchman prison.
These brave people brought to the minds of the country the racism and brutality of the South. The buses were a’comin’, and they helped make changes a’comin. It’s amazing what happens when whites and Black folks get together for a common cause.
I would also like to draw attention to HR 1247, legislation pending to honor the Freedom Riders collectively with a Congressional Gold Medal. I believe President Trump would be proud to bestow this honor. Please contact your congressman and let them know you support this effort.
The Charles Person Freedom Readers initiative honors Charles Person and ensures this history is not forgotten. I will personally purchase enough of his book, The Buses Are a Comin’, for each of our high school senior classes in Greene County to incorporate into their curriculum during future Black History Months.
I also plan to take the books from city to city, just like the original Freedom Riders did with their cause.
I once asked Charles why he wrote the book. He simply replied, “I want to make sure that history is not forgotten.”Amen.
Let’s ensure that history is not forgotten, nor is Charles Person. By honoring great people who were just regular people, we will inspire our young people to be inspired to do brave and great things, too.
Randall Harman, Putnam County