How Long Before Rosa Parks’ Arrest was This Letter Written?
Introduction
In 1955, Montgomery, Alabama was a segregationist society, where the Jim Crow laws enforced the racial segregation of public facilities, including public transportation. The city was also notorious for its discriminatory practices towards African Americans, who made up nearly half of its population. In this turbulent atmosphere, a letter, later known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott Letter, was written to the Community Relations Committee, a small group of civic leaders attempting to improve relations between white and black people in the city. How long before Rosa Parks’ arrest on December 1, 1955, was this letter written? This article aims to investigate the events leading up to the famous letter and uncover the significant information hidden within its text.
Background
Prior to the letter, a series of events had set the stage for the boycott. In March 1955, 15-year-old Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Mississippi while visiting relatives. The acquittal of his killers led to widespread outrage and anti-racial discrimination protests, which reached Montgomery. In August 1955, local leaders formed the Montgomery Interfaith Public Relations Committee to address the issue of discrimination on city buses. The committee, comprising white and African American ministers, aimed to resolve the matter peacefully, as violent confrontations with local authorities had already escalated.
The Letter: Content and Context
In October 1955, A. F. Willis, president of the Community Relations Committee, wrote the Montgomery Bus Boycott Letter to the bus company’s owner, W. A. Foster Jr. The letter was sparked by an incident on May 17, 1955, where a seamstress, Mrs. Holland, was ordered to leave the bus seat reserved for whites. Her refusal, along with a similar event involving Mrs. Parks two weeks prior, led Willis to demand action from Foster.
The letter outlined five grievances against the bus company:
- Racial segregation and unequal treatment
- Harassment of African Americans
- Refusal of African American bus drivers
- Failure to provide accessible facilities
- Lack of a complaint system
It requested Foster to address these issues by December 10, 1955.
The Response and Impact
W. A. Foster Jr. responded with a lukewarm attempt to address some of the issues, but the lack of tangible results led to disappointment and frustration within the Committee. Meanwhile, the national civil rights organization, NAACP, took notice of the Montgomery Interfaith Public Relations Committee’s efforts, sending advisors and resources to support the group.
By the end of November 1955, tensions mounted, as bus drivers threatened to quit rather than submit to African American drivers and a potential integrated work force. Rosa Parks, an active member of the NAACP and local community, was not aware of the letter when she boarded bus number 2857 on December 1, 1955, but the events following her arrest and subsequent actions led to a massive call for change.
Calculating the Timeline
When calculating the timeline, there is a slight discrepancy:
- A. F. Willis’ letter: October 1955 (precise date unknown, but before December 10, 1955, the requested deadline)
- Rosa Parks’ arrest: December 1, 1955
- First Montgomery Bus Boycott Meeting: December 5, 1955
- Montgomery Bus Boycott: Ends with a U.S. Supreme Court decision on December 20, 1956, ordering the integration of Montgomery’s buses.
This means the letter, written before October 1, 1955, was likely penned around August-September 1955, at least **3-4** months before Rosa Parks’ arrest.
Conclusion
The Montgomery Bus Boycott Letter, written in August-September 1955, serves as a precursor to the events leading up to Rosa Parks’ arrest. This significant letter, backed by the Montgomery Interfaith Public Relations Committee, sparked a series of events, including the arrest of Parks, the subsequent boycott, and the ultimate desegregation of Montgomery’s public transportation. As we highlight the events, we should not overlook the tireless efforts of A. F. Willis and the community leaders who contributed to a landmark moment in American history.
Table: Timeframe for Events
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| A. F. Willis’ letter written | August-September 1955 |
| Emmett Till’s murder | March 1955 |
| NAACP sends advisors to Montgomery | Late 1955 |
| Rosa Parks’ arrest | December 1, 1955 |
| First Montgomery Bus Boycott Meeting | December 5, 1955 |
| Montgomery Bus Boycott ends | December 20, 1956 |
Bullet Points
• The Montgomery Bus Boycott Letter was written around August-September 1955.
• The letter aimed to address the racial discrimination on Montgomery city buses, highlighting five main grievances.
• W. A. Foster Jr. responded inadequately, leading to frustration within the Committee and eventually the boycott.
• Rosa Parks’ arrest, triggered by the events mentioned in the letter, on December 1, 1955, marked a turning point in the bus boycott.
• The 381-day boycott, a result of Rosa Parks’ actions and the Montgomery Interfaith Public Relations Committee’s efforts, led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision, ultimately desegregating Montgomery’s buses.
