Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin (born September 5, 1939) is an American pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s. She was a teenager when she refused to give up her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Rosa Parks' more famous protest.

Early Life

Claudette Colvin was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and grew up in a poor neighborhood. She was raised by her great-aunt and uncle, Mary Anne and Q.P. Colvin. From a young age, Colvin was aware of the racial injustices that surrounded her.

The Bus Incident

On March 2, 1955, Colvin was riding a bus home from school when the driver ordered her to give up her seat for a white passenger. Colvin refused, citing her constitutional rights. She was forcibly removed from the bus and arrested by the police. Her act of defiance came at a time when the Jim Crow laws were strictly enforced in the South.

Legal Battle

Colvin was charged with violating the city’s segregation laws, disorderly conduct, and assault. Her case was one of the first to challenge bus segregation in court. Colvin was one of the plaintiffs in the landmark case Browder v. Gayle, which led to the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

Impact and Legacy

Although Colvin's act of defiance was overshadowed by Rosa Parks' similar protest later that year, her courage and determination were instrumental in the fight against segregation. Colvin's story has gained more recognition in recent years, highlighting her role in the Civil Rights Movement.

Later Life

After the bus incident, Colvin faced ostracism from her community and struggled to find employment. She eventually moved to New York City, where she worked as a nurse's aide. Colvin has since been recognized for her contributions to civil rights, receiving numerous awards and honors.

Recognition

In recent years, Colvin has been acknowledged for her role in the Civil Rights Movement. She has been the subject of books and documentaries, and her story is taught in schools as an example of youthful courage and activism.

See Also

• Civil Rights Movement
• Rosa Parks
• Montgomery Bus Boycott
• Jim Crow laws

References

• Hoose, Phillip. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009.
• "Claudette Colvin: The 15-year-old who came before Rosa Parks." BBC News, 2018.

External Links

• Biography of Claudette Colvin
• NPR Interview with Claudette Colvin