She cried for justice long before others.
As A Child…
Claudette Colvin was born on September 5, 1939, to parents that knew they could not financially care for her. She was given in adoption to the Great Aunt and Uncle of her biological mother. Claudette was raised in a very poor black community in Montgomery, Alabama.
As A Teenager…
In 1955 Claudette Colvin was just 15 years old. She had to take the public bus to and from school each day. At this time in our nation’s scandalous history, there were many rules that Black Americans had to abide by. One such rule was that if all of the “white” seats were filled on the segregated busses, then Black passengers had to forfeit their seats and stand at the back of the bus to accommodate the White passengers.
The First Cries Of Injustice…
On March 2, 1955, Claudette was returning home from school. She was sitting in the “colored” seats as per the law. When the bus got too crowded the bus driver demanded that four “colored” seats be vacated to provide seating for the White passenger that was left standing. Claudette, who was pregnant, refused to get up. She had paid her fare, why should she have to? The bus driver got the police and Colvin was forcibly removed from the bus and arrested.
Disappointing Silence…
Oddly, the events of March 2, 1955, took place nine months BEFORE Rosa Parks was arrested for the same offense. Colvin’s mother told her to keep quiet about the injustice because “white people aren’t going to bother Rosa, they like her.”
Colvin recalled from the day of her arrest that, “History kept me stuck to my seat. I felt the hand of Harriet Tubman pushing down on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth pushing down on the other.”
When Colvin was handcuffed, arrested, and forcibly removed from that bus she continued to shout out that her constitutional rights were being violated. She said, of that day, “But I made a personal statement too, one that she [Parks] didn’t make and probably couldn’t have made. Mine was the first cry for justice, and a loud one!”
Colvin was charged in juvenile court with disturbing the peace, violating segregation laws, and assault and battery of a police officer. Claudette was found guilty of all three charges. After an appeal, the charges of disturbing the peace and violating segregation laws were dropped. Sadly, the charge of assaulting a police officer was upheld.
Making Changes…
Colvin went on to be a plaintiff in the famous Bowder v. Gayle court case. After a run through the court system, the United States District Court for Middle District Atlanta declared that the State of Alabama and Montgomery’s laws mandating segregation on a public bus was unconstitutional. The State of Alabama tried to appeal the ruling but to no avail. On December 20, 1956, the court ordered Montgomery and the State of Alabama to end bus segregation permanently.
In later years Colvin was recognized for her actions and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement but, for her, it was almost too little, too late. She has always maintained that she isn’t angry that she didn’t get more recognition at the time, only disappointed.
“I feel very proud of what I did, I do feel like what I did was a spark, and it caught on!”
-Claudette Colvin
To read more about other consequential Black people of history, visit SUNY Ulster’s Diversity page.
Our Chief Diversity Officer, Candice Van Dyke – London, stated in a recent interview that SUNY Ulster wants to create awareness and open dialogue. We want to focus on the acknowledgment and celebration of Black Americans’ contributions throughout the history of the world. It is her desire that highlighting these contributions will help everyone move away from the one-dimensional view that America has of Black history.
In an effort to provide a positive holiday experience to her fellow students, Rae Anderson was inspired to create Pridesgiving – an opportunity for the entire student body to come together and create lasting holiday memories filled with joy.
With assistance from the LGBTQ+ advisor, Brandon Burnette, and the Student life Coordinator, Meg Sheeley, the first Pridesgiving came to fruition on November 20, 2018.
The Student Government Organization (SGO) purchased turkeys and Jason from Lessings was kind enough to cook them. “Ready for the Holidays” clothing racks were set up with the supplies and help of those participating in the Start Here. Go Far Boutique. And a staff member, Danielle Wayman, donated beautiful homemade candies.
The pandemic may or may not have set you a little behind on your anticipated academic journey, maybe you have interests that lie outside the area of your intended degree or maybe you missed getting a great grade by a few small points. The solution to keeping your degree on course is an online Winter*net course.
Two opportunities to start classes in September and October are filling up fast, but there’s still time to register.
to participate and learn without a hitch. It’s user friendly and provides all of the tools and resources you will need to stay on track with your classes and be successful.
You rocked high school! You should be heading to your college dorm but if a gap year feels right, use it to your advantage. Take some Gen Eds!
Many of the colleges or Universities in America require the same basic classes. And, if you stay within the SUNY system, your gen eds transfer seamlessly.
