Freedom 'Riters: John Dolan's Story

Spiro Bolos
New Trier High School
boloss@nths.net
www.spirobolos.com
@spirobolos
FREEDOM ‘RITERS: John Dolan’s Story

FREEDOM ‘RITERS: John Dolan’s Story
Spiro Bolos
boloss@nths.net
www.spirobolos.com
@spirobolos

RATIONALE?
National School Walkout: March 14, 2018 New Trier High School,

NCHE 2017: “Histories Seen and Unseen” in Atlanta, GA

The Civil Rights
Movement
…beginnings

“Segregation Series”
Gordon Parks

EYES ON THE PRIZE:
“Ain’t Scared of Your Jails”
1960-1961

Stokely
Carmichael, 19
Sentenced to:
PARCHMAN STATE
PRISON FARM

1946
Morgan v.
Commonwealth
of Virginia
(seating)
1960
Boynton v.
Virginia
(facilities)
A TIMELINE

1946
Morgan v.
Commonwealth
of Virginia
(seating)
1960
Boynton v.
Virginia
(facilities)
1955
ICC bans
segregation
(bus, train,
waiting rooms)
1961
ICC bans
segregation
…again
(bus, train,
waiting rooms)

November 25th, 1955:
ICC had banned racial
segregation on
interstate buses,
train lines, and in
waiting rooms, but
not intrastate.

November 25th, 1955:
ICC had banned racial
segregation on
interstate buses,
train lines, and in
waiting rooms, but
not intrastate.
1961

Freedom Riders:
STATIONS ACTIVITY

STATION 1 STATION 2 STATION 3
CORE Letter Envelope Gallup Poll
STATION 4 STATION 5 STATION 6
Arrest Report CORE-lator CORE-lator

CORE letter to White House:
Gallup Poll:
Freedom Rides to
Jackson, Mississippi:
Letter to John Dolan:
Arrest of John Dolan (MS):
ICC bans discrimination:
Scheduled release from prison:
April 26, 1961
May, 1961
May-November, 1961
June 12, 1961
June 25, 1961
September 22, 1961
January 2, 1962

“‘Abandon your
animosities and make
your sons Americans,’
said Robert E. Lee.”

Gallup Poll (AIPO) [May, 1961]
“Do you approve or disapprove
of what the ‘Freedom Riders’
are doing?”
22% Approve
61% Disapprove
18% No opinion
3

“FREEDOM WALK: A new
technique for protesting
area-wide discrimination
has been used successfully
by four CORE groups…”

“I saw a uniformed policeman…
beating [Frank] over the
head...yelling: ‘Look out,
he’s trying to escape.’
Since Frank was on his
knees, it seemed funny to me
that anyone could think he
was trying to escape.”

“In the past three years I have
tried every system that I could
think of. Arguments, threats,
cajolery, humor and bribery with
no effect whatsoever....Sorry I
can’t wish you ‘Bon Voyage,’ but
with all my failings, no one has
ever called me a hypocrite.”

Type a one-page
(minimum) response to
John Luther Dolan’s
father as if you were
that Freedom Rider.
Make sure you date your
letter, “January 2nd,
1962”, the day his jail
sentence ended.
ASSESSMENT

January 2, 1962
Father,
Before anything else, thank you for letting
me know you’ve kept my things. Just the
thought of you looking after my drums gives
me the hope that one day we’ll play
together like we used to. One day, Father,
when all this comes to an end. One day,
your son will return to you.
STUDENT EXAMPLE

But there is so much more left to do. So
much more.
I have been thinking about your letter for
the past weeks, probably because it’s the
last thing I had in my hands before I
boarded Greyhound. Frank, my friend whom I
hope you still remember, had his mother’s
kiss as a farewell. I, your letter.
STUDENT EXAMPLE

When you heard we’ve been jailed, I know
what you must have been thinking — that you
were right from the beginning. That this
was all a product of my insanity. That your
son has lost his mind.
But Father, who would have thought that six
weeks in jail would only make me feel more
empowered and needed than ever?
STUDENT EXAMPLE

I am sorry, Father, for making you feel
that way. But I am not sorry for my
decisions. If my actions today close a lot
of doors for me, it is enough for me that
my little actions may have opened doors for
other people in exchange....
(by April D.)
STUDENT EXAMPLE

John
Luther
Dolan:
Oral
History
11/10/2001
1:54

John
Luther
Dolan:
Oral
History
11/10/2001
17:41

Spiro Bolos
boloss@nths.net
www.spirobolos.com
@spirobolos
THEN
NOW

Freedom 'Riters: John Dolan's Story

Freedom 'Riters: John Dolan's Story

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