Montgomery Bus Boycott Aftermath

On December 5, 1955, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began and lasted over a year. Four days prior to the start of the boycott, Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to relinquish her seat to a white man on a bus. As a result of the closeness in timing between both events and the large focus on this particular arrest, many believed it to be the reason behind the boycott. To this day, history books are placing more emphasis on Rosa Parks’ arrest than on the reality behind the success of the boycott. The Montgomery Bus Boycott succeeded as a result of careful planning and organization from a group of influential people. On May 21, 1954, one year and seven months prior to Rosa Parks’ arrest and the boycott, a letter requesting the revision of the city law had already been sent. In Jo Ann Robinson’s letter to Mayor W. Gayle, she reminded him that African Americans accounted for three-fourths of bus riders. In addition, she provided the mayor with a list …show more content…
Nixon called for a boycott of the public bus system. The decision took place during a phone call between the two after Rosa Parks’ arrest, just a few days before the boycott. In an attempt to expand the reach of their movement, Robison created a leaflet. This leaflet explained their movement and the importance of boycotting the public bus system in order to accomplish their ultimate goal. Through distribution, this leaflet was hoped to inspire many to join in and support their movement. With help from two of her most trusted senior students, the leaflets were duplicated and distributed around Montgomery. By 2’oclock on Friday, December 2, 1955, tens of thousands of leaflets had been distributed. Every African American home in Montgomery received a leaflet and more heard of it through word of mouth. This combined planning, publication of, and commitment to their movement led to a successful first day of their