Art exhibit commemorates attack on Freedom Riders
by Alvin Benn, montgomeryadvertiser.com
March 15th 2011
One of the most violent moments of the civil rights era occurred in Montgomery
50 years ago and today Alabama State University is unveiling a series of
artistic depictions of what happened on May 20, 1961.
On that day, civil rights activists dubbed "Freedom Riders," were attacked at
Montgomery's Greyhound Bus Station where angry whites assaulted them with
baseball bats, chains, fists and whatever else they could get their hands on.
Local authorities were virtually non-existent during the attack, and the
activists were saved from further beatings by Alabama Public Safety Director
Floyd Mann who withdrew his gun and waded into the mob until the violence
stopped.
Books have been written and documentaries have been shown on television about
the incident, but ASU is presenting something unique today -- an artistic look
at what occurred at the bus station half a century ago.
Presented by the National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and
African-American Culture, the paintings will have their debut this afternoon
from 3 to 5 p.m. at the facility at 1345 Carter Hill Road. The exhibit
continues through May 31.
The exhibition, titled: "No Crystal Stair: A Climb to Freedom," features works
by Arthur Bacon, Ricky Calloway, Marcella Muhammad, Lee Ransaw and Charlotte
Riley-Webb.
Presented in vivid colors, the paintings depict the violence, the anger and
the sorrow that resulted from a seminal moment in America's civil rights
movement.
"The pieces in the exhibit honor the gallant contributors to
African-Americans' struggle for freedom by the Freedom Rides and by others who
sought to force the nation to live up to its creed of justice and equality for
all regardless of race," ASU spokesman Ken Mullinax said.
ASU graduate student Rolundus Rice, who is helping to promote the exhibit,
said Saturday afternoon that it is one of several events that will be presented
during the 50th anniversary of the bus station violence.
"These artists present a vivid, clear voice to what happened that day," he
said. "It further galvanized public support for the movement, and we are
pleased to invite the public to join us."
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