James Farmer and CORE

     

James Farmer participated in a huge role the film "Ain't Scared of Your Jails." He essentially acted as a historian, but in his case he had first hand knowledge of occurred during this atrocious time in american history. Farmer, throughout the film explained the travesties and gains that happened during the bus boycotts of the time. He was truly an influence on the original idea of implementing the idea that blacks and whites should ride buses through the south, but instead have the blacks sit in the front while the whites were in the back. This obviously was not taken in a well manner by southerners in states such as Alabama and Mississippi. Though, while researching Farmer and his co-founding of the organization CORE, a racial equality group that used non-violence to bring an end to segregation, I noticed was how willing and dedicated to ending segregation. Farmer, considered one of the "big four" activists, strongly affected the desegregation movement through his co-founding of CORE. The activist group organized sit-in, participated in freedom rides, and even helped organized The March on Washington. James Farmer wen't above and beyond to obtain desegregation through non-violence. Though, what I found most interesting was the pure intelligence that he had gained over his life time. The film definitely shows this through the way he speaks, but his actions speak much louder. Even with segregation at its peak, Farmer was able to obtain his degree from Wiley college, a historically black school. Then later in his career, after activism for equal rights, Farmer went on to participate in politics, running for congress and even working alongside president Nixon in the department of health education and welfare. In the mid to late 1980's Farmer wen't back to school to teach, but died about a decade later due heart problems. Farmers dedication and intelligence truly propelled the Civil Rights movement to a whole different level, making it possible to come out on top in the long struggle African Americans had in obtaining equality.