An old photo of Charles Person from the 1960’s. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceFrom outside the front door of the Person home, the smooth jazz rendition of “My Favorite Things,” originally released in 1959, could be heard. This is the home of Charles Person, 82, who became a member of the original 1961 Freedom Riders and author of Buses Are a Comin’: Memoir of a Freedom Rider, which was published in 2021. When Person started his freshman year at Morehouse College, he was excited to be in such an inspiring environment. Surrounded by like-minded academics and young people who he considered some of the best and the brightest of his generation. Initially, freshmen were not allowed to participate in the growing Civil Rights Movement, but as the movement gained momentum, these restrictions were lifted, allowing Person to join the efforts that would help change America forever.It wasn’t a struggle for Person to recollect the motivating atmosphere. “The campaign really picked up in 1961” he recalled. “I remember the first march we had. Some people say it was 2,000, but I think there were 5,000 students marching two by two from the Atlanta University campus into downtown Atlanta. We made an impression because we were peaceful and orderly.”Person said there wasn’t any violence, just a massive, disciplined presence of Black students.Charles Person also served this country during the Vietnam. War Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice“We had enough people that we could do this every day,” Person said. “My two buddies, Frank Holloway and Leon Green, and I could close any lunch counter. Frank was a big guy, and he would just cross his arms and look imposing. It terrified the hell out of white folks, but we were nonviolent. We were committed to the principles of Dr. King and other nonviolent leaders.”Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceAny sit-ins and marches conducted were strategic, targeting high-profile stores like Woolworths, Greens, Rich’s, and Davison’s. “Rich’s was a high-value target because it was where the ultra-rich in Atlanta shopped. We wanted to disrupt business as usual and force the city to confront its discriminatory practices,” Person explained.During this period, Person was arrested for the first time. “When the campaign really intensified, the whites did not want to negotiate with the students. They thought if they ignored us, we’d go away. So we had to intensify and change tactics. We went on a jail-mobile strategy, hitting multiple points at once to overwhelm the police,” he explained. Person’s activism was deeply influenced by the environment of Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including Morehouse, Spelman, Clark College (Now Clark Atlanta University), Morris Brown College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). “We had our own community, Auburn Avenue and Harness Street, (which is now MLK Jr. Drive). We had everything the white community had, just on a smaller scale—our own bowling alleys, professional offices, dentists, doctors. We didn’t lack anything, except during the holidays when we had to deal with the segregation of downtown shopping,” he recounted.Fueled by his commitment to the Civil Rights Movement, Person was driven by a profound sense of justice and a desire to change the status quo. “We were determined to fight for our rights. It wasn’t just about integrating lunch counters; it was about demanding dignity and respect for our community,” Person stated.The Civil Rights Movement was a pivotal period in Charles Person’s life, forging him into a steadfast advocate for equality and justice. His experiences in Atlanta in the early 1960s were marked by courage, strategy, and a deep commitment to nonviolent resistance. “We knew that our fight was bigger than us,” Person reflected. “We were part of a movement that was changing the world, and we were determined to see it through to the end,” Person continued. Person’s journey did not stop with the marches in Atlanta. After the success of these efforts, the Congress of Racial Equality sought to leverage the nonviolent training many young people had received. This led to the call for the Freedom Rides in 1961. “Well, nobody knew what a Freedom Ride was in 1961, but being given a chance to fight segregation at a higher level was very enticing,” Person said.He volunteered, even though he needed parental permission due to his age. “My dad easily allowed me to go, but my mom was a little reluctant,” he remembered. “But eventually, like most mothers, she gave in.” Despite their concerns, Person’s parents understood the significance of the cause. “My dad, I guess, vicariously, wanted to achieve some of the things they weren’t able to do,” Person said.When planning the route for the ride, the original destination was set as New Orleans, with the Freedom Riders beginning their training in nonviolence in Washington, D.C, in May of 1961, where they prepared for various scenarios.“We thought the worst that could happen was ketchup or condiments being thrown at us, or someone might spit on us,” Person said. But the reality was far more dangerous. Person recanted their journey being uneventful until they reached Rock Hill, South Carolina, where John Lewis and another Freedom Rider were beaten severely. “John was asked if he wanted to press charges, and he said no.Atlanta, the next stop in route, provided a brief but significant respite for the riders. The city was a crossroads where activists could regroup and strategize. During their stay, Person and the Riders were hosted at the Atlanta University Center (AUC), which served as a sanctuary, bringing Person’s journey full circle. One of the most memorable aspects of Person’s time in Atlanta was the chance to meet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his team. Listening to this story was both inspiring and sobering, with a dreadful reality. Dr. King, who was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, expressed his concerns about the risks the Freedom Riders faced, particularly as they prepared to enter Alabama. He warned them that the violence they might encounter could be fatal. Despite this daunting prospect, Person and his fellow Riders remained resolute, motivated by their commitment to the cause.The Freedom Riders departed Atlanta the following day. As they neared the Georgia-Alabama state line, tensions began to rise. A man, disembarking from the bus, issued a chilling warning, Person recanted, ‘You’ve had it good here in Georgia, but you’re in Alabama now’,  Person initially dismissed the threat, thinking it was inconsequential since the man was leaving the bus. Little did he know, this individual would later resurface in Birmingham, a reminder of the escalating hostility they would soon face.As the Freedom Riders approached Anniston, Alabama, the tension only grew. Traveling on Mother’s Day, upon arrival, they discovered that the bus station was closed, a rare occurrence on a busy travel day. The bus driver, after speaking with local law enforcement, informed the group that the Greyhound bus ahead of them had been set on fire, and its passengers had been taken to the hospital. He then demanded that the Black Freedom Riders move to the back of the bus. When they refused, the group braced themselves for what was to come.As Person and the others were violently thrown into the back of the bus, they were stacked “like pancakes,” as Person described. Despite their small stature—Person recalls being just 5’6″ and 126 pounds—they endured the brutality.  B  The bus eventually reached Birmingham, where the violence continued. Person recalls entering the waiting room with James Peck, who was already bloodied from the previous assaults. They were immediately attacked again. A photographer captured an image of Person being beaten; his jacket pulled down over his arms to prevent him from defending himself.Despite the viciousness of the attack, Person walked away from the scene, refusing to run or show fear. He recalls finding a city bus and asking the driver to take him somewhere safe. The driver, noticing the blood on Person, drove him a few blocks and advised him to cross the tracks, knowing that Black residents typically lived in those areas. Person eventually found a telephone booth and used a scrap of paper with Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth’s number, a lifeline that he had inexplicably placed in his pocket earlier. Shuttlesworth sent help, with aid from a nurse in Shuttlesworth’s church providing some care to his injuries.Despite the threats and violence, the Freedom Riders pressed on, driven by their commitment to justice and equality. “We had a job to do,” Person said. “And we were determined to see it through”.In reflecting on the aftermath, Person recalled his experience with the judicial system following the violent attack. “The FBI identified them all,” Person explained, describing how the attackers were known, yet the legal system failed to hold them accountable. His deposition was taken, and he was subpoenaed to return to Montgomery for the trial. While in Montgomery, he was on the other side of town during the famous incident at First Baptist Church with Dr. King and other civil rights leaders. “Even though they had pictures, they had wide witnesses and all the kind of evidence you wish you’d had as a prosecutor,” Person noted with frustration, “they were all set free.” He returned home deeply upset by the injustice, “I came home and I was very, very upset,” he stated.Now, decades after the Civil Rights Movement, Charles Person reflects on the broader scope of those who contributed to the cause, emphasizing that it wasn’t just the prominent leaders like John Lewis or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who made a difference. “There are so many people I know who were crucial to the struggle,” he explains. “They weren’t John Lewis or Dr. King, but some made sandwiches, others made signs, but all of them played a vital role,” Person stated.“I think what keeps me going more than better than anything, is that the Freedom Rides and all the things that I experienced afterwards let me know there are a lot of good people in this world. There are bad people, but you have to realize that there are good people, and if you keep that in mind, then you won’t be jaded”. The post Memoir of a Freedom Rider appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.