pbs_amex_freedomriders freedomriders amex pbs yes Freedom riders Freedom Rides, 1961 African American civil rights workers--History--20th century Civil rights workers--United States--History--20th century African Americans--Segregation--Southern States--History--20th century Segregation in transportation--Southern States--History--20th century African Americans--Civil rights--Southern States--History--20th century Civil rights movements--Southern States--History--20th century Southern States--Race relations--History--20th century Web site companion to the episode of American Experience "Freedom Riders." The site explores the Freedom Rides. From May until November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives--and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment--for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Deliberately violating Jim Crow laws, the Freedom Riders met with bitter racism and mob violence along the way, sorely testing their belief in nonviolent activism. The film and site feature testimony from the Riders themselves, state and federal government officials, and journalists who witnessed the Rides firsthand. The two-hour documentary is based on Raymond Arsenault's book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice. [Arlington, Va.] : Public Broadcasting Service (U.S.) American experience (Television program) PBS Online 2011 Instructional materials Web sites Texts (document genres) Documentaries and factual works Study guides http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/ 1961 Southern States 20110518 114922