Democracy Now! Audio Jeanne Theoharis on the Montgomery Bus Boycott & "The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks" (Part 2)
Dec 11, 2025
Historian Jeanne Theoharis, known for her work on the civil rights movement, dives deep into the Montgomery bus boycott on its 70th anniversary. She reframes Rosa Parks' arrest, dispelling myths and highlighting essential figures like Joanne Robinson. Theoharis discusses the innovative carpool system that kept the boycott alive for 382 days, the economic pressures faced by activists, and the harsh backlash from authorities. She connects the past with contemporary issues, urging a renewed commitment to racial justice.
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Movement Built By Repeated Small Choices
- The boycott felt far from inevitable; leaders and participants repeatedly doubted it would hold.
- Jeanne Theoharis shows movements grow by making hard choices step by step, not by a single heroic moment.
Mass Carpool System Sustained The Boycott
- Montgomery sustained a 382-day boycott by inventing an enormous carpool network and 40 pickup stations.
- At peak the system provided 15,000–20,000 rides daily, replacing lost bus revenue.
Economic Boycott, Not Just Moral Protest
- The boycott was a disruptive consumer strike aimed at bus revenue, not just moral protest.
- The city's aggressive legal and policing response actually strengthened community resolve.
