9781422277775

sangat the topof their lungs. “We shall overcome,” they sang, and they believed that they would. The jailer, who knew that the FreedomRiderswere headed for the prison farm, averted his eyes. His shoulderswere shaking. The prisoner reached through the bars and patted his arm reassuringly. For Farmer, who fervently believed in the biblical ideal of loving one’s enemy, it seemed as natural to comfort his oppressor as it was to seek freedom in a Mississippi jail. Unable to respond, the jailer slowly walked away. Half an hour later, prison guards ordered the Freedom Riders into police vans and sent them to the Hinds County Prison Farm. For Farmer and his allies—and for the hundreds

James Farmer speaks with reporters. As director of CORE, Farmer was one of the most influential leaders of the civil rights movement.

of civil rights volunteers who would follow them—the path from the Jackson bus station to the town jail to the county jail to the county prison farm led to the last battle of the Civil War. It would be a battle fought with songs and clubs, with tear gas and hymns, with blind rage and calm faith. From it would emerge a new hero, a national leader in the struggle for freedom.

1 2

C I V I L R I GH T S L E A D E R S : J AM E S FA RM E R