Freedom Riders Two

I finally have the chance to watch the Freedom Riders Documentary that premiered last week. My mom suggested I watch the Opera special that preceded it. It was a moving show. I cried in the first few minutes and I'm not sure I ever stopped. The was one particular moment. One Rider was explaining their behavior in jail. They would sing to cope. They were told they'd loose their mattress es and responded with a little tune of you can take our mattress. At this point, on the Oprah stage, he started singing it and with in a few repeats other riders joined in with him.

Freedom Riders

I didn't know there was going to be a freedom riders exhibit the day I went to take a tour at WGBH. While my group tried to touch the awards on the wall without the receptionist noticing I sneaked off to the exhibit. There was a new type of audio tour they were implementing. Visitors could call a number and enter an extension to hear freedom riders recount personal experiences. I didn't have time there so I wrote down the number and a couple extensions to try later. When I called later that night I cried. On my personal cell phone, the one I use to call my mom, friends, the pizza place, I heard the voice of Hank Thomas. He told me a story from his journey as a freedom rider. It felt like he was actually on the other line. It was as if I had asked him about it as I ask my sister about her soccer games. It was quite a moving experience