Martin Luther King Jr. and Selma to Montgomery marchers  Photo: Jack T. Franklin Coll.

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC presented the African American Museum in Philadelphia with a one of a kind gift, an abridged 381 Days: The Montgomery Bus Boycott Story.

A full traveling exhibit was created by the Smithsonian in conjunction with the Troy University Rosa Parks Library and Museum to honor the memory of Rosa Parks 50 years after her momentous refusal to vacate her row on a Montgomery bus so one white man could sit.

The generosity of AARP made 381 Days possible. AARP also commissioned a smaller format to display at the organization’s conferences. The African American Museum in Philadelphia gladly accepted this latter treasure after AARP completed touring it.

“It tells this inspiring story of how 50,000 people stood and forced a segregated bus system to open their doors to equality for all,” explains Jennifer Schommer, spokesperson for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. “It is a very important story that we’re telling and we are thrilled it can be told in Philly.”

“I think 381 Days is significant to have anywhere,” AAMP Program Coordinator Ivan Henderson concurs. “Its creation on the 50^th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott five years ago marked a huge step in commemorating African American history and giving African American voices a great platform in telling that history.”

Henderson considers the seemingly simple action of remaining seated on a bus had the profound impact of gradually shifting racial attitudes in the nation to the point of contributing to Barack Obama's presidential election just over a year ago.

Selma to Montgomery marchers                                       Photo: Jack T. Franklin Collection

The boycott took place in Montgomery, Alabama starting on December 5, 1955 following the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to relinquish her bus seat. African Americans remained off the buses through December 20, 1956, the day the system abolished segregated seating.

Of course, since boycotts were illegal in Montgomery, the term was never used by the protesters. But no matter its name, city buses running practically devoid of black passengers for 381 days are credited with inspiring the Modern Civil Rights Movement and launching the leadership of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the face of bombing, job losses, and constant harassment an entire community of African Americans remained united from the folks frequenting local bars to pastors in the pulpit. The sheer size and tenacity of that group of Americans fighting for basic dignity, refusing to trade off their civil rights just to "get along" is what inspired so many Americans across the nation and groups around the world to believe oppression could be lifted within their lifetimes.

The events in Montgomery are especially inspirational to women because the legal challenges made by Aurelia Browder, Claudette Colvin, Susie McDonald, Mary Louie Smith, Jeanetta Reese, and Rosa Parks against the city’s charges in Browder v. Gayle continue to push open doors barred by discrimination. The foresight to call for the bus protest also came from a woman, Professor Jo Ann Robinson. These women had been preparing for just such an event for years.

The broad ranging logistics of keeping alternative transport services operating for so long adds to the diverse stories of women and men alike.

Richard Watson, AAMP curator of exhibits, has observed visitors in the newly opened exhibit. He thinks, “The video Voices of the Civil Rights Movement is an excellent piece within the installation that captures people’s attention. Once they see one excerpt or one individual’s story, they sit down and look at the rest of this piece.

March from Selma to Montgomery                             Photo: Jack T. Franklin Collection

“Looking at first-hand accounts of the experiences of people in Tennessee, Alabama, and places in the South,” reflects Watson, “is a beautiful one-on-one kind of relationship the people in Philadelphia can now have.”

He feels, “381 Days causes you to pause and really look at what conditions existed at the time when we were living in this city with a lot more latitude for coming and going. It is really heart wrenching, gut wrenching to see it.”

The power of 381 Days at AAMP is uniquely augmented with photos of the Civil Rights Movement from the Jack T. Franklin Collection, a local news photographer whose career spanned roughly 60 years.

The exhibit is housed in the 3^rd floor gallery, which can be found at AAMP’s 701 Arch Street location in Philadelphia mere steps from Independence National Historic Park and the National Constitution Center. 381 Days will remain on display possibly through 2010.

Also showing at AAMP is Audacious Freedom: African American in Philadelphia from 1776-1876. This is a story seldom heard about the culture, businesses, racial struggles, and triumphs of African American founders of this nations. Accounts in this permanent exhibit fill two galleries on the 1st and 2nd floors. They offer a broad overview of the life and times as well as eye to eye stories from notable agents of change.

AAMP is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and from noon – 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $10 per adult and $8 per child ages 4-12 years old as well as per student with ID and senior citizens. AAMP members enter free.

In addition, AAMP, a nonprofit institution holds its 5th Annual Heritage Gala fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 12 in the Loews Philadelphia Hotel located at 1200 Market Street in Center City.  The cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by the dinner program at 7 p.m. and dessert and dancing at 9 p.m. 

All rights to article reserved by Gloria Blakely. Copyright 2010.