Freedom riders were groups of youth who traveled in buses to the South to help promote, encourage and change segregation in the Deep South.
Dr. Singleton spoke at The Forum, Wednesday, Feb. 8 from Noon to 1 p.m. in the Forum building, room F-104, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany to a crowd of approximately 200 people.
In 1961, a busload of freedom riders was attacked and the bus was burned. This attack only encouraged more riders to come forward to help.
“Singleton was with the wave of Freedom Riders who went to Mississippi in the summer of 1961 to protest against the state’s Jim Crow laws.”
"On July 30, 1961, Singleton, along with more than 300 other Freedom Riders, was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, where the riders were tried, fined and incarcerated at Parchman Farm."
Having been raised in the foster care system in the north and educated in California, Dr. Singleton was aware of covert racism in housing and employment.
"On July 30, 1961, Singleton, along with more than 300 other Freedom Riders, was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, where the riders were tried, fined and incarcerated at Parchman Farm."
Having been raised in the foster care system in the north and educated in California, Dr. Singleton was aware of covert racism in housing and employment.
However, when he went to the South, Singleton was made aware of the overt racism which affects all aspects of life, from where a person eats, drinks, walks or uses the rest room.
The freedom riders, mainly, tried to change public and interstate restrictions on people of color traveling across state lines in the United States during the 60s. The group would enter a restaurant and sit at the counter which had a sign on it that stated "For Whites Only" and would not move until forced to leave.
His group of freedom riders was arrested when they would not leave a "White Only" bus terminal, as blacks were made to wait outside and sit at the back of the bus. They were all arrested, including his wife, Helen, who had to have a cell by herself, in Parchman Prison, which is for men only
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Parchman is the oldest, built in 1901, and the only maximum security prison in the Mississippi delta, housing 4840 prisoners.
For those who don't know, Parchman is a notorious black hole, where people have been known to disappear. "It was a hell-hole. I was 175 pounds going in and 155 pounds when I came out," Singleton said. The food is inedible, except when there are important visitors, which Dr. Singleton said could be detected by the change in the smell of the food. “Boss Hog”, the warden, as he was called by the prisoners, ran the prison with an iron fist and made sure the prisoners were aware of their helplessness and his power.
“The jailers hated us and they did what they could to show that,” said Dr. Singleton.
Dr. Singleton continues to speak out about his experiences and the need for action. He stated that the Occupy Movement will be a force to be reckoned with when they have a common voice and purpose, clearly stated and acted upon.
Dr. Singleton quoted Martin Luther King when he said, “the arc of history bends toward history” but Singleton amended it to say, “I would amend that and add ‘if people would just get off their butts and do something about it.”
Chelsea, the DAC coordinator, stated, "it was wonderful to have this level of diversity brought to our campus, to have such a piece of our nation's history brought to light for all those who attended.."
Chelsea, the DAC coordinator, stated, "it was wonderful to have this level of diversity brought to our campus, to have such a piece of our nation's history brought to light for all those who attended.."
In his current position on the faculty at Loyola Marymount University, he teaches Labor Economics, Urban Economics, Regional Economics and Local Economic Development. Dr. Singleton served simultaneously as a faculty member at the Graduate School of Management at the University of California Los Angeles, and as the founding director of the UCLA Center for African-American Studies. In his current position on the faculty at Loyola Marymount University, he teaches Labor Economics, Urban Economics, Regional Economics and Local Economic Development.
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