Twelve Days in May: "Landmark Events Before the Twelve Days in May"–"Twelve Days in May, Freedom Ride 1961"

by Larry Dane Brimner
Richly illustrated with archival photos, this book offers an account of the 1961 Freedom Ride, a protest of unconstitutional racial segregation on buses.

This list covers "Landmark Events Before the Twelve Days in May"–"Twelve Days in May, Freedom Ride 1961."

Here are links to our lists for the book: List 1, List 2, List 3
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. facility
    a building or place that provides a particular service
    The court ruled that separate facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were equal.
  2. doctrine
    a stated government policy
    This separate-but-equal doctrine eventually was applied to all areas of life—restaurants, theaters, schools, waiting rooms, restrooms, and even drinking fountains.
  3. accommodation
    living quarters provided for public convenience
    Separate-but-equal was the law of the land following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Plessy decision, but accommodations for blacks were always inferior, never equal.
  4. unconstitutional
    not consistent with or according to fundamental laws
    Segregated seating on interstate buses was declared unconstitutional, but the court's ruling did not apply to buses traveling only within a state.
  5. plaintiff
    a person who brings an action in a court of law
    The Browns and other plaintiffs claimed that racially segregated schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
  6. campaign
    a series of actions tending toward a particular end
    Within two months, more than seventy thousand young people—black and white—in fourteen states were conducting sit-in campaigns.
  7. discrimination
    unfair treatment of a person or group based on prejudice
    The protests eventually spread throughout the United States wherever discrimination was practiced.
  8. demonstration
    a public display of group feelings
    Press photographers were not allowed into the store the first day of the demonstration.
  9. relent
    give in, as to influence or pressure
    At first, the trio is refused service, but they tell the station manager about the Boynton decision. This time the station manager relents.
  10. integrate
    open up to members of all races and ethnic groups
    It is a small step toward victory for the Freedom Riders. Peacefully, nonviolently, they have integrated the Danville bus station by explaining the law of the land.
  11. retaliate
    make a counterattack and return like for like
    He, too, is attacked and brought to his knees. The two Freedom Riders do not attempt to retaliate.
  12. agitator
    a political troublemaker
    Now most of the South is aware that the Freedom Ride is on its way to New Orleans, bringing outside agitators to stir up trouble.
  13. brawny
    possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful
    Almost before they get settled, a brawny police officer tells Thomas to come with him.
  14. nonviolence
    peaceful resistance to a government
    He was the least experienced of the original Freedom Riders with regard to protests and nonviolence.
  15. confront
    be face to face with
    James Farmer worried that Thomas might not be able to control his temper and fists if confronted by racism.
Created on Fri Nov 09 08:38:27 EST 2018 (updated Fri Jun 20 14:47:32 EDT 2025)

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