Nearly 70 years ago, events would take place that cemented themselves in the storied history of Tallahassee and were a shining example of the massive organizing efforts of the Civil Rights Movement.
A few short months after the storied refusal of Rosa Parks to give up her seat in Montgomery, Alabama, the actions of two brave FAMU students would set off a whirlwind in sleepy southern Tallahassee, resulting in a boycott that would ultimately desegregate the bus system.
On May 26, 1956, two FAMU students, Wilhelmina Jakes and Carrie Patterson, sat down in a section of the bus marked “whites only,” which, according to the FSU Department of History, were the “only two vacant seats.”
Despite this fact, the two students were asked to give up their seats, and after their refusal, Florida Memory states, “…the driver pulled into a service station and called the police.” Jakes and Patterson ultimately receive charges for “placing themselves in a position to incite a riot.”
C.K. Steele, a local pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, would meet with the two students, showing his support. Steele was then serving as a pastor at the local Bethel Baptist Church. Steele was very accomplished and active in many communities across the South.
Stanford’s King Institute says, “Steele began preaching at the young age of 15. He was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1935, and three years later earned his BA degree from Morehouse College.”
Steele was also a local representative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Following his support to the two students, a cross would be burned at the front of his church.
According to the FSU Department of History, news of the burning would spread amongst FAMU students, who decided to refrain from riding the city buses until the semester had ended.
As the boycotting process picked up, C.K. Steele formed the Inter Civic Council (ICC) to help organize the boycotting process. Florida Memory states that the boycotters faced hardships. Most protestors did not own cars, so they had to find another way to get to work while boycotting the buses.
Even after they had organized carpools, they continued to face discrimination and opposition; the FSU Department of History recounts that several members would be arrested and charged with running taxis without a license.
The ICC Steele and Speed leaders paid over $11,000 in bail, and the carpools would continue. The boycott hit the city hard as the bus system relied on revenue generated by Black passengers.
“Cities Transit tried to compromise. They offered to hire African-American drivers on the FAMU and Frenchtown routes.” Florida memory states.
On December 22, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation on city buses was unconstitutional.
Today, the boycott is remembered fondly. With the Central Hub of Tallahassee’s bus system named after Steele- “C.K Steele Bus Plaza,” the “Civil Rights Heritage Walk” monument in downtown Tallahassee pays homage to the boycott, and a Florida Heritage plaque on FAMU’s campus that honors the bravery of Wilhelmina Jakes and Carrie Patterson.
The legacy of the boycott lives strong in Florida’s capital, and the rights enjoyed today by many are due to the hard work and bravery of Civil Rights leaders.