Brenda Travis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brenda Travis
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Civil Rights Activist
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| Born | 1945 |
| Occupation | Civil Rights Activist |
| Parent(s) | L.S. Travis and Icie Martin Travis |
Brenda Travis (born 1945) is an amazing African American activist from McComb, Mississippi. She played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1961, she was arrested for protesting against unfair rules at a bus station. She also joined a peaceful student walkout at her high school. Her brave actions helped many people see how wrong segregation was.
Brenda Travis's Story
Growing Up in McComb
Brenda Travis was born in 1945 in McComb, Mississippi. She was the fourth of seven children. Her family faced unfair treatment because of their race. This made Brenda want to fight for what was right from a very young age.
When she was ten, Brenda saw police break into her home. They arrested her 13-year-old brother. This happened in 1955, the same year Emmett Till died tragically. Seeing these injustices made Brenda feel very angry. She knew she had to stand up against them one day.
Becoming an Activist
In the summer of 1961, Brenda joined the NAACP. This group works for equal rights for African Americans. On the same day, she met Bob Moses. He asked her to help with a new project. This project was about helping people register to vote. It was organized by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
That summer, Brenda also learned about nonviolent protests. She became the youth president of the Pike County NAACP. This meant she led young people in their fight for civil rights.
Bus Station Protest
In August 1961, two students, Hollis Watkins and Curtis Hayes, were arrested. They had protested at a Woolworth's store in McComb. The SNCC wanted to keep the fight for equality going. They held a meeting with over 200 people. Brenda volunteered to join a protest the next day.
On August 30, 1961, Brenda, Robert Talbert, and Ike Lewis went to the Greyhound Bus station. They bought tickets to New Orleans. Then, they sat at the lunch counter, which was only for white people. They were quickly arrested for trespassing. Brenda was only 15 years old. They spent 28 days in the Pike County Jail. They were released on October 3, 1961.
High School Walkout
After being released from jail, Brenda learned she was expelled from Burglund High School. This was because of her activism. She tried to go back to school but was not allowed. When other students heard this, over 100 of them walked out of school. They were protesting Brenda's unfair expulsion.
The students marched to city hall. They sang "We Shall Overcome" as they walked. When they arrived, they knelt on the steps and prayed. Many students were hurt by the police. They were also arrested for protesting. The students refused to return to school until Brenda could come back. As a result, they were also expelled. Sixteen senior students could not graduate that year.
Brenda faced more serious consequences. She was arrested for a second time. She was sent to Oakley Training School. This was a juvenile detention center near Raymond. Her lawyer and mother were not told where she was.
Leaving Mississippi
On April 21, 1962, Brenda was released from Oakley. A professor from Talladega College helped her. The governor agreed to let her go if she left Mississippi within 24 hours. Brenda calls this time her "Exile from Mississippi."
Life After Activism
After her release, Brenda faced more challenges. Jim Forman, a leader from SNCC, helped her. He paid for her bus ticket to Atlanta. She stayed with him and his wife for the summer.
With help from other activists like Ella Baker, Brenda got an education. She moved to North Haven, Connecticut, to finish high school. In 1966, she moved to California. There, she attended the Tony Taylor School of Business.
In 2013, Brenda started the Brenda Travis Historical Education Foundation. This group teaches history. It also helps young people become leaders and improve their community in McComb.
Brenda Travis's Book
- Mississippi's Exiled Daughter: How my Civil Rights Baptism Under Fire Shaped my Life (2018)
Awards and Recognition
- A street in McComb is named Brenda Travis Street.
- Brenda is featured in an exhibit at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
- She received a leadership award from Tougaloo College.
