Dion Diamond facts for kids

Dion Tyrone Diamond, born on February 7, 1941, is an American hero who fought for civil rights. He worked hard to end unfair rules and make sure everyone was treated equally.

Early Life and College

Dion Diamond grew up in Petersburg, Virginia. He was born there on February 7, 1941. In Petersburg, many places were segregated, meaning Black and white people had separate facilities. Dion saw this unfairness often.

Even as a teenager, Dion started to challenge segregation. He would go into places meant "for whites only," like restaurants or bathrooms. He would stay until the police were called. He saw these actions as the start of his journey as an activist. He was also a leader in high school, serving as class president and on the student council.

College Activism

Dion went to Howard University in Washington D.C.. He was president of his freshman class. He noticed that segregation was very strong when crossing into Maryland or Virginia, but less so in Washington D.C.

At Howard, Dion and other students formed a group called the Nonviolent Action Group. They planned sit-ins in Virginia and North Carolina. Sit-ins involved groups of Black people sitting in "white-only" areas to challenge segregation. Their group successfully helped desegregate an entire area in Alexandria, Virginia, in just two weeks!

In 1963, Dion moved to the University of Wisconsin. He studied history and sociology there. Later, he attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At Harvard, he focused on race relations and sociology. He often felt uncomfortable being the only Black student in his classes. But he realized it was a chance to teach others about race and equality.

Fighting for Change

Dion Diamond believed in nonviolence as a smart way to protest. He thought it helped avoid trouble with the police. However, he also felt that nonviolence alone might not protect people if authorities weren't around.

In the summer of 1960, Dion and his Nonviolent Action Group protested Glen Echo Park in Maryland. His most famous actions were during the Freedom Rides. These rides began in March 1961.

The Freedom Rides

The Freedom Riders were brave American Civil Rights activists. They protested segregated bus stations and buses. They rode buses through the Southern states. At bus stops, they would try to use "white-only" restrooms or lunch counters. This was their way of fighting segregation.

The riders often faced terrible violence from white mobs and even police. A famous Freedom Rider, John Lewis, was badly attacked.

Dion Diamond joined a Freedom Ride in Anniston, Alabama, on May 14, 1961. An angry crowd of about 200 white people waited for the bus. The bus tires were slashed. Then, someone threw a bomb onto the bus! The Freedom Riders barely escaped before the bus exploded. After escaping, many riders were beaten by the mob.

This violence made Bobby Kennedy, the Attorney General, get involved. He talked with the governors of Mississippi and Alabama. He arranged for police and the National Guard to escort the Freedom Riders on their next trip.

Just ten days later, on May 24, 1961, the Freedom Riders traveled from Montgomery to Jackson. They had police and National Guard escorts. A deal was made: the riders wouldn't be beaten, but they would be arrested if they didn't move on. The charge was "breach of peace."

Dion Diamond believed that if newspapers covered their arrests, their message would spread across the United States. He was arrested in Jackson and sent to jail. He was happy that many others followed their lead and continued the bus rides into Jackson.

Dion has been arrested about 30 times, all for his civil rights work. He also helped young people register to vote in Baton Rouge. He believes it's important for young people today to learn about the Civil Rights Movement. He worries that forgetting the past could lead to racism and segregation again.

Later Life and Legacy

After his activism, Dion Diamond started his own consulting company. He worked for government agencies, helping to find fraud in programs like Medicare. He also worked on race relations, helping companies become more diverse.

Dion retired around age 60. He lives in Washington, D.C. He says that if he hadn't been involved in civil rights, he wouldn't have gone to Wisconsin or Harvard. He also wouldn't have had his own consulting firm.

Thoughts on Today's Activism

When asked about the Black Lives Matter protests, Dion Diamond sees them as a continuation of the work he and others did in the 1960s. He also honors the people who came before him, who inspired his generation.

Dion stresses that activism needs to be passed down through generations. He notes similarities between some modern rallies and past Ku Klux Klan rallies. He believes the United States has made great progress but is not yet a fully integrated society.

He is proud to see many Black elected officials today, which was unimaginable when he was young. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the election of President Barack Obama are highlights of his life. Dion says he doesn't regret anything he did, but wishes he had done more as he got older. He believes young people can teach him a lot, and he is eager to learn from them.