Freedom Highways campaign facts for kids

The Freedom Highways campaign was an important project in 1962. It was started by a group called the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Their main goal was to end racial segregation in hotels and restaurants. This campaign focused on states along the southeastern coast of the United States.

What Was the Freedom Highways Campaign?

The Freedom Highways campaign aimed to make sure everyone, regardless of their race, could use public places like hotels and restaurants. At that time, many places in the southern U.S. had rules that kept Black people and white people separate. This was called segregation.

The campaign wanted to stop these unfair rules. It focused on a long stretch of highway from Maryland all the way down to Florida.

Why Was This Campaign Needed?

Before this campaign, many hotels and restaurants refused to serve Black customers. This meant that Black travelers often had trouble finding places to eat or sleep. It was a big problem for families and individuals traveling across the country.

The Freedom Highways project wanted to change these unfair practices. They believed that everyone should have equal access to public services.

How Did They Do It?

The Freedom Highways campaign used methods similar to the Freedom Rides of 1961. The Freedom Rides had worked to end segregation on buses and in bus stations.

CORE used tactics like nonviolence and direct action. This meant they would peacefully protest and challenge the segregation rules. For example, they might try to enter a "whites-only" restaurant. They did this without using violence, even if they faced anger or resistance. Their goal was to show how unfair segregation was and to push for change.

This project was a key part of the larger Civil Rights Movement. It helped to bring about more fairness and equality for all people in the United States.