Sixty-four years ago this May , the original Freedom Riders, seven Blacks, six whites, left D.C. to travel to the south and expose the country and the world to the systemic racism that existed in the south. These riders wanted to sit at lunch counters together and, for that, their buses were torched, and they were beaten and  were imprisoned when arriving in Jackson, Mississippi swelling to over 400 individuals that both black and white from all over the country had come to join.

The news, thankfully, covered the travesty and the rest of the country and the government stepped in for change. Race divided the country.

Charles Person, a Georgian, was the youngest of them at 18 and went onto serve in the Marines to defend a country that he loved that did not love him back quite as much. He unfortunately contracted Agent Orange and was in a wheelchair for years. He was pre-deceased by John Lewis, also a Georgian who was a U.S. congressman representing Georgia. That leaves Hank Thomas, another Georgian, as the only remaining of the original 13 Freedom Riders. He was an ultra-successful entrepreneur.

Charles Person wrote a book about the Freedom Riders, “THE BUSES ARE A’COMIN'” so history would never forget and we are taking the next step to ensure that happens, with the Charles Person Freedom Readers.  Charles Person passed away in January.

The Charles Person Freedom Readers is a group of 13 18-year-olds from our local high school in Greensboro, Georgia. This is the same city where Person made his last speaking engagement back in August. These students have agreed to read the book and all of them write book reports not only about The Freedom Riders but also address the present divide in the country. This time it is not black vs. white, but Republican vs. Democrat. This divide is even affecting current pending legislation, HR 1247, to recognize the Freedom Riders collectively with a congressional gold medal. This legislation has languished in Congress for over two years with the two sides unwilling to satisfy the required votes. This bill only languishes because of party divide, not because of content. Politics presently divides the country.

Please consider becoming a Charles Person Freedom Reader.  The original heroes wanted to end race division; together we can encourage young new heroes who want to end political division through reading this story. For more information, go to  LetDCkNOW.org.