A Leader without a Title

Martin Luther King Day is a great day of reflection to recognize the incredible leadership, sacrifice, and resilience of one of the greatest agents of change in American history. With his leadership of the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 and the decade of events that followed, so much has been shared about Dr. King as well as Rosa Parks, whose arrest for sitting in the “whites only” section inspired a gathering at the Holt Street Baptist church to discuss an appropriate response. The decision to start a one-day boycott provided the catalyst for a decade of reform that was earned city by city, community by community until national legislation reaffirmed civil rights and voting rights in federal law.

While Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks were the most notable figures of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, it is easy to overlook the impact of other contributors who were vital to the boycott’s success. If you haven’t heard of Jo-Ann Robinson, allow me to share her story.

THE FOUNDATION

Jo-Ann Robinson didn’t simply wake up on December 5th, 1955 and realize she wanted to make an impact; she had a vision to make a difference for her entire life. As valedictorian of her high school class in Macon, Georgia, Jo-Ann became the first person in her family to graduate from college, attending Fort Valley State. She also had a clear idea of what she wanted out of her career: to be a teacher. She earned an M.A. in English at Atlanta University and a second Masters at Columbia University. After teaching in the Macon public schools and a stint at Mary Allen College in Texas, she settled in Alabama, taking a position at Alabama State College.

Building roots in Alabama, Ms. Robinson became a member in the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church as well as the Women’s Political Council in Montgomery. The WPC was the perfect home for Jo-Ann; its mission was to inspire African-American women to rise above the level of mediocrity they had been conditioned to accept.

SETTING THE TABLE

In 1949, Jo-Ann Robinson had an incident on a Montgomery bus that she would never forget. She was verbally abused by a bus driver for sitting in the “whites only” section - despite the fact that only one other person was sitting in the section, a full two rows ahead. Enduring harassment from the driver, she left the bus.

Spurred by the incident, Robinson took action. She spoke to the WPC in Montgomery about starting a boycott. The WPC wasn’t ready to respond, claiming it was simply a way of life at the time.

At this point, Jo-Ann Robinson could have been an unknown footnote in history; however, the flame had been lit. Ms. Robinson became the next head of the WPC in 1950, focusing on bus segregation. She even got an audience with Montgomery’s mayor and the City Hall Council. Unfortunately, her efforts fell on deaf ears. Eventually the city made some concessions, agreeing to more courteous treatment and stopping at every corner in black neighborhoods, but that was the extent of the changes. After the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling that removed “separate but equal” segregation that created the entire Jim Crow era, the window for legal progress was now wide open. Robinson prophetically shared with the mayor of Montgomery that a boycott would come.

THE MOMENT

After Rosa Parks arrest, Robinson and her colleagues swung into action. They copied tens of thousands of leaflets and distributed them across the city. The goal was simple: a one-day boycott of the Montgomery buses. The incredible success of the one-day boycott, of course, galvanized the momentum to continue. The Montgomery Improvement Association was formed, Dr. Martin Luther King was elected as president, and the boycott was full steam ahead.

Jo-Ann Robinson chose not to accept a formal position in the MIA; she did not want to jeopardize her teaching job at Alabama State. That said, she played an integral role in the boycott, serving behind the scenes as a member of the MIA board, writing and editing the weekly newsletter, and volunteering in the carpool system. Dr. Martin Luther King himself said that Robinson, “…perhaps more than any other person, was active on every level of the protest.”

Robinson and other leaders endured severe hardship during the boycott. In addition to the endless days and nights of devoting time and energy to the cause while working full-time jobs, there was the ugly backlash to the movement. Robinson was targeted with multiple acts of intimidation; a police officer threw a rock through her window, and on another occasion, an officer poured acid on her car. Due to the threats for Robinson and other local leaders, the governor ordered the state police to guard the homes of Robinson and other impactful civil rights leaders. It is one thing to take action for a cause, but quite another level of commitment to take that same action under threat of one’s safety.

381 days later, the victory was won. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregated seating on buses was unconstitutional, and with the economic impact of such lost revenue, the city of Montgomery capitulated. Robinson went on to play a meaningful role in future civil rights efforts, simultaneously continuing her teaching career until she retired in 1976. She stayed involved in community and local politics until her death in 1992.

On this special week honoring the legacy of Dr. King, it is important to remember Dr. King, but to also highlight the heroic men and women behind the scenes who had an incredible impact on changing the state of our country for the better. As Jo-Ann Robinson aptly put, “The boycott was not supported by a few people; it was supported by 52,000 people.” Without her effort before and during the boycott, I wonder how history may have turned out differently.

Martin Luther King’s dream became a reality with the aid of leaders without a title such as Jo-Ann Robinson. In thinking about this day, week, and year ahead, I am inspired by learning Jo-Ann Robinson’s story. As a former history teacher, I know the credit for every monumental change is bestowed on leaders. In hearing this story, it is a tremendous reminder that the best leaders often succeed because of the amazing people around them. God Bless you, Jo-Ann Robinson!