Role of Young People in the Civil Rights Movement
Larry Russell was involved in the segregation of Birmingham as a child. In his own words, here is his testimonial:
“When I got involved in the demonstrations in 1963, I was in high school. My parents supported my decision to get involved, but they were not involved. I went to a lot of mass meetings . . . We knew about them from two radio disk jockeys [who] used to call the meetings ‘a party.’ . . . I was sixteen in 1963, and I expected to be arrested. I wanted to be arrested . . . Jail was a totally different experience . . . We weren’t treated like kids . . . our intent was not to be bailed out . . . the first thing I did was to call my mother. ‘Don’t worry about me . . . I’ll be okay . . . Whatever you do don’t come and get me out.’ . . . I was in for ten days.”