The Montgomery Bus Boycott Story:
(sung to the tune of Wheels on the Bus)
created by Audrey Kindred
Intention:
This is an easeful way to share an important and intense historical story about racial justice,
and the struggle of the Civil Rights movement to achieve greater racial harmony and equality in America.
Action Note:
A group can spontaneously gesture-drama this song, as one would with the traditional version of Wheels on the Bus.
It is a resource for the grade-level ages who are studying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For both young and fluent readers, it's a perfect print-up.
The updated version includes teen-activist Claudette Colvin as well as Rosa Parks. The biography of Claudette Colvin was written for young readers, Twice Toward Justice, by Phillip Hoose is an important and oft-untold story that took place within the early moments of the Civil Rights Movement, this time of immense American development.
Throughout the text, there are terms, which can grow the social studies vocabulary of children.
Suggestions from readers are all welcome!!!
Lyrics Note:
Emphatic sounds of the rhythm are underlined when necessary.
The bold words get repeated twice.
The wheels
on the bus
went round and round...
The wheels
on the bus
went round and round
Way back when,
This story
happened
several decades ago.
This story
happened
several decades ago
The year was
1955.
The story
teaches us to
stand up for justice.It teaches us
to stand up
for justice.
So our world
can be more FAIR.
The rules
on this bus
let
some folks sit,The rules
on the bus
let some folks sit,
…if the color of their skin was light.
Those rules
were
unfair and wrong...
Those rules
were
unfair and wrong...
This song tells how
things have changed.
A driver told
people
"You can’t sit there.A driver told
people,
"You can’t sit there
if your skin is brown."
Separating people
by
the color of their skinSeparating people
by
the color of their skin
Was a rule called
Segregation.
Many brave people
protested those rulesMany brave people protested those rulesAnd they were punished for doing right.A brave teen bus-rider
named
Claudette Colvin
A brave teen bus-rider
named
Claudette Colvin
Was grabbed and
locked in jail.
"With Sojourner Truth
on one shoulder
and Harriet Tubman on the other shoulder,"
Claudette Colvin could not get up!
"History had me glued to the seat"
The N, double A, C, P helped
her get out of jail.
The NAACP helped
her get out of jail.
and there she met
Rosa Parks.
(note: NAACP: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
Ms. Parks invited Claudette
to
speak to youthMs. Parks invited Claudette
to speak to youth
At the N, double A, C, P.
(note: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
The N, double A, C, P
is an
important institutionThe N, double A, C, P
is an
important institution
Working hard for equal rights.
History books say that
Rosa sparked changeHistory books say that
Rosa sparked change
By getting arrested
on the Montgomry bus.
Rosa Parks
worked all day.
Rosa Parks
said,
"I'm tired and I’ll sit"Rosa Parks
said,
"I'm tired and I’ll sit."
I won't give up my seat!
The driver on the bus
said "You must
obey the rules."The driver on the bus
said "You must
obey the rules.
Even if the rules
are unfair."
Rosa Parks
said, "No, I’m
tired of one thing"
Rosa Park
said
"I’m tired of one thing
I’m tired
of giving in!"
The Policeman said
"Ms. Parks! We’re
taking you to jail."
The Policeman said
"Ms. Parks! We’re
taking you to jail.
Just for
sitting in that seat."
People in the town
said
"The rules are unfair!"
People of the town
said
"The rules are unfair!
Racist laws
need to change!"
"To stand up
for justice,
we’ll walk instead
To stand up
for justice,
we’ll walk instead
Of taking
a racist bus-ride."
The wheels
on the bus
went round and round
The wheels
on the bus
went round and round
but people
walked and walked.
The manager
of the bus said
"We're loosing money!"
The manager
of the bus said
"We're loosing money!
When people
don't ride our bus."
The people
of the town
said "
Change those rules"
The people
of the town
said "Change those rules
Then
we'll ride your bus"
They walked
in the winter
and
the spring and the sun,
They walked
in the winter
and the spring and the sun
They walked for over a year.
They also
carpooled to
help one another They also
carpooled to
help one another
Let's boycott that bus!
A great leader
named Dr.
Martin Luther KingA leader
named Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
stood up for Rosa Parks.
Dr. Martin Luther King
shared
a dream for the futureDr. Martin Luther King
shared
a dream for the future
He dreamed of
racial integration.
"I have
a dream"
of
equality for all."I have
a dream"
of equality for all.
Let's protest with our Love.
The boycott of the bus
lasted
ten whole monthsThe boycott of the bus
lasted
ten whole months
But the bus laws finally changed.
Now, the wheels
on the bus
go
round and roundNow, the wheels
on the bus
go round and round
Equal rides for every one.
Standing up
for fairness
we're
not aloneStanding up
for fairness
we're not alone
Justice is on our side!
Claudette Colvin
went to court to
change racist lawsClaudette Colvin
went to court to
change racist laws
The Supreme Court of the Land.
Dr. King and Ms. Parks
became
Civil Rights HerosDr. King and Ms. Parks
became
Civil Rights Heros
of Non-violent Revolution.
People worked
together in
the
Civil Rights MovementPeople worked
together in
the Civil Rights Movement
to make the world a better place.
Judging people
by their color
is prejudice
Judging people
by their color
is prejudice.
Whether their skin is
dark or light.
Like Dr. King said,
"The content of
your character"
Like Dr. King said,
The content of
your character
Is how everyone shall be judged.
The Content of your
character is
how you act
The content of your
character is
how you act
And the values that you portray.
When we all do our best
for
humanity
When we all do our best
for
humanity
The human family includes
EVERYONE!
