Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Claudette Colvin’s story is unique, but her experience as a woman in the civil rights movement is not exclusive to her. Compared to male leaders, many women had a difficult time becoming major players in activist communities across the country. They faced the dual threat of racism and sexism, the latter of which often came from men in their own circles. Although women played important roles in the movement, their achievements were often overshadowed by men. This was partly due to the centering of charismatic pastors like Martin Luther King, Jr., who were trained in the art of giving impassioned, persuasive speeches. At the time, the job of reverend was reserved exclusively for men. To this day, male civil rights leaders remain far more recognized than their female counterparts, with Rosa Parks as one of the only exceptions.

Events in Montgomery in 1955-1956 emboldened many Black women from other parts of the South to fight for larger roles. With Rosa Parks as the primary spokeswoman and the all-female witness team during the Browder v. Gayle trial, this period marked one of the first times that women were given a central, public role in equal rights activism. Many women continued to struggle to make their voices heard in the same way as men, and also faced discrimination and sexual harassment within activist groups.