James Farmer

 James Farmer

James Farmer was an individual who helped organize the Freedom Rides with SNCC. Initially, James Farmer was a leader of SNCC in the early 1960s. Farmer ascribed to the same principles as MLK of non-violence, civil disobedience, and equality. Farmer would provide leadership for the Freedom Rides that looked to desegregate interstate commerce using interstate buses.

Farmer knew that there were racist socialists who opposed desegregation and yet went on bus rides to different cities to end segregation. Farmer went with Civil Rights activists who did not use violence and instead protested peacefully. Farmer led SNCC and helped desegregate buses.

Farmer obtained resistance in Alabama when racist socialists gathered to prevent him and activists from desegregating southern states. In a specific event, Seigenthaler, was physicially assaulted and he described that there were racist socialists opposing interstate commerce in Montgomery to JFK. Farmer along with Caucasian and African Americans activists were able to travel to different cities despite intimidation, harassment, and envy.

MLK invited Farmer to a preaching service where MLK preached and prayed for the Freedom Riders. Despite opposition, RFK had sent marshalls to secure the area. JFK and RFK would create an injuction that desegregated interstate commerce in the 1960s. MLK had led local buses in some cities to be desegregated in the 1950s, yet travel buses from state to state were still segregated in the 1960s before the Freedom Rides and JFK and RFK's injuction to the Interstate Commerce Committee. Farmer was important because he kept to pacifism and was vital in desegregating interstate buses.

Departure From SNCC in Mid 1960s

In 1966, Farmer and Sherrod left leadership in SNCC as socialism and racism was attempting to foment violence and negativity. H. Rap Brown and Carmichael were vying for leadership of SNCC while calling for racism and violence. SNCC was being infiltrated in order to prevent them from remaining committed to non-violence. H. Rap Brown and Carmichael attempted to lead individuals to strife by calling for SNCC to only allow African American members and repudiate Caucasian members based on their skin color and ethnicity. H. Rap Brown called for the need to steal and destroy private property. Carmichael would be removed from leadership in SNCC and was called a CIA agent even by Black Panther members. SNCC attempted to merge with Black Panthers but the association only lasted two months.

Instead of Farmer staying with SNCC and socialism, he decided to not be a part of violence and negativity. Farmer was definitely not a socialist nor strife mongerer. Farmer left SNCC in the mid 1960s rather than propagate hate and racism.