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Let’s learn about Mutual Aid through the Montgomery Bus Boycott

During the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Black residents of Montgomery and surrounding towns refused to ride buses for over a year.

Obviously this created immense hardship and obstacles – how would everyone get to work? Get groceries? Do daily life?

For folks who already didn’t have access to private transportation, Montgomery activists created a network of mutual aid. This involved volunteers who provided carpools and rideshares. Taxi drivers who broke anti-boycott law and charged much lower rates competitive with bus fees. Shoe donations to replace tattered footwear from miles of walking. And bakers like Georgia Gilmore, who fed tied and hungry activists.

When was it?

• The formal boycott started December 5, 1955 and ended December 20, 1956

Read:

• Pies from Nowhere (ages 7+)

Discuss:

• Why is helping each other called mutual aid? What do these words mean?
• What social justice initiatives are happening in our town right now?
• How can we help, either directly as advocates, or indirectly in supporting advocates?
• How does helping others in our community make this a safer, happier place for us?
• Even though we’re not getting anything in return, how do acts of radical generosity make us happier?

Take Action

• Together with the kiddos, search for local mutual aid organizations in your city
• Identify 5 types of aid they solicit for and provide
• Identify one skill we have – housekeeping, crafts, careers, interests, and hobbies, that could be used for mutual aid.

Additional resources to dig deeper into this topic:

• Stories of Collective Action
• Cooking is Community Care: Kids books about care work
• Video for kids 12+: What is Mutual Aid?, by Dean Spade (7.5 minutes)
• Video training for adults: Introduction to Mutual Aid, by Mariame Kaba (1.75 hours)
• Rosa Parks Day – Celebrating the legacy of Black women who dared to disrupt business as usual