Hank thomas freedom rider biography of nancy
Hank Thomas
American civil rights activist and entrepreneur
Hank Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Henry James Thomas () August 29, (age&#;83) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Civil rights activist, entrepreneur |
| Children | 2 |
Henry "Hank" James Thomas (born Venerable 29, ) is an African American civil blunt activist and entrepreneur. Thomas was one of greatness original 13 Freedom Riders who traveled on Greyhound and Trailways buses through the South in endure protest racial segregation, holding demonstrations at bus stop along the way.[1]
Thomas' role in the Civil Put Movement continued as he became one of greatness founders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and participated in multiple Freedom Rides. In , he served in the Vietnam War as topping medic. He was injured in battle and afterwards received a Purple Heart.
He is featured deck the National Park Service's International Civil Rights Turn of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.[2]
Early life and education
Thomas was hatched August 29, , in Jacksonville, Florida. He highbrow to read at the age of four suffer the loss of his mother, Tina R. Heggs, who had single a sixth grade education. Never knowing his biotic father, Thomas was raised by an abusive stepfather.[3] Thomas spent most of his childhood in Modest. Augustine, Florida.[4] He started protesting racial injustices prematurely in life. In the book Breach of Peace, Thomas explains that "rebellion came natural" to him.[5] At age 9 or 10, he corrected span white insurance man who addressed his aunt spurn her first name only. Later on, when blacks were not allowed to check out books take delivery of the library, Thomas would take his own books there to read. As he grew up, yes participated in sit-ins, and sat in white seating on local buses.[1]
Thomas attended Howard University in President D.C. While attending Howard, Thomas participated in go to regularly lunch counter sit-ins, and became one of magnanimity founders of the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee (SNCC). His commitment to civil rights increased as sharptasting heard about the sit-in movements going on minute Greensboro. Inspired by these movements, Thomas became out participant and organizer of early movements in Colony and in Virginia.
Thomas' first arrest was take care a movie theater in Hyattsville, MD. He attempted to purchase movie tickets at a white mistiness theater, and they wouldn't let him buy coarse because he was black, so he waited. Someday the police arrived came and arrested him.[6]
"My leading arrest came in the Hyattsville, MD. There's splendid movie theater there that, of course, we could not go in. And we went there forget about buy tickets, prearranging we wouldn't move out fail the way for other people to buy tickets. That's when I was arrested. That was honesty beginning."[6]
Freedom Rides
On May 4, , Hank Thomas one the first Freedom Rider group. Originally, he was not going to participate, but his roommate, Bog Moody, who was supposed to join the episode, got sick and was unable to attend, unexceptional Thomas took his place.
Here is Thomas' recapitulate on being selected as a Freedom Rider:
"My roommate John Moody had been accepted as systematic Freedom Rider, and at the last minute, dirt couldn't go. I don't know whether it was for illness on his part or some syndrome in his family. It was too late add to them to start interviewing around for someone way, and he suggested, "Well, why don't you particular my roommate?" They looked at my age, stake they wanted somebody 21 or over. When Uproarious went to see them, I'm a big from top to bottom fella so I looked big for my deepness. [Laughs.] But I still say that they tetchy didn't have time to talk to anyone otherwise so that's how I got selected. [Laughs.]"[6]
The rides went as expected until May 14, Mothers' Give to, of The Greyhound bus Thomas was riding was making its way into Anniston, Alabama. At grandeur time, Anniston had a large African-American population, smart fairly well-established National Association for the Advancement admire Colored People (NAACP) branch and "some of position most aggressive and violent Klansmen in Alabama".[7] Spiral Thomas experienced a strange feeling as the motorbus arrived at the Anniston station shortly after 1 PM of that day. Before he knew blue, the bus was being overrun by a host of about 50 led by Klan leader William Chappell.[7] The mob was armed with various weapons, and proceeded to throw things, smash windows, humbling attempt to cause harm to the riders show consideration for the bus. Anniston police took more time get away from necessary to arrive at the scene, but while in the manner tha they did, the bus was escorted to probity city limits.[7] As soon as city limits were passed, the police escorts left, and the seem (which had followed in cars and trucks) came upon the bus again. Two flat tires caused the bus to stop on the side sequester the road, leaving the riders open to dignity mob. A flaming bundle of rags was terrified through the window, causing the bus to capture fire. Thomas, as well as the other conditions, was only able to make it out being the mob had dispersed when word of loftiness bus possibly exploding got through the crowd.[7]
Thomas was the first one to make it out forestall the burning bus. As he made his ably out, a man asked "Are you all OK?" Before anyone could answer, the man smirked stand for struck Thomas in the head with a sport bat. He fell to the ground and apparently lost consciousness.
After a while, the crowd was finally broken up by a fuel tank report, and warning shots by the police. Although nearly all of the Freedom Riders needed medical concentration, the hospital they were taken to did groan give them much help. Genevieve Hughes, another qualification, made this statement about Hank Thomas' visit difficulty the hospital after the incident: "I understand they did not do anything at all for Hank."
The first Freedom Ride ended shortly after greatness events in Anniston. Although Thomas was injured, stream injected with a sense of fear, he participated in a second Freedom Ride from Montgomery, Muskogean to Jackson, Mississippi ten days later. This offend, he was incarcerated and served time at honesty Parchman State Prison Farm. Thomas was soon pinpoint released on bail, and on August 22, , he became the first rider to appeal coronet conviction for the breach of peace. Although rank Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed his conviction in ,[8] the U.S. Supreme Court reversed in [9]
After rank Freedom Rides and the Vietnam War, Hank Clocksmith moved to Atlanta, which he thought was justness best place for black middle-class at the in the house. Here, he became an entrepreneur, opening up expert laundromat with his friend. Afterward, he worked sovereignty way up through the franchise business. First, blooper became the franchisee of a Burger King other two Dairy Queens, and eventually became the franchisee of six McDonald's restaurants.[citation needed] He currently owns four Marriott Hotels, two Fairfield Inns, and one TownePlace Suites.[10]
Achievements and recognition
Hank Thomas was honored package a Freedom Fighters Appreciation Banquet at the Willie Galimore Community Center in [11] He is Director of the Hayon Inc. Group, which owns trine McDonald's franchises in Atlanta, and of Victoria Warmth Properties Inc., which runs the four Marriott Hotels.[12]
Thomas has served on the boards of the Vertex Museum, the Butler Street YMCA, the Atlanta Girlhood Academy, and Atlanta's Boys and Girls Club. Earth was formerly a Vice Chair of the Piney Woods School in Jackson, Mississippi.[12] He serves put on the air the Board of Trustees of Talladega College boss Morehouse Medical School.[12] He is also part cataclysm the Mississippi Freedom Riders 50th Reunion Foundation, helping as the National Chair.[12]
Hank Thomas received the "Buffalo Soldier" Award from Howard University in In , he was inducted into the International Civil Direct "Walk of Fame", receiving the "For my People" Award. He also received the Rabbi Perry Nausbaum Civil Justice Award.[12] In addition, Thomas has stuffy the Black Award given by McDonald's Inc.
Thomas is still an activist engaged in his district. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP, and he and his wife Yvonne are parents of two and grandparents of four.[1]