R. Jess Brown
Cooperating Attorney
R. Jess Brown was a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement, whose contributions were instrumental in advancing the cause of equality and combating systemic discrimination. Throughout his career, he tirelessly advocated for the rights of marginalized communities, placing a particular emphasis on the experiences and challenges faced by Black individuals across various sectors, including law enforcement, education, and housing. A strong proponent of inclusivity, Brown emphasized the importance of representation within institutions. He believed that diverse voices were crucial in shaping policies that fairly addressed the needs of all citizens.
Transcript
The main problem was that I used to ride number six bus. And you get on number six, you pay your money, and if one white person sit on the seat, you make your women and children all Negroes sit in the back. You get out and transfer cap the street. You get your money in the front door and you run in the back though. Now that was the reason that I brought this suit, the only thing I couldn't stand to get my money through the front door and then pay as much as the white and then run in the back door. And that's when I come back to you. And you contacted Legal Defense Fund and we got the suit started. You and others have indicated to me many times that you felt that maybe the best route for you would be through the courts, rather than maybe in the streets or something like that. You never did actually participate so far as any violence, anything like that to accomplish your objective. And I assume that's the reason why you contacted Legal Defense Fund, going at it in the proper way. Yeah, that's true in that case because you cannot win with bricks and bottles. You got to go through the court procedure.
