The 1966 Seattle School Boycott and Freedom Schools: A Message That Persists

Abstract

The 1966 Seattle school boycott and freedom schools represent a case of successful activism that did not translate into successful long-term policy. Instead, the value of the boycott lies in the role it played as a catalyst in Seattle’s decades-long series of desegregation attempts, which is still ongoing, and the enduring message it sends to modern policymakers. This thesis explores the history that led up to the boycott and freedom schools, taking a long view of the civil rights movement and Seattle’s history of racism since its inception as a multiracial city, setting the scene for the city’s school desegregation efforts that gained momentum in the 1960s. A thorough look at the organization and implementation of the school boycott and freedom schools reveals a highly successful event that captured the city’s attention for weeks on end and relied on participation by over 3,000 students. Special attention is given to the attitudes and actions of secondary students, who left a written record that demonstrates their commitment to desegregation and their desire to be seen as political actors in their own right. After detailing the boycott itself, this thesis examines the events that followed into the 21st century, involving local activists, the school board, and community opposition to desegregation. Developing an understanding of the community forces at play in the 1966 school boycott and freedom schools, including the powerful role that the students themselves held, can inform current proponents of school desegregation as they continue to work towards achieving the demands put forth by those students and activists over five decades ago.