History of Brenda Travis in Timeline

Brenda Travis is an African American Civil Rights Movement veteran from McComb, Mississippi. Her arrests in 1961 for protesting segregation at a bus station and participating in a high school walkout were pivotal in galvanizing public opinion against segregation. Travis's activism, though met with imprisonment, contributed significantly to the fight for racial equality during a crucial period in American history.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education

1945: Brenda Travis' birth circumstances

In 1945, Brenda Travis was born in McComb, Mississippi. Her birth story highlights the challenges faced by her parents, who were sharecroppers, and how this event influenced her future activism.

1945: Brenda Travis was born

In 1945, Brenda Travis was born in McComb, Mississippi. She later became a Civil Rights Movement veteran.

1955: Brother's arrest and Emmett Till's Murder

In 1955, Brenda Travis witnessed sheriffs break into her house to arrest her 13-year-old brother. That year, Emmett Till was murdered. These events sparked her commitment to civil rights activism.

August 1961: Volunteering for Sit-In

In August 1961, following the arrests of Hollis Watkins and Curtis Hayes for a sit-in at Woolworth's, Brenda Travis volunteered to participate in a sit-in the next day and go to jail along with Robert Talbert and Ike Lewis. Together with Watkins and Hayes they were known as the "McComb Five".

August 30, 1961: Arrest at Greyhound Bus station

On August 30, 1961, Brenda Travis, along with Robert Talbert and Ike Lewis, was arrested at the segregated Greyhound Bus station in McComb after purchasing tickets to New Orleans and sitting at the lunch counter. They were charged with trespassing and incarcerated at Pike County Jail.

October 3, 1961: Release from jail

On October 3, 1961, Brenda Travis was released from Pike County Jail after being incarcerated for 28 days following her arrest at the Greyhound Bus station.

October 4, 1961: Expulsion from Burglund High School and student walkout

On October 4, 1961, Brenda Travis discovered she was expelled from Burglund High School due to her activism. She was denied re-enrollment, leading to a protest walkout by over 100 students.

1961: Joins NAACP and SNCC

In 1961, Brenda Travis joined the NAACP and was recruited by Bob Moses to help organize the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee's (SNCC) first voter registration project. She also joined SNCC training for nonviolent protests and became the youth president of the Pike County NAACP that summer.

1961: Protests against segregation

In 1961, Brenda Travis protested a segregated bus station and participated in a peaceful high school walkout. Her imprisonment helped catalyze public sentiment against segregation.

April 21, 1962: Release from Oakley and exile from Mississippi

On April 21, 1962, a professor from Talladega College met with Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, who agreed to release Brenda Travis from Oakley into his custody, on the condition that she leave Mississippi within 24 hours. Travis refers to this as "Exile from Mississippi".

1966: Attends Tony Taylor School of Business

In 1966, Brenda Travis moved to California and attended the Tony Taylor School of Business.

2007: Interview

In 2007, Brenda Travis gave an interview, discussing her brother's arrest and seeing the images of Till's body.

2013: Founds Brenda Travis Historical Education Foundation

In 2013, Brenda Travis founded the Brenda Travis Historical Education Foundation to teach history and encourage youth leadership and community development opportunities in McComb.