Bus Ride to Justice

by Fred D. Gray

Fred Gray grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, and had to leave the state to finish his education because blacks could not then attend Alabama law schools. He returned to his hometown in 1954 and became one of two black lawyers in the city. He was, he writes, determined to destroy everything segregated that I could find. He did not have to wait long. When Gray's friend Rosa Parks was arrested in 1955 for violating the segregated seating ordinance on a Montgomery bus, 26-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr., was chosen to lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and 24-year-old Fred Gray became his--and the movement's--lawyer. Gray's legal victory in the federal courts ended the boycott 381 days later. Over the four decades since, Gray has won scores of civil rights cases in education, voting rights, transportation, health, and other areas. He represented the Freedom Riders, the Selma-to-Montgomery marchers, the victims of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, and many more. Bus Ride to Justice is the exciting story of a courageous life in the courtrooms of America and in the pulpits of churches where Fred Gray began as a child preacher and continues today, and of a strong human being filled with love and admiration for his fellow man.

Genres: History, Memoir, African American, Nonfiction, Politics, Social Issues, Social Justice

Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Few people know the name Fred Gray, but as his autobiography makes clear, that's less a function of his importance as a lawyer representing the likes of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis and more a function of his willingness to stand aside and let others take the spotlight. Nevertheless, Gray is a civil rights titan, the lawyer who defended Parks and King in court on the one hand while prosecuting segregation with lawsuit after lawsuit on the other. In the end, Gray's court actions were primarily responsible for ending segregation on buses, in Alabama public schools and at the University of Alabama and Auburn University. He also successfully argued before the Supreme Court a redistricting case that eventually became a basis for the legal principle of "one person, one vote," forced Alabama state troopers to allow and protect the second Selma Voting Rights March, and led the federal lawsuit bringing to light the crimes of the Tuskegee Syphillis Study.

In the end, this is a book that would have been better as a biography tackled by a professional writer. As it is, the writing style is too lawyerly and too personal, at times devoting paragraphs to name-checking friends or colleagues, at others obscuring the natural drama of a court case in overly technical language. That the book is worth reading at all is a testament to Gray's incredible life and devotion to ending segregation "wherever I could find it."

[Ted Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of attorney Fred Gray is certainly an inspirational one, as he overcame the roadblocks set in the way of a young black man in Jim Crow Alabama and not only became a lawyer, but found himself at the center of some of the most remarkable events in American history. In 1955, 25-year-old Fred Gray, of Montgomery, Alabama, found himself representing Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., among others, during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, one of the seminal events of the modern civil rights movement. He went on to work in scores of important cases, including ones that pertained to the Sit-in movement, the Freedom Rides and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march. In addition, Mr. Gray was the middle of one of the monumental Freedom of the Press decisions in American history ("New York Times" v. Sullivan) as well as the legal action in the aftermath of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. The book does a very fine job of putting the reader right in the center of these monumental events, providing details of the legal battles that are meticulous and comprehensive. I am pleased that I read the book, as it gave me a real appreciation of this "unsung" hero of the civil rights movement. However, getting through the book at times was a bit of a slog. For one, the writing is a bit pedestrian, more along the lines of what I believe a legal brief might sound like, rather than a sermon one might hear in church (and Mr. Gray wrote sermons as well, as he was a preacher in addition to being an attorney). The thorough nature of the book means that the reader is presented with long passages that come from trial transcripts as well as long lists of names of people involved in the legal actions. These I sometimes found tedious. The book also tends to be organized thematically rather than chronologically, which means that there is a lot of repetition. For instance, every time he writes about George Wallace, we are told a lot of the same information about the former Alabama governor. And since he puts the story of his family near the end of his book, we encounter his son Fred Jr. as a law partner way before he tells the tale of how his son came to be a lawyer in the first place. But for me the most disappointing part of the book was how "sterile" it was. In recounting the story of some of the most dramatic events of the twentieth century, Mr. Gray remains very detached. At times I felt as if I were reading a Wikipedia article. Most notably, he says very little about his reaction to the death of Martin Luther King. I could have done with a little more emotion in his writing, and a little more of the historical context in which these events took place, rather than the exhaustive accounts of the details of the courtroom activities. In any event, I am pleased that I read the book, as it really highlights the impact that one dedicated, persistent individual can have in the search for justice.

[Linsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Fred D. Gray when he came to speak at my university in September of 2016, but I’m just now getting around to reading his book. Gray’s book is a comprehensive telling of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, something that is very valuable in understanding the history of the United States. The focus, of course, is on the lawsuits Gray worked on throughout his career. The manner in which Gray’s book is written makes it very evident that he is a lawyer, but it is still at a level of understanding which is accessible to an average reader.
Very great man, great attorney, great lawsuits that pushed forward civil rights. I highly recommend this book!

[Natalie Gullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book, Incredible Man

Fred Gray’s background as somewhat versed in writing for law is demonstrable with his blunt and to-the-point style, but this does not bother me. I’ve head the pleasure of meeting Mr.Gray and he is the one who inspired me to become a lawyer. His story is amazing, and he is veritably and rightfully one who should be a towering figure in American history.

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to rewrite this review as there was a glitch going on with books I read and I had to remove it from my shelf for a second!

It took me awhile to get through this book as it was a very factual read and I had to take my time to make sure I understood everything! It was super interesting to see the true side to the Rosa Parks case and all the other cases that occured during the civil rights movement! Seeing the process of how the bus boycott went down was wild to read about! It was nice to have a better understanding of the history happening in Alabama at the time.

[Lukas McKnight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Important stories and an important person in our nation’s history, but this was a dull, lifeless read overall

[Casey McDonagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so grateful to have read this book. I struggle to read nonfiction, and this book was no exception, but it was a meaningful experience and I think it is necessary to more fully understand our country's history. Though the writing style was very obviously by a genius lawyer who is now an older person, it is a privilege to hear about the struggles a real-life hero went through from his own point of view. I definitely think this book is aimed at/perhaps more appropriate for young lawyers, but it was still interesting to learn from.

The most impactful part of this book for me, was learning about how repetitive and long the civil rights movement, from a judiciary perspective, really has been. In school, I learned about Brown vs. Board of Ed. and the Voting Rights Act. What this book really highlighted for me, was that even though the Federal government was making progress on racial equality, individual civilians were still not seeing any change. Over and over again Fred Gray and other lawyers had to keep suing the same institutions/governments over and over again for the exact same reasons. It was infuriating to read about a judge ordering a person/organization/state to rectify something illegal; only for the same exact issue to be present and tried again in the following years.

As a young white person, this book was eye-opening, upsetting, awe-inspiring, and ultimately filled with hope. The reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because the writing style was very difficult for me to enjoy or learn from, again probably because I have no real passion for or understanding of the law (or even biographies and memoirs in general). If you have any interest in history or social justice and enjoy nonfiction, I would highly recommend this book.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for rather dull writing and 5 for Fred's tenacity, perseverance and drive. If MLK was the voice of the civil rights movement, Fred is the council. He was the counselor for Rosa Park, MLK, and many other civil rights warriors in Alabama in the 50s and 60s. His faith and determination to "destroy segregation" persisted his whole life. His autobiography showed how much the day in and day out efforts of individuals committed to a singular cause can make a difference. Fred faced many difficult cases his ongoing efforts to litigate cases make him a lynchpin for the civil rights movement.

"not only was I able to destroy segregation in government, education, and transportation, but also in the church. My ministerial work has been a complement to my legal work, and the legal work has supplemented my ministerial work. They have worked hand in hand.

[Russ Hargrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beat down, bruised and broken, at times the pain of injustice or failure can leave even the strongest dreamer without hope. As human beings, our struggles come in all sizes and shapes. Some fight for system reform, others for innovation, we fight for relationships that matter, we fight to succeed, and we all fight to become the best version of ourselves. However, in the most hopeless moments of life, how is it that some are able to pick up the broken pieces and pursue their dreams once again, while others wither and fade?

Last year in Tuskegee Alabama, I had the privilege of spending the day with esteemed Civil Rights Attorney, Fred Gray. While my personal "struggles" in life pale in comparison to Jim Crow's denial of civil liberties, I learned much from Fred's battle with the ugly plight of civil injustice.

At the Tuskegee Museum for Human and Civil Rights, Fred walked through the annals of his life-long fight to end all things segregated. One clear character lesson emerged for me; the ability to manage the powerful tension between patience and persistence through setbacks, failures and crushing defeat.

Fred Gray began his legal career as a 24-year-old with a deep passion and urgency to battle injustice. Over the next few decades, he would do battle with Governor George Wallace, the State of Alabama, and various legal jurisdictions from the local courthouse and all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. As a firsthand student of the struggle (and leader for those that would follow), Fred would later write Bus Ride to Justice, which chronicles his journey defending and representing Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1965 Selma March, which resulted in many landmark legal cases for the advancement of basic civil rights.

Fred and other key civil rights leaders dismantled segregation “with all deliberate speed” within a legal system that resisted the change in every instance. His hope and vision met roadblock after roadblock, opposed by attorneys, judges, legislators, politicians, the status quo and the voting public. Yet, the cause demanded immediate action where every day without change added to the mounting injustice. The desegregation battle would take decades, but this fight was worthy of perseverance.

The Takeaway: We are refined by resistance. Our dreams are tested by trials, and our causes are shaped by opposition. What amazed me in my discussion with Fred was how much respect and gratitude he held for the legal system and those who opposed him for all of those years. In the end, some were converted to his cause, but in his estimation, the path to reform and change is always through moving hearts and minds. The court rulings and legislation would soon follow. Playing to win in the end, often takes time and steadfast focus on the longterm goal at hand.

How do we handle overwhelming struggle and disappointment? How do we maintain our authentic ambition through setback, conflict, or resistance? When I asked Fred, his answer was simple; one day at a time. When our vision is worth fighting for, when the change we seek is urgent, when our dreams beg to be fulfilled today, sometimes (more often than we’d like) the answer resides in patient persistence.

As I face interpersonal struggles, professional battles, or personal dreams that seem to be taking an indirect route, I admire those like Fred Gray who struggled mightily and won. I cherish their courage and insight. Even in my light and momentary setbacks, I too can appreciate the forces refining me, and carry on with patient persistence.

What conflicts threaten to derail your dreams? How are you being refined by resistance? I for one, am learning to embrace struggle. It may take a while, but sometimes the patient journey is the victory.

[Charles Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred Gray is an icon of the Civil Rights Movement, active from 1954 for more than fifty years in cases in Alabama. He represented Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Improvement Association in the 1950s. He represented victims of the Tuskegee syphilis studies in the 1970s. From day one of his legal career, and even during his education and legal studies, he was determined to "use the law to destroy everything segregated I could find." More than fifty years ago, the Supreme Court of the United States had already ruled that states must provide equal opportunity in graduate education, so the State of Alabama was required to pay for Gray's legal training at Case Western in Ohio. He has served as a member of the Alabama legislature and is past president of the Alabama Bar Association.
His memoirs were first published in 1995, so this edition is an update on his career in 2013. Gray writes like a lawyer, with great attention to details, and he makes points repeatedly so that you never forget the information he wants you to remember. His writing style, no doubt, was one of the keys to his success as a civil rights lawyer. His is not the most engaging style of writing that one could desire, but I'm glad he told his own story in his own voice. Gray was absolutely correct when he stated in his epilogue that very few of the multitude of books about the civil rights movement were written by lawyers, so I have treasured his narrative voice describing his unique contributions to civil rights history. Indeed, I'm ashamed to admit that I waited all these years to pick up his memoirs.
At times his narrative wandered in and out of various aspects of his career that he felt were significant, and this meandering required me to read to the end. Since I was taking extensive notes on Gray's contributions, I never knew when he might say something interesting or significant. I don't regret taking the time to complete the epilogue to the 2014 edition, although I skipped the many appendices.
Gray was nominated for a federal judgeship in 1979, but his nomination was opposed by Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Subsequently, Senator Howell Heflin of Alabama notified Gray that he was withdrawing his support from the nomination, and Gray, realizing his nomination would not be successful, withdrew his name in 1980. Gray was deeply disappointed by his rejection, but he never analyzed it in the book. He left his readers wondering how it could have happened. It seemed to me that opposition from Morris Dees, another civil rights icon, would have arisen from Gray's being BOTH an active minister in the United Church of Christ and a practicing civil rights attorney. I could see how Dees might view this is a conflict of interest, but Gray never addressed it. Indeed, Gray is quite proud that he always served as both minister and attorney.
This book is an important record of civil rights history. I'm glad I completed it, but I understand why many readers might put it aside.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bus Ride To Justice
Bus Ride to Justice: The Life and Works of Fred D. Gray, revised edition (2013).

Fred Gray was the fearless, young civil rights attorney who represented Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, and went on to be the lawyer for the 1965 March Selma March, The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., victims of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, many plaintiffs seeking to end segregated education in Alabama, and much more. This book is an inspiring and detailed autobiography of a groundbreaking career that spans more than 60 years and is not yet over. The first chapter illuminates the early influences that shaped his character and forged his purpose: To become a lawyer and “destroy everything segregated I could find.”

Gray soon got his wish, as the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision was announced only a month after Gray set up practice in Montgomery, Alabama. In subsequent chapters, Gray’s life and the civil rights movement unfold together over decades of legal battles to end segregation and racism in America. Despite a distinguished career and many unexpected legal victories in the long struggle for African-American civil rights, Gray was denied the federal judgeship to which he was nominated by President Jimmy Carter when one of the two Alabama Senators inexplicably withdrew his support.

In this revised edition, Gray updates the legal status of some longstanding issues, such as school integration, and changes in his own life. Now in his 80s, Gray is working to secure a sound future and sufficient financial support for the Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center (www.tuskegeecenter.org) , which will tell future generations the critical role events in and around Tuskegee played in shaping our national history. Unexpectedly, I had the honor of hearing Mr. Gray speak and receive an award at an event in Washington, DC, which prompted me to read his book. I urge you to read this first-person account of important American history.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fred Gray was a young African American lawyer when he represented Rosa Parks when she was arrested in 1955 for failing to yield her seat on a bus to a white man. The case was central to fostering the Civil Rights movement, and Fred Gray played a pivotal role in cases involving health care, education, voting, and housing. As a young man, Fred Gray was determined to obtain the education and law degree he needed to "destroy everything segregated" he could find. His first hurdle was gaining entry to a law school outside of his home state - Alabama did not admit African Americans into law school at that time. If you are old enough to remember this time in this country's not so distant history, this book offers a detailed behind the scenes perspective of how precedent was established in critical matters such as one person one vote. If you are young enough to have no recollection of the intensity of what was happening at that time, then this should be mandatory reading. This book serves an an inspiring reminder of how the determination and drive of one person can make a huge difference in the lives of so many. An excellent and worthy read for anyone.

[Michael D. O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great lawyer, disappointing writer

Great lawyering involves telling judges and juries compelling stories. From Clarence Darrow to Gerry Spence, lawyers have written books that bring these courtroom stories to life. Fred Gray won some of the most important civil rights cases of the 20th century. But his book, while providing a good overview of these cases, is rarely compelling because it lacks the telling detail that defines great storytelling. For example, he points out that Martin Luther King, Jr., had a great sense of humor but never gives an example. Nor, despite stating repeatedly that he was determined to destroy segregation, does he illustrate the evil effect that segregation had on any particular person. Rarely is there any of the dramatic tension one gets in the courtroom when a case hangs in the balance. I’m glad I read the book because I learned a great deal of basic information about these cases, but I was not sad to see it end.

[Martella Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most comprehensive book that I have read on the civil rights era. In addition to giving us a glimpse of his childhood, Gray details legal cases that started right here in Alabama but changed the nation. He give credit when it is due to other attorneys and judges but also exposed those who fought integration tooth and nail.

[Tory Boliew · Rating 4 out of 5]

He is a great man who is very reserved. I have met Mr. Gray many times, and he gave me this book, with a personalized message for my hard work.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read.