Charles Kenzie Steele - Tallahassee Bus Boycott

Tallahassee Bus Boycott

The Tallahassee bus boycott began in May, 1956, during the Montgomery bus boycott. Like other bus boycotts during the civil rights movement in America, it started because black people were forced to ride in the back of the bus, and when two students refused to give up their seat to a white woman they were arrested. An organization was formed to protest and boycott against the city bus system. The organization was called Inter-civic Council and Steele was elected president. Steele and other protesters boycotted the system by starting car pools and the bus system had stopped for the first time in 17 years on July 1. Steele was arrested many times during this period. The people in Tallahassee thought that the protesters' demands were outrageous. Steele and the other protesters met a lot of rich and influential opposition. The City commissioners were determined in opposition to make the buses integrated. The bus system was integrated two years later.

He was also the lead plaintiff in the school desegregation suit which led to the desegregation of public schools in Leon County.

Steele was also a part of many other protest, marches, and boycotts, where he helped to accomplish integration in many public places. Steele helped Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957.

He was made the First Vice President under Dr. King at the time of the formation of SCLC.

Steele died from bone marrow cancer in 1980 at the age of 66 in Tallahassee.