Dr. James L. Farmer, Jr. earned national prominence as one of the foremost leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including organizing the Freedom Rides, with the first stop being right here in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Learn more about this American civil rights pioneer and his notable accomplishments from a timeline of his life, created by UMW Libraries.
Freedom Riders
Dr. James L. Farmer, Jr. was one of the organizers of the 1961 Freedom Rides. The City of Fredericksburg recently installed new Black History panels in the downtown corridor. One of the panels is at the location of the first stop of the Freedom Riders’ seven-month campaign to challenge the racial status quo in states throughout the American south.
Learn more about the Freedom Rides in his “own words” from his lectures.
James Farmer Multicultural Center
Dr. Farmer was a Distinguished Professor of History and American Studies at Mary Washington College (University of Mary Washington). Learn more of his legacy and about the James Farmer Multicultural Center.
Recently, Chris Williams, Assistant Director of UMW James Farmer Multicultural Center, talked with ABC7 WJLA about Dr. James L Farmer, Jr.