Almost 200 years ago, after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, slavery was no longer permitted; but America was still segregated. Segregation in many public places continued especially in the South. At that time, segregation was legal. In 1892, the Supreme Court had ruled that a state could separate blacks and whites as long as the services were equal. On May 4, 1961, a diverse group of thirteen courageous individuals known as the Freedom Riders took a bus trip to the South to challenge segregation at bus terminals. Although many people believed that segregation was wrong, many Southern states continued to practice it. racial segregation. Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in everyday life. Segregation can apply to a variety of situations. Before the civil rights movement of the 1960s, laws, policies, and practices aimed to segregate blacks. After the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in America, Jim Crow laws regulated racial discrimination. Many states and local governments have passed laws to separate people of color from whites in many areas, such as schools, housing, workplaces, and public gathering places, to name just a few. While millions of former slaves hoped to become equal citizens, some people continued to view African Americans as second-class citizens (Spartacus Educational). Transportation was another industry where blacks and whites were treated differently. Montgomery, Alabama city code required all public transportation to be segregated. Nearly 100 years after the Civil War, blacks had to sit separately from whites. Seats could be assigned and blacks could be asked to give up their seats to white passengers. On December 1, 1955, Ro...... half of the newspaper ......lisi, World, United States, Music and the Arts: NPR. Network. 05 January 2012. .Holmes, Marian Smith. "The Freedom Riders, Then and Now | History and Archeology | Smithsonian Magazine." History, travel, art, science, people, places | Smithsonian magazine. Network. January 05, 2012. "Oprah Honors American Heroes - Oprah.com." Official Site of Oprah Winfrey - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Network. January 05, 2012. "Rosa Parks Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com." Famous Biographies and TV Shows - Biography.com. Network. 05 January 2012. .Spartacus Educational. Network. 05 January. 2012. .