Bob Zellner

Bob Zellner

Bob Zellner (born April 5, 1939) is an American civil rights activist and author. He is known for his work as a field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the 1960s, where he was one of the few white members. Zellner has dedicated his life to fighting for racial equality and social justice.

Early Life and Education

Bob Zellner was born in Jay, Florida, and raised in Alabama. He is the son of a Methodist minister and former member of the Ku Klux Klan, who later became an advocate for racial equality. Zellner attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, where he first became involved in the civil rights movement.

Civil Rights Activism

Zellner's involvement in the civil rights movement began during his college years. In 1960, he attended a meeting of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) where he met prominent civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Ralph Abernathy. Inspired by their dedication, Zellner decided to join the movement.

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

In 1961, Zellner became a field secretary for the SNCC, an organization that played a crucial role in the civil rights movement. As a white Southerner, Zellner faced significant challenges and dangers, but he remained committed to the cause. He participated in numerous protests, sit-ins, and voter registration drives across the South.

Freedom Rides and Marches

Zellner was actively involved in the Freedom Rides, a series of bus trips through the American South to protest segregation in interstate bus terminals. He also participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches, which were pivotal in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Later Life and Legacy

After his time with SNCC, Zellner continued to work for social justice. He earned a Ph.D. in history and has taught at various universities. Zellner has also written extensively about his experiences in the civil rights movement, including his memoir, The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement.

Publications

• The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement (2008)

See Also

• Civil Rights Movement
• Freedom Riders
• Voting Rights Act of 1965

External Links

• SNCC Legacy Project