Kaitlyn Whiteside is retracing a historic journey this week, following the routes of the 1961 Freedom Rides across the south that proved to be a violent test of the U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation in interstate transportation.

Whiteside is one of 40 students who were chosen for the 2011 Student Freedom Ride by PBS' venerable documentary program, American Experience, which is marking the 50th anniversary of those seminal bus trips.  The students are traveling with some of the original 1961 Freedom Riders on a 10-day route from Washington, D. C. to New Orleans facilitating an intergenerational conversation about civic engagement, what it means, what has changed since 1961, and what inspires young people to “get on the bus.” 

Whiteside developed an interest in the civil rights movement during her college career, starting a research project during her second year on the desegregation of Chattanooga with Ronald Bayor, professor and chair for the School of History, Technology, and Society.

“I stumbled on quite the gold mine of primary documents from a 26-year legal battle to desegregate Chattanooga Public Schools,” Whiteside said. “The man who filed the original lawsuit in the 1960s is still living in the area, and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview him for my paper.” Whiteside is still in the process of completing and publishing what she called the “ever-lengthening” paper, and credits the experience with sparking her interest in the historical movement.

The public can share the journey through live blogs, tweets, and videos posted on the PBS website. The 2011 Ride anticipates the premiere of the American Experience documentary Freedom Riders that will air May 16 at 9 pm. 

A Georgia Tech President’s Scholar, Whiteside earned her B.S. degree this year from the School of History, Technology, and Society with a minor in law.  She was the recipient of the School’s 2010-2011 Bellon Prize which recognizes distinguished academic achievement, student leadership, and personal integrity. She served on Georgia Tech's student government association for three years. Whiteside anticipates attending law school.

Whiteside and her fellow student riders appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on May 4 promoting the Freedom Rider 2011 event. Read more about the event, and see Whiteside’s video and online posts at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/2011/meet-the-riders/#kaitlyn