Many Southern Negroes were tolerant of the situation and only hoped and prayed for change. However, the people of South Baton Rouge were strong-willed and eventually – and deliberately – demanded change. Baton Rouge’s Troubled Waters reveals what happened when residents became weary after several young Negroes drowned in rivers, creeks and other water holes because segregation denied them access to City Park and its swimming pool.
The Civil Rights movement moved slowly in Baton Rouge according to Negroes and whites who lived through the period. Power brokers often yielded as little as possible. However, Negroes in South Baton Rouge were determined and capable. They chose the courts when they didn’t feel they were accomplishing anything when talking to city leaders.
Baton Rouge’s Troubled Waters illustrates how the community made strides in integrating City Hall, the local pools, public schools and the city bus system in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the city where they chose to live and raise their children.
Baton Rouge’s Troubled Waters|