Sheyann Webb
Encyclopedia
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Smallest Freedom Fighter" and co-author of the book, Selma, Lord, Selma. As a nine year old, Sheyann Webb-Christburg took part in the first attempted Selma to Montgomery march
across the Edmund Pettus Bridge
on March 7, 1965, known as Bloody Sunday.
Sheyann was born on February 17, 1956 in Selma, Alabama
to John and Betty Webb. She grew up in a family of eight children. She attended the segregated public schools of Dallas County, Alabama
. In her junior high years she was one of the first blacks to integrate an all white school. Sheyann says that her junior high years were the most horrific. She was pushed down stairs, called bad names, suspended from school, and spit on, but nothing was done by the school administration.
One day nine year old Sheyann and her friend Rachel were playing outside when they noticed a car drive up at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church with several nicely dressed Negro
men.
They walked over to the car not knowing who was in the car and they were introduced to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
They were told that Dr. King had come to Selma, Alabama to help the Negro people get voting rights.
Each night when mass meeting were held at the church, Sheyann would sneak out of her house to attend the meetings. She would also lead the congregation in singing freedom songs. Her favorite freedom song was Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.
Sheyann became so involved with the Selma movement that she began skipping school to attend the demonstrations. Despite warnings from her parents she continued to skip school.
Sheyann learned many things from Dr. King. He taught her and Rachel to say when asked "Children what do you want, your answer should be freedom." He also taught her that no matter what the color of your skin is you should treat everybody right and children also had a battle to fight.
There were many demonstrations held in Selma when African Americans tried to register to vote. They were only allowed two days out of the month to register. Most of the time it was unsuccessful because they were given a literacy test that was very difficult to pass; this kept them from registering.
Also demonstrations were held in nearby counties for the same purpose. One night a young black man by the name of Jimmie Lee Jackson
was killed while demonstrating for voting rights.
To draw attention to the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson, it was decided that a 54 mile march to the state capital of Alabama would take place. They would present a petition to Governor Wallace to protest that Negroes were not being treated fairly.
On Sunday, March 7, 1965, Sheyann was the youngest person to attempt to march to Montgomery
. As they left Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, Sheyann walked near the back with her teacher.
Once the marchers had crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge
they were ordered to turn back. When they refused they were chased by deputies on horseback, beat with billy clubs, and tear gassed. As she was running back with the other marchers to Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, she was picked up by Rev. Hosea Williams
, who was one of the leaders of the march.
(Keep Entertaining Everyday People), co-author of the book Selma Lord Selma with best childhood friend, Rachel West, which later became a Disney movie entitled
Selma, Lord, Selma
Sheyann travels around the country telling her story about what happened on Bloody Sunday. As an eight year old she says that, that day changed her life forever.
Selma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
across the Edmund Pettus Bridge
Edmund Pettus Bridge
The Edmund Pettus Bridge is a bridge that carries U.S. Highway 80 across the Alabama River in Selma, Alabama. Built in 1940, it is named for Edmund Winston Pettus, a former Confederate brigadier general and U.S. Senator from Alabama. The bridge is a steel through arch bridge with a central span of...
on March 7, 1965, known as Bloody Sunday.
Sheyann was born on February 17, 1956 in Selma, Alabama
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
to John and Betty Webb. She grew up in a family of eight children. She attended the segregated public schools of Dallas County, Alabama
Dallas County, Alabama
Dallas County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander J. Dallas. The county seat is Selma.- History :...
. In her junior high years she was one of the first blacks to integrate an all white school. Sheyann says that her junior high years were the most horrific. She was pushed down stairs, called bad names, suspended from school, and spit on, but nothing was done by the school administration.
One day nine year old Sheyann and her friend Rachel were playing outside when they noticed a car drive up at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church with several nicely dressed Negro
Negro
The word Negro is used in the English-speaking world to refer to a person of black ancestry or appearance, whether of African descent or not...
men.
They walked over to the car not knowing who was in the car and they were introduced to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
They were told that Dr. King had come to Selma, Alabama to help the Negro people get voting rights.
Each night when mass meeting were held at the church, Sheyann would sneak out of her house to attend the meetings. She would also lead the congregation in singing freedom songs. Her favorite freedom song was Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.
Sheyann became so involved with the Selma movement that she began skipping school to attend the demonstrations. Despite warnings from her parents she continued to skip school.
Sheyann learned many things from Dr. King. He taught her and Rachel to say when asked "Children what do you want, your answer should be freedom." He also taught her that no matter what the color of your skin is you should treat everybody right and children also had a battle to fight.
There were many demonstrations held in Selma when African Americans tried to register to vote. They were only allowed two days out of the month to register. Most of the time it was unsuccessful because they were given a literacy test that was very difficult to pass; this kept them from registering.
Also demonstrations were held in nearby counties for the same purpose. One night a young black man by the name of Jimmie Lee Jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson was a civil rights protestor who was shot and killed by Alabama State Trooper James Bonard Fowler in 1965. Jackson was unarmed. His death inspired the Selma to Montgomery marches, an important event in the American Civil Rights movement. He was 26 years old.-Personal...
was killed while demonstrating for voting rights.
To draw attention to the death of Jimmie Lee Jackson, it was decided that a 54 mile march to the state capital of Alabama would take place. They would present a petition to Governor Wallace to protest that Negroes were not being treated fairly.
On Sunday, March 7, 1965, Sheyann was the youngest person to attempt to march to Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. As they left Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, Sheyann walked near the back with her teacher.
Once the marchers had crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge
Edmund Pettus Bridge
The Edmund Pettus Bridge is a bridge that carries U.S. Highway 80 across the Alabama River in Selma, Alabama. Built in 1940, it is named for Edmund Winston Pettus, a former Confederate brigadier general and U.S. Senator from Alabama. The bridge is a steel through arch bridge with a central span of...
they were ordered to turn back. When they refused they were chased by deputies on horseback, beat with billy clubs, and tear gassed. As she was running back with the other marchers to Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, she was picked up by Rev. Hosea Williams
Hosea Williams
Hosea Lorenzo Williams was a United States civil rights leader, ordained minister, businessman, philanthropist, scientist and politician...
, who was one of the leaders of the march.
Today
As of 2006, because of her involvement in the Selma movement, she has determined to keep the fight alive. She currently resides in Montgomery, Al., and works for Alabama State University. Several ways she has chosen to do that by being the founder of KEEPKeep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
(Keep Entertaining Everyday People), co-author of the book Selma Lord Selma with best childhood friend, Rachel West, which later became a Disney movie entitled
Selma, Lord, Selma
Selma, Lord, Selma
Selma, Lord, Selma is a 1999 American film based on true events that happened in March of 1965, known as Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. The film tells the story through the eyes of an 11-year-old African American girl named Sheyann Webb . It premiered as a television movie on ABC on January 17,...
Sheyann travels around the country telling her story about what happened on Bloody Sunday. As an eight year old she says that, that day changed her life forever.