A black and white photograph of three figures conversing by the side of a car with text written…

The Ballot Bus

Artist Frederick C. Baldwin (American, 1929 - 2021)

Date1963

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsImage: 8 5/8 × 13 1/16 inches (21.9 × 33.2 cm)
Sheet: 10 15/16 × 14 inches (27.8 × 35.6 cm)
Matted: 16 × 20 inches (40.6 × 50.8 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase.

Object number2009.3.4

On View

Not on view

Copyright© Estate of Fred Baldwin. The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label Text"He loved that Ballot Bus. ... I have seen him go on the corner and grab dudes—say, ‘Looka here man!’ He say, ‘You register to vote?’ ‘No.’ ‘Come on—get in.’ ‘Lester, I can’t go nowhere with you right now!’ ‘You GONNA GET IN HERE!’ ... " –Benjamin Van Clark remembers Lester Hankerson’s efforts to persuade prospective voters to ride in the Ballot Bus. The fight to end segregation in Savannah was fought on multiple fronts—notably, through a combination of grassroots and highly organized campaigns to register Black voters. This multifaceted campaign culminated in 1962 when over 17,000 Black voters (57 percent of all adult African Americans in the city) had been registered. Because Black voters surpassed the number of white voters, the Black community was able to exert significant voting power in city government elections. While many helped register voters, Lester Hankerson—pictured here resting against the vehicle advertising "Ballot Bus" "Free Ride No Excuses"—stood out as a formidable force. He looked for potential voters in bars, street corners, and union halls. His friends and fellow activists remember his love of the "bus" (a black four-door Dodge) which would take individuals to the courthouse to become registered voters.

Subject MatterSavannah, Georgia, United States of America

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