Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round: Fighting for Justice, One Ride at a Time

December 18, 2024 | Events

By Rachel Turniansky

Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round gets its title from the idea that not very long ago, members of our community were relegated to the “back of the bus.” The words of poet Langston Hughes serve as the theme for this film about the search for justice in the wholesome setting of the Glen Echo Amusement Park.

For nearly 60 years, the Crystal Pool, wooden roller coaster, Spanish Ballroom and Tunnel of Love were featured in the beloved playground of suburban Washington D.C., but only if you were white.

In June of 1960, this all began to change. Students from Howard University, accompanied by neighbors of the largely Jewish neighborhood near the park, protested the segregation imposed by the park owners. The protests were kicked off by a bold act: three Black individuals taking seats on the merry-go-round, defying the rules, leading to their arrests. This act of defiance ignited weeks of protests, marking a pivotal moment that would ripple into the broader Civil Rights Movement.

The protests drew national attention, attracting everyone from neo-Nazis to members of Congress, and garnered extensive media coverage. As picket lines grew, so did the connections among the protesters. Unlikely alliances formed, leading to moments of camaraderie and collaboration. Union organizers mentored student activists, and the seeds of a broader movement were planted. Among the protesters were ten individuals who would later become the 1961 Freedom Riders, including Stokely Carmichael, who traveled the U.S. South to challenge segregation in buses, restrooms, and lunch counters.

Using just-discovered archival footage, and focusing on the stories of six individuals, viewers are transported to the days, when private businesses could choose their customers, and the walls between Black and white were so high that friendships were unimaginable. With actual news footage, and immersive storytelling by Emmy-award winning director Ilana Trachtman, four living protesters retell this untold story, revealing the price, and the power in fighting for justice.

On Thursday, January 16th, join Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh for a special screening of Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round. The event will feature a post-screening panel discussion with director Ilana Trachtman, film subject Deborah Willis, and Baltimore civil rights activist Reverend Al Hathaway, moderated by Rabbi Jessy Dressin. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with history and hear from those who lived it. Click here to reserve your spot.