book included segments composed by a variety of different authors, and Burks wrote the “Montgomery Bus Boycott” section. The Women's Political Council In 1935, Burks was involved in an incident with a white motorist that led to her being arrested by a white police officer. The incident demonstrated the prevalence of racism in Montgomery to Burks, which she had felt previously shielded from due to her education level and status. The incident inspired Burks to focus her attention towards advocating for racial equality in Montgomery, and a year later she founded the Women’s Political Council. The WPC focused its efforts around promoting civic involvement, increasing voter registration numbers, and lobbying city officials to address racist policies. At the time of its forming in 1946, the organization was composed of a group of 50 African American community members with occupations ranging from educators to nurses to social workers. Burks later wrote that she created the council as an “outgrowth of scars [she] suffered as a result of racism,” (Burks, 1990). In 1950, Burks stepped down from her position as president of the WPC, explaining that “the position was demanding and I had been in office longer than I intended.” (Burks, 1990). Burks’ position was succeeded by Jo Ann Robinson, a colleague of Burks’ at the Alabama State College and a fellow member of the WPC. Burks continued to work with Robinson and maintained an active role in the organization, which Robinson transformed to turn its focus towards the racial inequality experienced by African Americans on public transportation and particularly buses. From 1955-1956, Burks and the other members of the WPC helped initiate and provide support for the Montgomery Bus Boycott after the arrest of Rosa Parks. Following the end of the Civil Rights Movement, Burks emphasized the importance of the organization in starting the Montgomery Bus Boycott and therefore the entire movement as well. Burks expressed that “Rosa Parks, Jo Ann Robinson, and members of the Women’s Political Council were trailblazers,” and “Martin Luther King, Jr. was a torchbearer”, claiming that a torchbearer is “one who follows the trailblazer” (Burks, 1990). Works cited Burks, Mary Fair. "Women in the Montgomery Bus Boycott". In Vicki L. Crawford, Jacqueline Anne Rouse, and Barbara Woods (eds), Women in the Civil Rights Movement: Trailblazers and Torchbearers 1941-1965, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1993, pp. 71–83. References External links King Chronologies. "Burks, Mary Fair." The photo on