I chose to analyze pages 100 to 102. These pages offer a heightened understanding of the event through the depiction of a short period of time on only three pages, focusing on symbols of freedom. The event depicted on these pages is the transportation of many Freedom Riders to the Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm. The scene begins with arrested Freedom Riders on a bus at the gate of the jail, waiting to pass the guards. Past the gates, there is a long winding road that seems to go on into eternity, showing that their experience in jail will seemingly last forever. This panoramic view of the prison shows a big-picture perception of the situation.
The policemen appear to exist only to suppress the spirit of the protestors, as there are speech bubbles that contrast the superintendent mentioning their freedom songs and the possibility of them being killed by fellow inmates. In addition, many panels contrast the inmates, the guards, and the birds. Birds often represent freedom, depicting the spirit of the protestors that cannot be beaten down as much as the guards try. These depictions of birds show a heightened perception and understanding of the event because they seem to be such a small detail, but represent a much deeper cause. In two panels on page 102, a duck swims away with water trailing behind it; these trails are mimicked by the body being dragged into the prison by a guard. The protestors, like the birds, only yearn for freedom, but the protestors cannot attain it. This is shown in the last panel of page 102, in which birds fly away in a v-shape, able to gain freedom. This contrasts with the men who are forced into the penitentiary, losing their freedom for two months. The birds also fly away in a group, symbolizing the Freedom Riders’ community.
