Ep 5. Civil Rights

Drunk History season 5 episode 5, titled "Civil Rights," takes viewers on a humorous and educational journey through the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

The episode begins with a brief overview of the history of segregation in the country, including the Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The first story of the episode focuses on the life and work of Claudette Colvin, a young African American woman who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus nine months before Rosa Parks did the same. The reenactment of Colvin's story is filled with hilarious antics, such as her drunkenly slurring the name of the group that eventually took up her cause (the NAACP) and one of the narrators vomiting in the background.

The next segment of the episode explores the story of the Freedom Riders, a group of civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States in 1961. The drunken reenactment includes a hilarious portrayal of the group's leader, James Farmer, Jr., who recruits the help of "Black Santa" to aid in the cause of desegregation. The segment also includes a reference to the infamous "burning bus" incident in Anniston, Alabama, where a bus carrying Freedom Riders was set ablaze by a mob of angry white supremacists.

The third story of the episode focuses on the Birmingham Campaign, a series of nonviolent protests and marches that took place in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. The drunk retelling of this story features a hilarious portrayal of the campaign's leader, Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, who is depicted as a foul-mouthed, chain-smoking firebrand. The reenactment of Birmingham's "Children's Crusade," where hundreds of African American children were arrested for protesting, is filled with ridiculous moments, including one of the narrators drunkenly singing "This Little Light of Mine" in the background.

The final segment of the episode tells the story of the March on Washington, a massive civil rights demonstration that took place in Washington, D.C. in 1963. The reenactment focuses on the story of John Lewis, a civil rights activist who was beaten by police while attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965. The segment includes a hilarious portrayal of Lewis, who is depicted as a mild-mannered, slightly befuddled man who accidentally stumbles into history. The reenactment of Lewis's beating is particularly hilarious, featuring one of the narrators drunkenly falling off a chair in the background.

Overall, Drunk History season 5 episode 5 is a delightful romp through one of the most important periods in American history. While the episode is certainly silly and irreverent, it also delivers a powerful message about the importance of standing up for what's right, even in the face of incredible adversity. Whether you're a history buff or just a fan of drunken shenanigans, this episode is sure to leave you entertained and enlightened.