sort of legislation to truly advance civil rights as truman saw needed to be done. secondly, he believed this was the right thing to do. since the time when he was a united states senator, harry truman had been sensitive to the plight of african-americans, despite whatever personal misgivings he had from being raised in what we called a violently prejudice southern family. who is isaac woodward and how did he impact this story? isaac woodward was an army technical sergeant discharged after world war ii. honorably discharged. he was riding a bus in south carolina with some army friend of his, headed back home. and he asked the bus driver if he could please use the rest room at the next stop pt. the white bus driver said, boy, please go sit back down. woodward said, i m a man, you will address me as a man.