Dixon Shapiro: Exploration 7

In this documentary, I learned that people in general have a very difficult time changing their viewpoints of the world, viewpoints that they were raised with, and were told that these are the only viewpoints someone can have. These people also have a very hard time adapting to change. In today's world, we can compare it to how gay and lesbian people are treated, along with how some people's viewpoints on Syrians is that they are all terrorists.

Even today, it is very hard for people to admit that they were wrong, and that something must change in our society. Diane Nash asked Mayor Ben West if he thought that it was wrong to discriminate people based on color, and when he was asked what he thought of that question latter on, he said, "I tried as best I could to answer it frankly and honestly, that I could not agree that it was morally right for someone to sell them merchandise and refuse them service. And I had to answer it just exactly that way.” It is very hard to find someone who would be willing to openly admit that their viewpoints should change, and that they were wrong about their original ideas, especially if they are in politics. The question that Diane Nash asked the Mayor can also be used today for some politicians, but instead of asking about color, it could be used to ask about gays and lesbians. To me. the most shocking thing is what people will do to stop these changes in society. For example, Burke Marshall said about the attack on the Freedom Riders in Birmingham, "they clearly had advance information from Klan sources that the Freedom Riders were going to be attacked in the bus station at Birmingham ... The Bureau didn't pass that information along to anybody in any other part of the department." I do not know myself if something similar happened recently with a gay and lesbian movement, but if it did and the FBI covered it up, it would have caused a great outrage among the population.

One of the tactics used to promote anti-segregation was the boycotting of stores that promoted segregation in Nashville, Tennessee, and the surrounding area. This idea was used by a lot of the parents of the children that were arrested, to fight against it. They thought that since the black community were a big portion of income for these stores (their buying power was about $10 million for these stores alone, as mentioned in the documentary), and if they boycotted, these stores would feel a lot of pressure, and that in turn would pressure the Mayor to change the political nature of the city. In the documentary, it was said that this tactic was almost completely effective, to the point that some people became more and more aware of how serious the situation was, and that they must consider that they needed to change their ways.

Exploration 7: Ain't Scared of Your Jails

I learned a lot from this documentary because it is portrayed from the inside. It showed us what was really happening with the students, and how they felt and how they reacted. I've seen numerous examples of exterior portrayal, but none from the inside, and that's why I really liked this documentary. I learned about the bravery and cruel treatment of the students from everyone that disagreed with them, including the government. The world was against these students. They showed an immense amount of valor and courage to stand up for what is right on behalf of millions of African-American citizens. They took the stand, they took action, and they forced the change that was over 200 years coming. At such a young age, these students were ready to do what needed to be done, no matter what it took. On being arrested, John Lewis said "Growing up in the rural South, it was not the thing to do, not to go to jail. It was bringing shame and disgrace on the family. But for me, I tell you, it was like being involved in a holy crusade. It became a badge of honor." These students took pride in what they were doing. They were not afraid of going to jail or taking a beating, as long as they proved a point. What these students did can be translated to the modern day. Non-violent protest has proved to be the most effective way of initiating change today. Discipline and heart will prevail through most hard-ships.

Non-violent protests, like the ones exhibited by the students, are the most powerful way to protest. These students were kicked, punched, bruised and beaten, but refused to physically fight back. This was very smart on their part because if they were to fight back, it would give the opposing force a "reason" to inflict larger punishment. They would be put in jail for a longer period of time, they would be beaten even harder than they were before, and they would cause more people to be against them. People on the fence about segregation would realize that these people are peaceful and innocent, but yet are still receiving unjust punishment for just about everything they do. The police wouldn't even protect these kids, so how would you know if they would protect you in a situation of danger? It opened peoples eyes to the horrid treatment of these peaceful students. The government even promised to protect them, and they broke their promise. When the students left Montgomery, there was plenty of protection, but 40 miles from Montgomery, all of the protection disappeared, and the bus that held the freedom riders was attacked at a gas station that was supposed to be protected. When the students arrived at the gas station, they were greeted by the mob, the scene described by John Lewis: "... about 40 miles or less from the city of Montgomery, all sign of protection disappeared. There was no plane, no patrol car, and when we arrived at the bus station, it was just like eerie, just a strange feeling. It was so quiet, so peaceful, nothing." This is truly sad to see that the government would make a promise to protect them, and then completely lie and do the opposite. These students were not doing what the were doing to cause harm, they just wanted to change the treatment of black Americans, something that should have never been a problem in the first place.

Exploration 7: Ain't Scared - Zeb Lucas

     I learned so much from watching this documentary, I was aware of the awful treatment that many African Americans received during the sit-ins and freedom rides, but this documentary gave me a look inside of what many of them were thinking, and just how awful it really was. What they went through on the Freedom Rides, being met by angry mobs of klansmen and yet they kept going. They were even arrested, but as John Lewis said: they wore it "Like a badge of honor." It is an incredible story of their determination, and how it changed America for the better. Without the actions of these students, without them taking a stand with their peaceful and non-violent protests, things would have been so different. Who knows what would have happened, or how long it would have taken for the segregation of the counters, and interstate travel to come to an end.

     One tactic that I thought was extremely interesting would be the Freedom Rides. The fact that these young men and women were willing to risk their lives, riding through the South knowing that they would meet controversy blows my mind. They wanted a change, and they were willing to do whatever is necessary to get that change. Even after being met by an angry mob of Klansmen in Birmingham, and the other bus that was firebombed outside of Aniston that hospitalized twelve Freedom Riders, yet they continued with the Freedom Rides. Their dedication to the cause was incredible I feel that Jim Zwerg said it best: "Segregation must be stopped, it must be broken down. Those of us who are on the Freedom Ride, we will continue the Freedom Ride. I'm not sure that I'll be able to, but we're going on to New Orleans no matter what happens. We're dedicated to this, we'll take hitting, we'll take beating. We're willing to accept death. But we're going to keep coming until we can ride from anywhere in the South to any place else in the South without anybody making any comments, just as American citizens." Even after he had been severely beaten and hospitalized he still wouldn't quit. This brought attention to the necessary changes that needed to be made throughout the South and within the ICC. Racism was rampant and something needed to be done. The Freedom Riders ultimately forced people to pay attention to the issue and make the necessary changes.

Exploration 7: Amanda Chirico

This video was very captivating and moving. It taught me considerably; throughout school they teach the big picture, the influential people and the basics of civil rights. This movie is so much more then that. It takes you though the young African Americans thoughts and doings. How the students formed the SNCC, which was based on a new optimism, a feeling that youth could be a real force for change in the 1960s. It started with the sit-ins, then the boycotts, to marching, and finally the freedom riders, the student’s weren’t giving up they really did think they would be the change. The movie said that within two months, the sit-ins had spread to 69 cities, from Greensboro to San Antonio, and 2,000 people had been arrested. Finlay after all the violence and boycotts in Nashville, Tennessee Diane Nash asked the mayor, "First of all, Mayor West, do you feel that it's wrong to discriminate against a person solely on the basis of his race or color"(Nash)?  Major West responded, “and I tried as best I could to answer it frankly and honestly, that I could not agree that it was morally right for someone to sell them merchandise and refuse them service. And I had to answer it just exactly that way”(West). Diane Nash said, “I have a lot of respect for the way he responded. He didn't have to respond the way he did. He said that he felt like it was wrong for citizens of Nashville to be discriminated against at the lunch counter solely on the basis of the color of their skin. And I think that was the turning point”(Nash).  Tennessee might have done something but for the other southern states it was a different story like Alabama and Mississippi. The freedom rides played a huge importance in the civil rights movement in the south. The Freedom Riders would board two buses in Washington, DC, on May 4th. Their journey would take them through the Deep South and on to New Orleans by May 17th. This was a group of 13 Freedom Riders, seven white and six black where the whites would sit in the back of the bus as the blacks would sit in the front. As they made it down to the deep south things started getting way out of hand, huge groups of violent people were attacking the busses to a point the bus company stopped driving them in fear for there busses and there drivers. These rides got the attention of the president and the attorney general Bobby Kennedy.  When Patterson Alabama’s major refused to talk further, Kennedy sent Special Assistant John Seigenthaler to Alabama. Seigenthaler’s duty as a federal officer was to inform him that if the state could not protect citizens of the United States, either in the cities or on the highways, that it was a federal responsibility and we were prepared to assert it. During this time Marten Luther king Jr. gave a speech inside an Alabama church saying this to the people; “That we're going to be calm, and that we are going to continue to stand up for what we know is right. And that Alabama will have to face the fact that we are determined to be free. The main thing I want to say to you is fear not, we've gone too far to turn back. Let us be calm, we are together, we are not afraid, and we shall overcome”(King). That quote was very powerful to the people. The rides had continued becoming more and more peaceful finally making it to Jackson, Mississippi where they got off the bus and were peacefully arrested for 60 days in a maximum-security prison. Later on more and more freedom riders would go to Jackson and get arrested finally during that same summer, Robert Kennedy petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission to issue regulations banning segregation in interstate travel. In late September, the commission complied. The students had won their victory, and they had become a major force in America's civil rights movement. Today because of these peoples actions people of any race can travel state to state and not get arrested.

Link to Civil Rights documentary-- from Mike Lohre

One of my favorite characters from the film is this brave young woman in the center, Diane Nash.

 Students, here is a link to the video about the iconic sit-ins that occured during the Civil Rights movement.  The documentary film is titled Ain't Scared of Your Jails and it is part of an excellent historical series called Eyes On The Prize: America's Civil Rights Years.
 
 https://youtu.be/-eGDqyr-Xro

 Here is a link to the transcripts for this video, for use in finding exact direct quotes or reviewing information.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/about/pt_103.html

Topics for Presentations and partners. From Mike Lohre

People

Malcome X: Nicole and Brayden
Nelson Mandela: Cole and Brian
Anne Frank: Emily and Allison
Johnny Cash: Omar and Zeb

Events

Columbine school shooting: Devon and Amber
Kent St. shootings: Joe and Chris
Hiroshima bombing: Dixon and Bianca
Hurrican Katrina: Lillie and Jared

Objects

The Wizard of Oz: Jenny and Abby
Ellis Island and/or Statue of Liberty: Amanda and Andrea
Golden Arches of McDonalds: Rachel and Brien
 Liberty Bell: Miquel and Charlie

Topics for Essay 3 go here. From Mike Lohre

Please post your best Essay Three idea here.  Explain what it is, and WHY you want to write about this topic.

Put your idea in the Comments section below, so we can see all the ideas for the class.

Also, I think Big Picture Questions like the ones I'm offering and the ones I'm asking you to think of on your own in response to the readings, are often a great gateway into an argument or analysis or problem/solution essay.

Also, if you have a great Big Picture Question related to our readings, let's post them here in the Comments as well, along with your essay topic.

Here's a few of mine to 'prime the pump'! (an idiom that means to get things started)

 

•Big Picture questions: 

•Why do Americans constantly evoke the Founding Fathers, and for what purposes?

•Who is your favorite American historical figure and what public documents or history do we most associate with him or her?

•Why is the colonial war against Britain still relevant today? What values do we take from that fight?

•What kinds of journalism are most important, and is true investigative journalism dying?  Why? 

* What is the difference between a cynic and a skeptic?  Which one more describes you, and why?

* Where has the government shown a cynical distrust or disrespectful manner in dealing with its citizens?

* Where is the citizenry guilty of showing a cynical distrust or disrespect of government and its public servants?

* If the citizens have the right to change or throw off a corrupt government, how can we get that done peacefully and without violence?  Especially in a society that is armed to the teeth-- from the military to the police right down to many citizens?

*Is it legal for the President to start wars without approval of Congress?  What do the public documents say?

* Is Edward Snowden a hero for exposing the goverment's lies or a traitor for exposing its private information and secrets?  Might he be both?

* What's in the public document made by Congress called The Patriot Act and how does it protect us? Why do some people argue we gave up too many freedoms in that act and that the protection is not worth it or does not exist anyway?

 *Why do so many people put off or refuse to make a living will or medical directive?

Thanks!

Mike Lohre

Brainstorming and sharing topics is a great way to see if the path we are on is correct, and it helps us help each other as well, as we do research, tweak our focus, and find sources.