Exploration 7 - Emily Shearer

After watching Ain’t Scared of Your Jails, I realized that if someone wants something bad enough and they aren’t afraid to fight for what they want, they can make it happen. It might not be easy, but no one said it would be. The students that started the non-violent protests were young, and if they had the integrity to stand up to authority figures to change what needed to be changed, anyone can. It is truly inspiring to see people come together to fight for one goal. The film taught me that it is okay to ask questions… Diane Nash asked the mayor of Nashville a straightforward question and got the answer that she had already known. She asked Mayor West, “Do you believe that it is morally right for black customers to not be served food at counters or be discriminated against solely based on the color of their skin?” Mayor West responded to her question honestly, and said that he did not believe that it was morally right to do those things based on a person’s race. From one simple question that a student asked, things started looking up; blacks began to gain more freedom. More trials came up, but once again, they fought for what they thought was right, and the song from the beginning of the documentary sang, “Keep your eyes on the prize.” That is exactly what they did, and they managed to do it without violence.

John Lewis, a Freedom Rider, talked about how, on May 3rd, 1961, an interracial group of 12 people went out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. There were seven whites and six blacks. He described it as the last supper, almost, because they didn’t know what to expect. On May 14th, the two buses for the Freedom Ride left Atlanta and were on their way to Birmingham, and one of the buses were bombed by a mob. 12 riders were sent to the hospital and the bus was destroyed.

                
The protests being non-violent made all the difference. Because there was a non-violent attitude, it made their point more clear. They should not have had to be violent for something that should be a right to everyone. During the sit-ins, they were non-violent because it was not normal for blacks to sit and be served at the counters when it should have been normal for any person, regardless of the color of their skin to be served at a counter. The protests would not have been quite as successful or effective had they decided to use violence as a tactic.

Exploration 7 by Allison Clark

Ain't Scared of Your Jails

Big Picture

     From this documentary I learned a lot about not how segregation played out in history but I learned something deeper. I learned how segregation made people feel, it didn't just affect one type of person, but all different types of people, and made them feel a lot of different emotions. Segregation not only affected people, but it affected the places that those people inhabit.

    You could connect this documentary in various different ways but the one that I found most important was acceptance. Even to this day, we have problems as a society with accepting people for who they are. We continuously fight for equality for everyone from every single walk of life but there will always be people trying to tear that effort down. In the documentary, it shows the importance of fighting for something that is right and following your ambitions regardless of the difficulties that you will end up facing. The documentary brings to life the compassion that human beings can have for each other regardless of our tendencies to judge and create the "perfect" complex. In the film, Leo Lillard said in regards to the segregated water fountains, "They're just the same momma", even being a young boy he didn't understand why the color of someone's skin affected what they were allowed to do, he assumed it was unfair and unjust. This questioning is what leads to becoming someone that make changes in what they see wrong in the world around them. The drive and determination that it takes to make such changes are outstanding and not installed into everyone. An example of this would be the sit ins that were performed all over the south. On February 1, 1960, the first sit in was performed by 4 college students in Nashville. Jim Lawson had workshops to train these students in non violence so that they would still hold their dignity. While these sit ins went a few weeks without any outrage, it began to fester up in the city and the students were arrested, but they had definitely left a lasting impression on the city of Nashville, they got people to think morally. When in jail, John Lewis says in regards to making a stand for something right "I wore it like a badge of honor" Regardless of if he was in jail, he knew that he had done the right thing in progress of making a change in something that he believed in. They had started the change, the sit ins spread to everywhere in the south and triggered many more movements to come. 

     Its important that we take in the lessons from the past, and that we always fight for what we believe in. After all, it is what our country is built on. People come in all shapes, sizes etc, and that's alright. Its okay that everyone is different from one another. It is what makes things interesting, it keeps our society moving. We must adapt to change, because without it, one can never begin to improve. This is what this documentary has brought upon us. 

Exploration Seven: Lillie Weber

After watching Ain't Scared of Your Jails, I have learned many things. One of which, is that if you truly believe in something, fight for it with nonviolence. Protest, boycott, it is more effective than violence. Not only this but in general if you believe in something hard enough there is nothing stopping you from speaking up and making a change. Another thing I have learned is that although things changed, it was still hard for some to change their views and morals that they were born and raised with. Not everyone has the want and desire to accept new views and ways of living. One quote from the mayor at the time of the sit ins, boycotts, and protests, Ben West, really resinated deeply with me and changed things for many White's in that day as well. He stated, " They asked me some pretty soul-searching questions. And one that was addressed to me as a man, 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.Of course, I received considerable criticism for it, but had I to answer it again, I would answer it in the same way again because it was a moral question and it was one that a man has to answer and not a politician. " After that statement, African American's were served at the counter for the first time in downtown dine-ins.

Diane Nash was also a very prominent figure when these sit ins and protests were occurring. Being a strong, confident, determined female leader of protesting made me really route for her and listen to her more deeply. Within the documentary she stated, You know, if the Freedom Ride had been stopped as a result of violence, I strongly felt that the future of the movement was going to be just cut short because the impression would have been given that whenever a movement starts, that all that has to be done is that you attack it with massive violence and the blacks would stop." I truly believe this is the quote that simplifies the entire film. That is the whole purpose of being nonviolent, of not giving up, and being consistent.

One of the tactics used in promoting this movement was boycotting. The families of the protesters arrested mainly used this tactic as a way to get back store owners who believe in segregation. African Americans were the main source of income, so the fact that they stopped buying really damaged the shops income and reputation. This was an amazing, nonviolent way of proving their points. As the shop keepers grew more and more anxious with their lack of sales and failing businesses, they would try and get the mayor to change things within the city.

Exploration 7: Ain't Scared

From examining the civil rights movie, I learned how much of a feat it was to even bring about change within the system related to the deterioration of segregation due to the lack of protection and support from the government and that with perseverance and will-power that you can achieve any goal you set forward for yourself, just from watching how determined the civil rights protesters were to break the racial barriers of American society by sacrificing parts of their daily lives to further their movement through their demonstration of a peaceful protest; with them resisting racial aggression which could create emotional backlashes. This aspect of the movie can be clearly seen with the ideological workshop training students to deal with non-stop brutal attacks both physical and mental state on their character with restraints being placed on their emotions; according to Rev. C.T. Vivian when talking about what the purpose of these workshops were to the students and the lead ministers of Nashville: "How to take the blows and respond with sense of dignity.".

An example of this in the movie being groups of African-Americans performing a constant sit-in within a diner for days before being taken to jail and once the action was taken another group would come walking in ready to take on the mental stresses of the last group and it would be a continuous cycle of arrests and replacements, making it difficult to put a hold on the anti-segregation protests despite the constant hatred being placed onto the people participating in the sit-in at the diner.

With this strategy they were able to gain traction through attention of the Nashville public especially the local black community, and not only that, they were able to wear down the police by leaving them with doubt as their jails quickly filled up with young students. From that point on they were able to keep moving forward with the attention of the local black community in Nashville with support being provided to the supporters that were imprisoned, including food from black merchants and bail money from selling property in that area to make sure these students were in a comfortable position. After that, other protests began such as the boycott of downtown stores since African-Americans often spend 50 million a year on average with 10 million spent in downtown stores alone, making the downtown area a efficient way of making their civil rights protest more important to the political figures of the town.

As Leo Lillard said, "We figured that if they seal the pinch of not having shoppers buy in the stores of downtown Nashville then it would put pressure on the mayor, on the political fabric of the town of Nashville to put out regulations." when discussing about what they should do to enforce a change within the system to make it more beneficial to be a part of.

Let Freedom Ring ... For All From Charlie Exploration 7

It's amazing to me that our history has these events hidden within itself. This goes beyond growing pains within a society; this is actually the sign that we were stunted in our growth as a country and maybe still are in some ways. The most startling think to learn from this was the methods used to ensure the status quo of the time period. Beating people and torching buses are wartime crimes, unplaced within a time of peace. Whites separated from the Blacks, as if they were two different species. The only time this should happen is with clothes in the washing machine. There should be no separation or classing of citizens.

The most appalling scene for me was the one with the white women expressing herself  on how her civil rights were being violated by having to serve the Blacks. The Nashville resident said that "people who try strive to gain social acceptance through, though they call themselves non violent or passive resistant, are the most violent." Should we mention the Boston Tea Party to her and how there were actual property damages? Sorry, white people did that in a very unapologetic manner.

Now, on a side note, her point would have been valid if the Blacks were involved in any criminal activities on the premises. To me sitting on a piece of wood located in a particular section in a store is not a crime or even a misdemeanor; unless the person seated there is taking from the cash register. That would be a crime warranting the removal from the premises and jail time. Due to the mindset of the people and their system of laws stating that the Black actions were not right, violence broke out. I think this is why so much retaliation and pain was inflicted on the movement when the students started to challenge the system. Change is never pleasant, to both the changer and the changed.

It was a very wise course of action chosen when Rev C T Vinian taught his workshops on non violence. Rev C T Vinans' quote about having the workshops to allow the protesters to "take the blow and still respond with dignity" stands out to my mind. That skill would have to be taught because self defense is a very natural response. I know I would have to be taught.

While the freedom rides was the most important aspect of the movement, I think that the boycott was the tactic that allowed the following activities their stability. By the removal of the black purchase power it allowed pressure to be felt non violently by the industry refusing to change. It was a victory that boosted morale and gave power to the message being spoken. It also proved that, whether the whites liked it or not, the blacks did have a form of power. The power to withhold their earnings.

Now one may think that the blacks used this as a method to save their money. But there was an externalized cost for them in this boycott that could be easily unaccounted. Every year the black community purchased a new Easter outfit no matter how poor they were, it was a requirement to them. As C T Vinian said in the film "you could be paying on this outfit three months before Easter and three months later."   

The call from the Kennedy's to Mrs King proved to be a good political move as well start the course toward an actual solution to the main problem. The follow up call to the judge, resulting in the release of Martin Luther King, being the light turned on to the solutions fruition. Even with this course of action JFK only won by less than two-thirds of one percent of the popular vote. May we not have such a close call on other future main issues. What we can draw toward today is that we should respect and treat all citizens as equals, much like the Declaration of Independence states it.

Exploration 7- The Power Of Nonviolence

A huge point that this documentary focused on was equality. I got a better understanding of how the people that were part of the movement really felt. I never learned about the First Baptist Church siege in school. I thought that it was very brave that the people inside were willing to die for what they believed in. It made me think about how I would react in a situation that was so serious.

Diane Nash asked Ben West , " Do you feel that it's wrong to discriminate against a person solely on the basis of his race or color?".  I thought that this was a very good tactic. She pointed a finger at him and he responded.

Ben West responded with "They asked me some pretty soul-searching questions. And one that was addressed to me as a man, 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. " It was a move that would prove vital to the movement and would help them.  Three weeks after his statement African Americans were finally able to eat at the lunch counter.

Another tactic that I thought was a great move in the civil rights was people not going to the stores that were downtown. They began to suffer and it was because they would not serve African Americans. They were not being treated fairly so they did not shop at stores that would discriminate against them. African Americans though were not the only ones that did not go to the stores white people also quit shopping out of fear. If they had been granted their right to have the same equality as a white person then there would not have been a problem. African Americans didn't have to break windows or do harmful things to make a difference. They simply did not go into the stores.

Exploration 7: Miguel Radilla

This video was really eye opening because it showed you an important moment in history where students that took a non-violent approach stood up for racial injustices that plagued certain parts of the country. The most important thing I took from the video was that even in a time where racial injustices were prevalent in the South, such as segregation, these norms were accepted because nobody had ever questioned the status quo of this normality. Once the students questioned the status quo, which were the racial injustices, that’s when everything became tumultuous in Nashville, as with the freedom rides. This is important in today’s age because the video shows us the importance of young individuals having a voice and a say. Diane Nash was the forefront of this non-violent movement in Nashville and I feel that its unfortunate that this was my first time of hearing about her because was she was apart of something that shifted a drastic change in Nashville as well in an era of The Civil Rights Movement. An important part of the video was the question that Diane Nash asked Mayor Ben West. “Do you feel that it’s morally wrong to discriminate a person based upon their color.” In which mayor West answered, “I could not agree that it’s morally right.”  One of the tactics that stood out for me was the boycotting of businesses in downtown Nashville from black buyers. This put businesses in a tough predicament because once it hurts the wallet of businesses it begins a trickle effect of changing the customs that were in place before.