Eyes on the Prize - Mini Course
Episode I: Awakenings1. Briefly discuss some of the barriers Blacks faced in achieving racial integration in Southern schools following the Brown decision. Site specific examples from "Awakenings."
2. Briefly discuss Southern backlash against the Brown decision. Site specific examples from "Awakenings." What was the intent of such backlash?
3. Briefly discuss the reasons the Montgomery Bus Boycott eventually proved successful. (What elements were in place that enhanced the probability of success?)
4. Of the three main stories dealt with in the first episode, which story affected you most profoundly? Why?
5. Why are these three stories relevant today?
Extra Credit: In the image above, what is happening? How would you describe the learning environment? This picture was taken before the Brown decision was handed down. Do you think white-only elementary schools would look similar to the one pictured above? What does this imply with regard to the doctrine of "separate but equal"?
If time permits, visit the link below for more information on the issue of "Institutional Racism"http://hansengeorge.blogspot.com/2007/10/institutional-racism.html
Comments
John Walsh and Taylor Knothe
2. Mobs caused problems after the Brown decision. KKK also did stuff to show they didn't like the decision. The intent of the backlash was to stop integration, which was also why schools were shut down.
3.Almost everyone in the black community took part in the bus boycott and didn't stop. They kept it going even when the weather was terrible and some people had to walk miles.
4.The Little Rock 9 affected me the most because all those kids wanted was a good education. Mobs gathered just because 9 kids of a different race went to a school that had previously been all whtie.
5. These stories are relevant because now schools aren't segregated and people can sit on a bus anywhere they want, regardless of race. If those things hadn't happened, then integration might have happened a long time after.
2.They tried to reverse the case after it was decided. Schools were desegragrated but there was harassment, discrimination, and abuse.
3.There were so many people that were not using buses. They would either walk, drive, or carpool.
4.Emmett Till was the most profoundly because he was a little boy who didn't know better and he was brutally murdered.
5.They are relevant because of they changed things so that what todays society into what society is today.
2) ((See number one)) The intent of the backlash was to keep blacks down and stop them from climbing up on the social ladder. They couldn't stand the thought of blacks being set as equal as them and going to the same school and learning the same things.
3)The Montgomery Bus Boycott was successful because so many blacks were involved. I think I remember you saying that 98% participated in the boycott. They also kept the boycotts going for so long that the company's pocketbook was really suffering. They also found creative ways of working around the buses by giving each other rides and carpooling.
4)Of the three stories I think that the story of Emmit Til affected me the most just because the image stays in your head. It seems so unreal that someone could do something like that! But also that they got away with it effected me alot. I always thought America would prevent things like that from happening.
5) The stories are all relevant to today because in many schools still we have worked around the segregation law and we are still pushing blacks down.
3. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a success mostly because of who was participating, the black community was very adamant about what they were doing, almost all the blacks participated, and the blacks formed about 3/4 of the passengers that the bus companies would have.
4. I feel that the Bus Boycott was quite influential. In the modern day, one does not often see stories of how a populace can unite against authority to make a change in society for the better.
5. Although there has been much change in schools to allow integration, racism and inequality in education still exist. Black Students are not expected to do well in or even pass high school, meanwhile white students are allowed many advanced opportunities and have a very good chance to get into college.
EC. The above picture depicts a black elementary school. The teacher is using whatever she can to teach students in a building that looks like it would soon fall apart. The students are obviously in an inferior school when you compare it to what a white school would be. This is a very good example of how separate is very much unequal.
1) They tried to go to all white schools but were kicked out and re3ffered to black schools. They also tried to ride in the front of the buses but were forced to the back or kicked off the bus.
2)The people fought back against the decision because so many people didnt want the black kids to go to school with their white kids.
3) The black people stopped riding the buses so the bus company stopped making money. The company and the city finally gave in and let the black people ride the bus in the front.
4)The brown decision because the little girl had to go so far to go to school when she could walk just 7 blocks to the white school but they wouldnt let her enrole there.
5)Because in some parts of the country people are still racist and dont believe in segregation.
2. Same as #1
3. One reason is that a large number of bus riders in Montgomery were African American. African Americans would also arrange car pools. Another reason that the boycott proved to be so successful was the persistancy and endurance displayed by the African Americans
in their ability to legthen the boycott for so long.
4. Emmit Till was definately the most impactful story in my mind because of the cruel and innocent death that took place.
5. The only way that we can prevent these horrible occurances from happening again is by learning from the past.