Three Civil Rights Workers

 Three Civil Rights Workers

On June 21, 1964, 3 civil rights workers were murdered and tortured by the KKK in Mississippi. These three men were named Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman. Schwerner, Chaney, and Goodman wanted everyone to have freedom, be treated equally, and have learning rights. They fought for this and defended all of these causes and human democratic rights, but this ended up getting them killed. 

They traveled to Neshoba County so they could investigate Mt. Zion Methodist Church burning. The church was torched by the KKK. This happened 20 years after the church became a national symbol. The was also a black community church. This church had a core freedom school. Freedom schools created a path and started a journey for many young black Mississippi citizens. The case was concluded and dismissed that this fire was intentional, but there was no longer any search or investigation to happen. That possessed Schwerner, Chaney, and Goodman to take it into their own hands. 

There were many other people who got murdered for fighting for the same justices these three men fought for. During this time, they discovered 8 other bodies of African Americans that have been found. They found the body of Herbert Oarsby, who was a 14 year-old boy. He was wearing a Congress of Racial Equality t-shirt. They also found the bodies of Henry Hezekiah Dee and Eddie Moore who were both 19 years old. Lastly, they found another five men they were not able to identify. 

The authorities, such as President Lyndon Johnson, thought the disappearance of these men was a Civil Rights Movement publicity stunt so they could get their work recognized by the world. Their bodies were found on August 4, 1964 buried at a dam site in Neshoba county where they traveled to investigate. In 1980, Ronald Reagan decided to launch his general campaign right in outside of where the bodies were the three civil rights workers men's bodies had been found. 

Sources

• https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/chaney-goodman-schwerner-murdered/ 

• https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/26/upshot/think-they-got-killed-1964-lbj-and-three-civil-rights-icons.html  

• https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/07/01/419168251/20-years-ago-mount-zion-ame-was-set-on-fire-last-night-it-burned-again 

• https://snccdigital.org/inside-sncc/culture-education/freedom-schools/ 

Hazel Scott

 Hazel Scott 

Hazel Scott was a black classical jazz pianist and singer. She was born June 11, 1920 and died October 2, 1981. She was the most successful and well paid African American. Hazel was born and raised in Hollywood, but moved to New York to further her career where she fell in love. 

She was married to Adam Powell and they had a son together. Eventually, the married couple got divorced. Adam Powell was 12 years older than her and he had an affair with her. 4 days after Powell’s divorce with his ex wife, he married Hazel. Hazel took herself and her son to Paris. 

Whenever Hazel Scott would walk into a venue or any public place and they were racially segregated, she would walk right out. When Hazel Scott was 22 years old, she starred in a broadway musical. She refused to play a maid or prostitute. She would only play herself in a film. That was in her film contract. In 1943, the May West Musical was released. The director planned for them to wear dirty aprons while sending their men off to war. Hazel went on strike until they were changed to attractive floral dresses. Racial segregation is something she is extremely passionate about. 

Because of how successful and famous Hazel Scott became, her own show was produced. On April 14th, 1950, the Hazel Scott Show was released. It expanded from being aired once a week to 3 times a week. Everybody wanted Hazel. 

In 1963, she joined James Baldwin protesting racial injustice in America and supported Martin Luther King. Hazel Scott wanted to change the world and make it a better place. She wanted to end racial segregation for all. She wanted everyone to be treated equally. Up until the day Hazel died, she worked hard for what she loved and for what she believes in. 

Sources: 

• In class video

Mock Trial - Brown vs. Board of Education

 Brown vs. Board of Education - What I Learned

The Brown vs. Board of Education changed our world in so many ways. This went on from December 9, 1952 to May 17, 1954. White students and black students were being separated. When they would be put together, white students would go home and complain to their parents or their parents would complain about it saying they feel uncomfortable being in the room with someone different than them. This case was ruled unconstitutional even if segregated schools were separate but equal. 

Supporting Segregated School Systems

African Americans are a minority no matter what happens. White people and black people believed in different things and had very different views on religion. At this time, white people felt that God wanted them to be separate because the United States of America was a separate but equal country. They believed they were born to be separate, so why should they be put together? White children's parents argued to the court that their children would feel out of place if they are thrown into a classroom with kids that are nothing like them. Lastly, another thing that was argued is that this does NOT violate the 14th amendment. The 14th amendment states that “no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” 

Against Segregated School Systems

Image 2: From class 

As shown in the second image, white students have space in their classroom while black students are crammed in. We can see the difference between the way these students were treated differently. School systems were anything but equal. African American children have received far less funding than white students white kids when it comes to schooling. White students get a better education overall. It has been proven that separating the kids does nothing and all it does is limit America's growth as a society and economically. Having children separated for learning purposes does nothing for them besides show them that it's not okay to be different.

Sources

https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/brown-v-board-of-education

Band of Angels Reflection

 Band of Angels Reflection 

The film, “Band of Angels” shows us a demonstration and representation of what racism looks like then and now. This movie takes place in Kentucky. A young female, Amanda Starr, has been raised all her life thinking she was completely white. Overtime, Amanda discovers she is half black because her mother was black . Her mother was a slave. This is all information Amanda discovered when her father passed away. Throughout the film, Amanda discovers her true identity and what she was made to do and who she really was in the world. 

Amanda’s father was a cotton plantation owner. He was in extreme debt and she had absolutely no clue. When he passed, he still had to pay for that debt, and Amanda took the brunt of all of this. Amanda was sold to a slave owner, Hamish Bond, for $5,000 at an auction in New Orleans. Luckily, Hamish was known to treat his slaves with respect unlike Amanda's father. She was extremely resentful towards him at first. He also owns a lot of property. Hamish was an extremely wealthy man. When he bought her, she had no idea what he wanted from her. Because of the relationship Amanda and Hamish created, he gave her the option to be free and go to Cincinnati. She politely turns down this offer so she can stay with him on his plantation that is located in southern Louisiana. 

Compared to “Gone with the Wind”

The movie, “Gone with the Wind” compared to “Band of Angels” shows the audience a lot of similarities and differences. Both of these movies are focused and based on how women were treated during this time and informing us on slaves. They show us how slaves are treated. Both of these films show a romantic relationship between a wealthy man and a woman who they owned. The public believes and shares that Gone with the Wind is a better movie as it has 4.4 stars while Band of Angels has 4.3 stars. I agree with the public on their views of these movies. Although they are both informational and the publishers did a fantastic job, I feel Gone with the Wind is more intriguing for the audience.  

Sources

• https://www.theaceblackblog.com/2019/04/movie-review-band-of-angels-1957.html

• http://dearmrgable.com/?page_id=4078

Mock Trial - Amendments

 The Reconstruction Era

The Reconstruction Amendments are the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. This is also called the Civil War Amendments. This act was made to “protect all citizens in their civil and legal rights.” This includes equal treatment in public accommodations, public transportation, and expelling exclusion from jury service. These three amendments changed the United States for the better. They gave black people equality just like white people.

13th Amendment 

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction” (Constitution Annotated). 

The 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865. This amendment abolished slavery and created justice for all. The Emancipation Proclamation created by Abraham Lincoln did not end slavery to the degree it was supposed to, so this amendment was necessary to make that change. 

14th Amendment

“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States” (Liberty of Congress). 

The 14th Amendment was ratified on July 9, 1868. This amendment allowed everyone who was born in the United States to have citizenship. It was passed during the Reconstruction Era. By everyone, even slaves were included. All citizens were guaranteed protection of their laws. Before 1868, nobody had any rights or citizenship, especially black people. This started to end slavery and other segregating historic movements. Black people were finally recognized as citizens which was a huge step for the United States. 

15th Amendment 

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (National Constitution Center). 

The 15th Amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870. This amendment gave African Americans the right to be able to vote. This was another huge step and milestone for the United States after the 13th and 14th amendments were passed. Although black people were legally allowed and had the right to vote, Southern states took control and took that away from them to stop them from voting. They did this by literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses. At the end of this, African Americans were allowed to serve in the government, state, local office, congress, and the senate. They finally had a voice. 

Sources: 

• https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-13/#:~:text=Neither%20slavery%20nor%20involuntary%20servitude,place%20subject%20to%20their%20jurisdiction 

• https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/#:~:text=No%20State%20shall%20make%20or,equal%20protection%20of%20the%20laws

• https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-xv#:~:text=The%20right%20of%20citizens%20of,or%20previous%20condition%20of%20servitude.

Plessy vs. Ferguson Overview

  Overview of Plessy vs. Ferguson Case 

The Plessy vs. Ferguson case was centered around religion and moral acts against segregation. This was handled in the Supreme Court in 1896. This case was ruled under the “seperate but equal” doctrine of racial segregation. In 1892, an African American train passenger named Homer Plessy, refused to sit in the railcar for black people. Plessy was ⅛ African American. Because Plessy’s argument rejected his constitutional rights being breached, a law was ruled by the supreme court that “implied merely a legal distinction” between black and white people is not unconstitutional. 

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The Amendments Relation

 

The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment to the constitution were all promising to the Southern black Americans. The 13th amendment abolished and made slavery illegal. The 14th amendment states that the rights of citizens can not be taken away without due process of law. The 15th amendment gave all men of all races the right to vote. Women still did not have this right. They saw it as a promise to equality. This subsided for the South black Americans extremely fast. This was a huge disadvantage for them as the white supremacy spread itself across the south. In 1883, the “separate but equal” 1875 law stating the 14th amendment said that the rights of citizens can not be taken away without due process of law, was taken away from them. During this time, when black people had their rights taken away, the white people felt it benefited them. 

Jim Crow Laws Impact

In 1896, the Jim Crow law state-imposed laws were upheld. This law became a legal foundation on racial segregation and took control of the world. This took place for the next 50 years. Schools, theaters, restaurants, and all public places were segregated. Black people’s rights to vote were taken away. They could not serve for jury pools or run in any form of election anymore. The rights they had been promised were stripped away from them. How would you feel as an American if this happened to you and the people you love and care about? Having no say in what is going on in the world you live in sounds like an absolute living nightmare. 

Conclusion

At the end of the case, the court ruled this case in favor of Ferguson, even though Plessy’s amendment rights were breached. The Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana state law gives permission and allows the "equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races” (Archives Gov). Not only did this case impact millions of individuals, it made a huge impact and change on the world as we can see. Overall, Plessy vs. Ferguson established mandating separate but equal public arrangements for African American people and white people to end racial segregation. 

Sources: 

• https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/plessy-v-ferguson#:~:text=Sources-,Plessy%20v.,a%20car%20for%20Black%20people.  

• https://www.britannica.com/event/Plessy-v-Ferguson-1896 

• https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/plessy-v-ferguson#:~:text=The%20ruling%20in%20this%20Supreme,numerous%20laws%20passed%20by%20Congress 

• https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-plessy-ferguson#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Supreme%20Court%20changes,for%20the%20next%20fifty%20years. 

• https://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/themes/jim-crow/ 

Mock Trial - State vs Mann

 About State vs. Mann

    State vs. Mann is a case that took place in North Carolina. In the state of North Carolina, slavery was legal, but it was not legal to shoot, kill, and injure. This case was within the Supreme Court that ruled slave owner had authority over their slaves. If they committed a crime including violence against them, they would not be charged guilty. John Mann rented and shot a slave that was not under his ownership. This case started the protection order. The protection order is a restraining order. During class, we had a discussion on those who were for and against John Mann and if they found him guilty or innocent. 

About John Mann

    John Mann was a North Carolina citizen who has been a slave owner and renter for years. In 1829, he rented a slave named Lydia from a woman named Elizabeth Jones. Therefore, only ELizabeth was allowed to punish Lydia in any shape or form. Lydia began disobeying him and ran away. He pulled a pistol and shot her in the back. The state of North Carolina found him guilty and charged him with $10. John Mann abused Lydia on multiple occasions such as whipping her and beating her. 

Pro John Mann

John Mann supporters believed that slaves were only property and not human. The economic side of this case states that slaves had no benefit to the world besides making money for white people. Because of this, if slaves rebelled against their masters, economy will be destroyed. Mann and the people defending his case felt that when Lydia ran away, he was justified to shot her as any slave owner would have done that. The people constantly argued slaves are not people, they are strictly only property. 

Against John Mann

In the eyes of religion, slavery is frowned upon by the bible and the eyes of God. The land that John Mann was blessed with from God, he took for granted and put it into others hands. "God has blessed you with land for you to take care of it, nobody else.” John Mann destroyed others property when he had no reason to do so. Him doing this impacted the protection order being formed. John Mann was charged with assault. To get out of this, he claimed that Lydia was his property and he can do whatever he wants with her and if this had happened in a northern state, this would not be up for debate. 

Sources

• https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/state-v-mann/