Nina Simone Song

• Constitution
• KKK
• Colored and white water fountains
• Rosa Parks
• Little Rock 9
• Integration
• MLK
• Black people graduating 
• Riots/ mobs
• Nuns
• MLK speech 
• March on Washington

4 Little Girls

   Imagine being at Church on a typical Sunday morning, just as many people do each Sundays, when suddenly you're hit by a blast from an explosion violent enough to rip through a wall from the inside of a stairwell. You look around and see people around you injured, debris everywhere from where the church used to be, covered in mortar and brick. This was many people's experience in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on September fifteenth, nineteen sixty-three, except for four little girls who did not live through the explosion to tell their story.

    The church was bombed by Klan members who planted fifteen stacks of dynamite in the stairwell ahead of time. This town was known to have a disrupted balance of racial segregation. The racism had to be directly confronted by the ACMHR, also known as the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. This was such an urgent movement that this group worked with Martin Luther King Jr and his Southern Christian leadership Conference (SCLC). These efforts only caused month-long protests with the intention to end segregation in the city. 

    The survivors, including the twenty people who were injured, were able to find their way out through the smoke-filled remains of where the church used to stand. The bodies of the four missing girls, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair, were found in the basement bathroom and were killed instantly by the powerful blows according to this website. 

    According to this website, this church was mainly a worship place for African Americans and was also used as a meeting place for Civil Rights Leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr., and because of all of this, the city of Birmingham was not unfamiliar with racial segregation. Many protest marches were taken on the front steps of this church during that process. 

    This bombing should not have been a big surprise to anyone, as this Birmingham had seen over fifty bombings in fifteen years. 

    This marked the third bombing since the federal court mandating integration in schools to be legal.

    The aftermath of the bombing drew national attention and a huge grapple between the police and protesters. Hundreds, and thousands of black protesters came together at the scene of the bombing. These protests were so bad that the police had to call for help and use force tough enough to injure and even kill one of the protesters before the National Guard was called for help. 

    This bombing led to the civil rights bill, proposed by President John Kennedy, which led to the Civil Rights Act, which all gained widespread support. 

    The awakening call for the nation and federal government was the death of four innocent young girls, who lost their lives for something that is not their fault. The whole country was ready for a change to happen. “The turning point in the civil rights movement”, as some historians call it shows that this effort for civil rights and the end of segregation was a hard battle, if it had to take the lives of four innocent girls to put the problem into perspective for people. 

    

Brown v Board EOTO

    There is no doubt that the reconstruction period was one of excitement, achievement, but one where that excitement and achievement was seized by backlash, in a way that even today we are still haunted by the effects of the Reconstruction period. 

    The Reconstruction period brought tremendous good for the African American citizens, but also caused a substancial amount of chaos that went along with some unfavorable actions put in place with Reconstruction. 

    The first negative effect of Reconstruction starts with the Wilmington Massacre. This is said to be one of the darkest events of reconstruction. During this, the government was legally elected to overthrow because of the biracial government at the time. In the end there were between thirty to six-hundred black citizens dead, but the exact number is still unknown. This massacre consisted of mobs with guns that ran through black neighborhoods and businesses. The aftermath of this event holds long effects such as reversed progress, voter suppression, more and new laws, and stronger white supremacy. 

    Next, sundown towns excluded non-white people remaining in town after sunsets. These came into action after reconstruction era ended, meaning things went back to how they were right after Reconstruction ended, showing how its lasting effects were not very powerful. These towns involved having signs at the city limits and loud alarms that would sound at sundown signaling the African Americans were no longer allowed in town. These were so powerful that some were kept in action with an unspoken rule. Although these were bad, there were some exceptions such as letting some black families stay in the towns, but under the condition that they live with a white family. These towns were not limited to African Americans, as these sundown town rules went for other races such as Chinese and Jews, and these towns only exited in Southern States. 

    Lynching was created to maintain white supremacy and was the public killing of an individual. There were over five thousand people killed through lynching, and just like the sundown towns, this was not limited to African Americans, Mexican, Chinese, and whites who are opposed to lynching or protected white could also be subject to lynching. These lynchings were such an immense action being taken that the newspapers were advertising them. One of the most prominent lynchings was the lynching of Emmet Till, which raised awareness not just to African Americans, but also white people as well. 

    The Birth of a Nation was a film during the time of Reconstruction that did not help ease any of the tension as it was said to be very controversial because of the ideas it depicted such as how they depicted African Americans, the Ku Klux Klan, Abraham Lincoln's death, and the dramatization of all of these ideas. African Americans were depicted as monsters and the Ku Klux Klan were considered heroes. These beliefs were so contentious that the NAACP even tried to get the movie banned. As bad as it was, the movie displayed never before seen camera angles and something big and eye catching. 

This film caused the assembling of the second Klan. This Klans concerns were immigration and cultural change. To express their concerns they held rallies and political endorsements. 

Due to all of these negative uprisings due to Reconstruction, black universities and colleges bean struggling. This introduced the first positive that came from reconstruction, the United Negro College Fund. Initially, this foundation was supported by big names such as Roosevelt and Rockefeller Jr. This foundation was made to help finally disadvantaged black families send their kids to college.   

    Next, came the Motorist Green Book, some positive side effects of Reconstruction were that black travelers were told through the book where they could eat and sleep and did not have their own say in where they do those basic activities. Hotels, motels, and private homes did not discriminate against these black Americans. Without this book, African Americans would have significantly less freedom and this book, a simple object, welcomed growth and opportunity. 

Executive Order 9981 opened the realization of the importance black soldiers brought to war. This was a turning point of the Korean War when the United Staes had that realization. At first African Americans were assigned to segregated units and many were forced into jobs such as truck drivers, and cooks, but not long after, they proved their talents by persistent campaigning. The first African American polios set an example of excellence because these soldiers were some of the best pilots on the force. All of their successes lead to black women joining the war. They got jobs of perks, nurses, and operators. At home, women had to take over the jobs of the absent men in war and got jobs working on shipyards and factories making weapons and planes that were essential to their war. Not only did this set the groundwork for the post Civil Rights movement, but it welcomed inclusivity and unity of Black Americans. 

The success of the war due to the assistance of African Americans welcomed the Double V Campaign, holding the idea that they did not just beat racism overseas, but racism at home.  This campaign due to the help of African Americans helped allies win and laid groundwork fore change sin society.

Thurgood Marshall worked with the NAACP to fix the segregation in schools problem by suing Maryland for rejecting a student due to their race in the Pearson case. The case was won with a victory. Some more similar cases are Brown v Board, Morgan v Virginia, and Shelly v Kramer. 

Last Porgy and Bess was a broadway show that crushed the standards of the time that African Americans can not showcase special talents, as this was the first African American led opera. It showcased African Americans that had talents for singing. These African Americans broke the standards because the producers did not even want African Americans performing, but instead white people wearing black face. Even at times of segregation, these African Americans got up on stage and courageously put on a show that would be remembered. The African Americans were humanized in a way never done before because of this and it was the first time there was no segregation in theaters. 

America as it has developed since this time of Reconstruction would not be this way without the Reconstruction period. The good and the bad side effects of Reconstruction leave lasting effects that are still seen to this day. The bad could not have happened without the good and the good could not have happened without any bad. 

Brown vs. Board

    The Brown Vs. The Board of Education case originated from the two differing viewpoints on whether racial segregation in schools should be sanctioned as a societal standard. Using facts from this website we can conclude that based on society's norms, customs, and traditions, it should not even be able to be argued whether this societal norm should still be in place or not. 

Desegregationis a long procedure of people crossing their swords with the people who disagree with them to solve a problem that has been around for too long at this point. The norms seen with other cases fighting for desegregation of slavery have the pattern of contending against segregation in places such as restaurants and businesses. 

    Life for black Americans was exasperated by the Jim Crow Era. Some normal forms of segregation were separate facilities, limits for renting and buying accommodations, schools, and public transportation. 

    Starting with the norms to the contributions that African Americans presented to society were their service in war. African Americans have taken part in every single war that the United States has been involved with and held highly respected positions and jobs such as infantrymen, pilots, tankers, medics, and officers. They acted as huge contributions, as there were one million African Americans that helped participate in World War II, which makes up for ten percent of the total.     

    Some more norms were the work ethics of the African Americans, described in this article, and how they display strong motivation while working that is rooted from the effects of slavery. Regardless, over seventy five percent of African Americans had jobs such as janitors, porters, cooks, and machine operators. 

    The obvious norm that schools were segregated is a big issue that needs to be addressed. There were resource restrictions such as outdated textbooks, overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, less funding, and limited subjects available to be taught. 

    If schools were not segregated, African American children would be exposed to better resources which can cause outcomes of a brighter education and more options as they grow older. 

    Some regular customs at the Black schools were the discipline factor. Black teachers held their students to very high standards and expected excellence from all the students. This would mean the African American kids will know how to behave and respect the school's property if converted into a non-segregated schooling system. 

    Many African Americans were uneducated and illiterate. Many of them did not know how to read and write very well. On the opposing side, many white people and young children had enough knowledge to read and write. Forming a unity and letting black students share a school, classes, and education with white students, would solve this norm of why so many African Americans were illiterate. 

    We can see with examples such as James Weldon Johnson how important a good education is, especially for the less fortunate black community. With a good education offered by the white schools, African American students can grow and do great things with their skills for the world. 

    These African Americans have the capability of accomplishing great things, and integrating schools will give them the abilities to learn and break these norms, to form a union of this society for the better. 

    

    

    

    

In the Heat of the Night

     The Heat of the Night is a movie that exemplifies the racial segregation and tension in the American South during the time it was filmed. Eventually looking past racial injustice and forming an unexpected alliance, Chief Gillespie works with Detective Tibbs to solve a murder case of Mr. Colbert. 

    The relationship between Chief Gillespie and Detective Tibbs is difficult to understand, as it is clear that Chief Gillespie is as shocked as everyone else that he needs to rely on a colored person to solve a case that he should easily be able to solve himself. 

In the beginning of the film, at their first interaction, Chief Gillespie is planning on convicting detective Gibbs of being the murderer based off of what his partner claims is what happened. He did not even get a chance to talk to Gibbs or question him before convicting him of something as serious as murder. 

    Later on, after discovering who Gibbs really is, he changes his whole attitude about him. He is hesitant at first and rejects the idea that he actually needs Gibbs' help by acting as if he does not trust him with what he says. He looks at the situation with a passive aggressive mindset, acting like he does not trust Gibbs to his face, but behind his back, telling others things like to get Gibbs whatever he needs or making a decision just because Gibbs says to. 

    At the end of the film, their relationship could be viewed, if not friendly, at least civil with one another. Cheif Gillespie looked past societal norms and fell into the pressure of having to act right when it comes to interacting with someone of the opposite race.   

    This leaves me with a positive attitude at the end of the film because it gives a sense of hope that actions like this, a cohesive team of white and black workers, are some of the first steps seen at the beginning for the abolition of slavery. It gives me faith in humanity that not everyone will follow the societal bandwagon of treating people differently for no reason, especially the people that can help out society.  

    This movie exaggerates the "separate but equal" concept by forming a union of a white and black person to work as a team, something unheard of for the most part in the South during the time. Chief Gillespie helps highlight how colored African Americans can do beneficial things for society, by giving Tibbs a chance at solving a difficult case with him. 

    Women in the film are portrayed by two main women in the film, Mrs. Colbert and Delores Purdy. The way each is portrayed depends on their social status and affluence in society. 

    One of the two main women shown in the film is Mrs. Colbert and is the Wife of the deceased Mr. Colbert. She is portrayed as an authority figure, as she gets what she demands, which is justice for her dead husband. Chief Gillespie and Gibbs go through hoops to solve the perplexing mystery of the death of Mr. Colby to satisfy grieving Mrs. Colby. 

    The other woman figure in the film is Delores Purdy, who is a struggling-to-get by Mamma Caleba. She uses her flirtatious and promiscuous behavior to have a relationship with Officer Sam Wood. This interaction between the two of them raises suspicion in the investigation because Wood was with Purdy the night of the murder.

This evidence shows that women in this time were viewed differently based on their social status, defying the "separate but equal" saying. The more money and wealth the women have at this time, the more they are respected and listened to. 

    The pivotal point in the film is when Mr. Endicott is confronted by Chief Gillespie and Tibbs by showing up to his prospering plantation. The significance of Mr. Endicott crying after being approached by Tibbs is because it shows how established the social hierarchy at this time is. It is showing the vigorous disapproval of African Americans having any social status or rights at the time. 

    In this case, Mr. Endicott can not accept that African Americans can do great things for society, such as solving a murder case and they are the only ones making him wealthy, as he has a huge number of them working on his plantation.

    This film depicts somewhat the issues of abortion and the Dobbs case. Women have reproductive rights in the film, seen as Delores Purdy is able to get her way with pretty much any man she wants. 

    Superior white men in the film such as Sam Wood, Harvey Oberst, and Ralph Henshaw, display their rights throughout the film, but it comes to an extent to which white privilege can not save someone from murder. 

    Officer Sam Wood, despite working for the sheriff's office, is wrongly accused of the murder of Mr. Colbert. He gets convicted due to something as acute as his suspicious activity with Delores Purdy. That as well as being a lower social class citizen in society raise the suspicion, striking my opinion as not very privileged. 

    Harvey Oberst is a poor white man in the society who was convicted and arrested for having Mr. Colbert's wallet. This strikes me as not very privileged, but more privileged than Tibbs was at first from when he was convicted without evidence. Relating to Delores' situation, he is also not a well off person in society, so it is not surprising that he was convicted, having compelling evidence to lead to the conclusion that he is the one who committed the murder. 

    Ralph Henshaw is a blue collar worker whose social status does not save him from the sentence of being a murderer. 

    This shows that as white privilege exists in society, where social status also takes a toll on the privileges and power someone holds in the town.   

    This film demonstrates how Chief Gillespie and Detective Tibbs work together to crush the norms of racial segregation and push the limits on "separate but equal", by displaying characters that could be considered below or equal to Detective Tibbs.