In "Teen Freedom Fighters," we read a fictional account of freedom fighters that was based upon true events. We discussed the big question: Why did people risk their lives protesting for the right to vote?
Here is the SLIDE SHOW we watched in class, which shows the heavy price paid. Please view it perhaps with your parent/grandparent. advertising on the side can be hidden by "pulling" the right hand side over.
So, What obstacles were put in place to stop Black Americans from equal rights, such as voting and attending better schools? What character traits does it take to overcome? Please use the space below to respond to these question.
Please use full sentences (2+)
At that time African Americans were not free. I think that they believed that changing the rules of voting would show that really the whole deal with separation between them and the white was unfair and illogical.
ReplyDeleteYou would need A lot of courage, and bravery. African Americans were spat at beat and just plainly,
ReplyDelete"unliked" by many other people.
Two obstacles were making African Americans take an almost imposible test to be able to vote, and putting African Americans who peacefully protested in jail. They must of had alot of courage and gut.
ReplyDeleteAfrican Americans had obstacles like they couldn't vote as easily as white people,the couldn't sit where they wanted on the bus, they were beat up,sprayed with really powerful water,and they couldn't even be in the same restaurant as white people.It took a lot of bravery and courage to get over all that.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa
What obstacles were put in place to stop Black Americans from equal rights?
ReplyDeleteThey weren’t allowed to eat at the same restaurants or use the same bathrooms. They weren’t even allowed to buy soda from the same vending machine.
What character traits does it take to overcome?
Blacks had to be fearless and very courageous. They also had to be peaceful. Those who followed Dr. King were peaceful. They followed his rule about not being violent.
Blacks also had to believe that they could win. At first, not many people supported the desegregation movement. But those who believed were able to gather more supporters until the entire country was involved.
People should be treated the same; whether it comes to ethnicity, social status, money,etc. What's the point of living in a world where you're hated, have no freedom, and treated like an outcast?
ReplyDelete"Give me liberty or give me death!"
If you don't even have the liberty to walk around in a "FREE" country, honestly, what's the point, unless you're going to make a difference?
People who weren't white were spat upon, laughed at, called horrible names, treated poorly and unimaginably unacceptably, and were enslaved.
But the Perseverance of those who knew how to determine the difference between right and wrong is what made America a true "FREE" country. The men, women, elders, and children who peacefully protested were determined and had to have faith in God, themselves, and the other peaceful protesters. When trouble occurred, they all banded together, and didn't back down or flee.
"When going gets tough, the tough gets going."
The people didn't run away from the battle because nothing would have changed. They knew that if the world was really going to change, they had to keep going.
A spark can turn into a fire, and that's exactly what happened. Those same determined fighters are how America became what it is today, free...
People all the way down to Abraham Lincoln (yes I looked it up) did not think that whites and blacks were completely equal. They thought they were different just because they were a little darker. To me, that is one of the WORST excuses to use to completely enslave and segregate people like you and me. They did nothing wrong. They did not spray fire hoses, use mean dogs, or bomb buildings to get free. Because then it would not have worked. Violence is not the answer. What happened to them was similar to the Holocaust. Only this time, the separation lasted since the beginning of our nation, and it didn't ends until centuries later. The African Americans knew that fighting would only end with fighting for years to come. When they did nothing violently, just peacefully, they showed that they were the larger person. I am inspired.
ReplyDelete-Kacey
I am also sorry for using the word black. I meant african american.
Delete-Kacey
It is really sad that humans treated other humans like this. But some obsticals blacks faced that on the bridge the got hurt really badly but they didnt fight back. The blacks perservered by crossing the bridge again and making it to Montgomery.
ReplyDelete(forgive me for using the term "blacks")
-Michael
okay i cant correct my mistake but in your mind replace blacks with african americans.
DeleteSOOOOOOOO Sorry for using term "black"
SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY!!!!
michael
What obstacles were put in place to stop Black Americans from equal rights, such as voting and attending better schools?
ReplyDeleteWell, for voting, there was a special form needed to fill out and a test, only for African Americans. Whereas for schools, some schools were white-only and didn't all Africans to attend them- just because of their color. Also, it seemed like they couldn't share ANYTHING with whites, or other races..for example, there were two water fountains- the taller one for white people, while the shorter fountain was for black people. Also, in restaurants, most of them were white people only- black people couldn't go in and eat, like they can now. Another example was riding the bus-- sometimes, they couldn't ride the bus, and other times, they were forced to give up their seats to more "respected people" (at that time, of course, everyone is equally respected now). So it wasn't fair back then, and things have changed a lot.
What character traits does it take to overcome?
Well, bravery is definitely needed when dealing with harsh circumstances like these. Some people will tremble easily while faced with the fear of going to jail, but you can't tremble-- you must be brave, and stand your ground. Additionally, it will take the urge to control yourself. Even when you want to fight, you must hold back and be peaceful, just like Mr. King and his followers. Violence isn't the answer sometimes. Self-control is very important. Also, you must believe in yourself- have confidence, even when things aren't going well. Wit is another useful trait. You must be sensible-- even if you are a good fighter, you have to have a plan, verbally AND physically. For examples, in wars, it's partly the good soldiers that helps a country win the battle, but also it will take strategy. African Americans were very courageous in their fight for freedom.
~Joy
WOW and I agree!
DeleteThey were beaten, tear gas was fired at them,and were spread with fire hoses.
ReplyDeleteWell, you need so much courage and bravery to with stand ever thing that happened.
It would take courage,bravery,and passion to be an African American able to stand up to so many whites that were against you. African Americans were beaten, laughed at, spit at, called names, etc. and all because of the color of their skin. Its hard to believe that so many African Americans were so plainly disliked by others. It was so sad :(
ReplyDeleteThe obstacles that tried to stop the African Americans from various things were being sprayed with water from the fire hose and tear gas, and being beat, but also avoiding them. Last year I watched this little movie thing about this girl named Rosie (I think that's her name.) who was let into an all white school, and each morning when she walked into the school, there were people yelling rude things about her and saying she's not welcome. Each time she entered, she held her father's hand to be safe, and he said to her, "Don't look back." I think the traits it takes to overcome all this is perseverance, and fairness. They also were very brave, walking across the bridge in Montgomery. The African Americans didn't want to be seen as violent people (anyway they weren't.), and they wanted to take their stand in the nonviolent, peaceful way.
ReplyDeleteWhat obstacles were put in place to stop Black Americans from equal rights, such as voting and attending better schools?
ReplyDeleteAfrican American couldn't do anything white people did back then. They couldn't drink water from the same water fountain that white children drank from. When riding a bus, they had to sit at the back and if there were not enough seat for a white person, a African American had to give up their own seat because of their skin color.
Also, they were spread with water just to get equal rights and tear gas fired at them just for a protest march. They were spit at, beaten, etc. Many bad things happened to them just because of their skin color.
What character traits does it take to overcome?
It takes bravery and courage to overcome all the things that happened to them. For example, when they were given a warning to turn back and stop marching. They didn't stop and stood there bravely even though they were afraid.
Two of the many obstacles that African Americans faced were the insane test that they were forced to do. As well as the armed policemen and firemen. The protesters must have been brave and courageous to stand up for their rights so freely.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been hard for African Americans to deal with being treated like nothing it had to take bravery , courage, and perseverance. There were many obstacles such as spitting, beatings, separation, and unfairness so remember we have it easy.
ReplyDeleteThe obstacles that got in the way of African Americans were the whites. They beat the African Americans badly. The African Americans had to have courage and bravery if they wanted equal rights
ReplyDeleteThe obstacles for Black Americans were mostly the officers. The officers had tear gas and other weapons. The poll tax is what stopped Black Americans from voting. Black Americans couldn't attend better schools because some schools were for White Americans and the others were for Black Americans.
ReplyDeleteBlack Americans had A LOT of perseverance, bravery, and courage to overcome the protests they had for their freedom.
There were TONS of obstacles that African Americans had to face. They were treated TOTALLY UNFAIRLY! They were teased, spat at, bullied, pushed around, beaten, cut, bruised and bashed. Their houses were bombed, their churches and cars were vandalised, their workplaces were corrupted, their children went to school merely to be tormented by the 'white kids'. They couldn't go to the same restaraunts as others, they couldn't go to the same theater, church, even school. They were treated like dirt, just because they were the same color. If I were in that position I would have to mature myself much more than I currently am, because as I mentioned earlier in class today, I must admit that I would simply not have the self discipline to stay peaceful. But after all that, most of them were able to stay peaceful. True, there were some that strayed as I would and became violent, but that was not the reason that the African Americans won. They did the right thing and became the bigger man/woman because of it. To me, that would take a great deal of bravery, passion, self-discipline, rightiousness, and overall, the courage to do the right thing. The courage to stand up for what is right. The courage to define this great country that is America onto the basis that the history books say it was founded opon.
ReplyDeleteFor hundreds of years, people have come to America because everyone is said to be free. Women and girls can dress how they want and go to school. African Americans, Asian Americans, Indian Americans, Mexican Americans, gays, lesbians and frankly anyone should be able to do what most of us take for granted everyday. Anyone should be able to dress how they like, go to a good school, live in a good house in a nice place, get married to WHOMEVER we like, and have a family. People should be able to be free. At the cover of the magazine, I recall it asking if you would give your life to help people that otherwise might not even concern you.
I would.
Would you?
Wow. that is way longer than i thought it was. 0:
DeleteThe obstacles put in place to stop African Americans from voting were poll taxes, difficult tests, and abuse, verbal and physical. To overcome these obstacles, it takes extreme bravery, self control (holding up a sign instead of defending yourself against an abuser).Like Zoe said, I doubt I could stop myself from fighting back, I would like to say I could, but I have never been put in a situation even close to that much abuse (and hope I never will be)so I have no idea how I would react.
ReplyDelete-Malcolm
African Americans had to face many challenges. For example, they couldn't vote. In extreme cases fire hoses, or even tear gas was fired at them. They were also discriminated in the sense that they couldn't use ordinary things like a public bathroom or a drinking fountain, when whites could. They were also beaten, shot and trampled, to name a few. It would have taken a lot of nerve to go on a protest like that, knowing that the end of your life could be coming very soon. (maybe over-exagurating a bit?). Like I said in class, it reminds me of watching all the men getting ready to jump on D-Day. Trying to be happy, lighten the mood a bit. It takes a lot of courage, bravery, and also determination, because there is a point in the play, where Lynda, (I think that's her name) is about ready to give up. And as far as not fighting back, well I'd almost be willing to bet I would, just because I get sensitive, which leads to being defensive(physically, if needed). Also, what officers and whites were doing was just unfair ,and biased in a way, (but don't get me started on fairness nowadays).
ReplyDeleteThe African Americans couldn't place their vote in because they had to take this impossible to answer test. The unfair part about it was that white Americans didn't have to take this quiz. In the 1960s, there was terrible segregation and African Americans didn't have equal rights. They had to drink from bad water fountians and go to different schools. If an African American tried to get into a school, there would be guards making sure only white Americans would be let through as shown in the powerpoint. If the African Americans would try to reach Montgomery, obstacles would be in their way. There were sheriffs they would have to face. It is unbareable to hear what the sheriffs would do to them. "Why would they risk their lives for what they deserve?" I just answered my own question.
ReplyDelete"They DESERVED it." The African Americans had courage to go out risking their lives for their future.
Obstacles that were put in the African American's place were them trying to vote. Whites' didn't want them to have equal rights. Some Whites' would do anything to make them not vote. African Americans had the courage and took responsibility for themselves. They were risking their lives for equality.
ReplyDeleteThe obstacles that they had to overcome were ones not easily overcome such as the government and police force are not obstacles that are passed easily. The way they overcome these obstacles was their will to be equal, they wished to be able to be live their life to its full extent in America and be treated equally as all the other citizens of America.
ReplyDelete