Yesterday, we learned about Marcus Garvey, a radical advocate for black rights. Garvey came from Jamaica to New York City. He gathered African American followers and worked to send them back to Africa, their "motherland." He believed in racial separation so African Americans could reach their full potential. He was later arrested for fraud and was disliked by many other civil rights figures. I found it interesting that Garvey moved to New York City, which a cultural center for African Americans during the "Harlem Renaissance." He must have found a larger audience in that area.
Today, we read poems by Langston Hughes, a poet during the time of cultural development for African Americans. He believed that African Americans should move away from the South to the North and West where they would have a better chance at becoming part of white society. This movement was known as The Great Migration, bringing many new people to Northern cities. We then listened to music from the "Harlem Renaissance" period. It was interesting to learn about the movement of African Americans allowed them to create a time of rich culture that would last into the modern day.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Class Update: 2/25 & 2/26
Yesterday, we missed the majority of class due to an assembly called "I Am Dirt." The performance was both entertaining and motivational. After returning to class, we discussed our reactions to the assembly and identified the truths of what the performer said and did. We learned that the ideas of prejudice addressed in the assembly will be the basis for our next unit.
Today, we started a new unit on Civil Rights. We read documents by Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois (both African Americans) and completed graphic organizers for each document. Washington believed that black people should not strive for higher social statuses yet. They should work their way up from manual labor jobs to eventually earn respect. DuBois opposed Washington and started the Niagra Movement, advocating for immediate rights through legal cases. Though not always supported, I believe Washington's beliefs are accurate. Even today, African American people are often made to prove their worth and intelligence, though they should be equals to white people. This shows the problem with Washington's plan - it would take too long for black people to work their way through social levels. I believe DuBois has a better approach. I hope his plans were more effective than Washington's plans.
Today, we started a new unit on Civil Rights. We read documents by Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois (both African Americans) and completed graphic organizers for each document. Washington believed that black people should not strive for higher social statuses yet. They should work their way up from manual labor jobs to eventually earn respect. DuBois opposed Washington and started the Niagra Movement, advocating for immediate rights through legal cases. Though not always supported, I believe Washington's beliefs are accurate. Even today, African American people are often made to prove their worth and intelligence, though they should be equals to white people. This shows the problem with Washington's plan - it would take too long for black people to work their way through social levels. I believe DuBois has a better approach. I hope his plans were more effective than Washington's plans.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Class Update: 2/14 & 2/15
Yesterday, we recorded the drawings on the whiteboard for the RSA on Reconstruction. It was difficult to make the drawings perfect for the video, but it was rewarding to see the final product.
Today, we recorded the scripts. I was pleased with the outcome of our script, but I would make the script shorter in the future.
It will be exciting to see the completed RSAs after vacation! I think this was an effective way to demonstrate and apply our knowledge of Reconstruction. I enjoy using technology in the classroom for activities like this one.
Today, we recorded the scripts. I was pleased with the outcome of our script, but I would make the script shorter in the future.
It will be exciting to see the completed RSAs after vacation! I think this was an effective way to demonstrate and apply our knowledge of Reconstruction. I enjoy using technology in the classroom for activities like this one.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Class Update: 2/11& 2/12
Yesterday, we did not have class due to a snow day.
Today, we had a dress rehearsal for our RSA project. The project shares the steps of Reconstruction after the Civil War and ultimately communicates whether or not Reconstruction was successful. We present these steps by drawing a diagram with pictures on the whiteboard then creating a voice-over to describe the drawings. My group is prepared to film on Thursday. The RSA is a creative way to apply our knowledge from the Reconstruction unit.
Today, we had a dress rehearsal for our RSA project. The project shares the steps of Reconstruction after the Civil War and ultimately communicates whether or not Reconstruction was successful. We present these steps by drawing a diagram with pictures on the whiteboard then creating a voice-over to describe the drawings. My group is prepared to film on Thursday. The RSA is a creative way to apply our knowledge from the Reconstruction unit.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Class Update: 2/6 & 2/7
We have been finishing the unit on Reconstruction over the past two days. Yesterday, we watched a video on Jim Crow Laws. They came about with the creation of a character that portrayed freed slaves in a negative manner to entertain white people. The concept made white people afraid of the freed slaves. In response, they created the Jim Crow Laws to threaten the rights and power of the freed men and women. This was able to occur because Lincoln was assassinated and the Civil Rights Act of 1875 had been declared unconstitutional. Public places like schools and restrooms became segregated. Laws based on ancestry, reading skills, and taxes were passed concerning voting, and often prevented freed slaves from voting. The white people in the South aimed to take power and freedoms away from these people.
Today, we learned about sharecropping. It was the new technique for farming, in which sharecroppers rented land from a planter. They would cultivate the land, then receive some of the profit. The problem was, many sharecroppers owed money to their planters. They could not make a profit or leave the farm until this debt was paid. The sharecroppers had to work under harsh, unfair conditions. In these ways, sharecroppers were almost like slaves. Maybe white people tried to reduce freed slaves to servitude again because they were afraid of losing money and status. Slaves helped many white Southerners to earn a living, but they were now left without any assistance. Though freed slaves legally had many freedoms, white people would selfishly do anything in their power to deny them their rights.
Today, we learned about sharecropping. It was the new technique for farming, in which sharecroppers rented land from a planter. They would cultivate the land, then receive some of the profit. The problem was, many sharecroppers owed money to their planters. They could not make a profit or leave the farm until this debt was paid. The sharecroppers had to work under harsh, unfair conditions. In these ways, sharecroppers were almost like slaves. Maybe white people tried to reduce freed slaves to servitude again because they were afraid of losing money and status. Slaves helped many white Southerners to earn a living, but they were now left without any assistance. Though freed slaves legally had many freedoms, white people would selfishly do anything in their power to deny them their rights.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Class Update: 2/4 & 2/5
Yesterday, we took notes about the end of the war. African Americans had many legal freedoms, including the right to vote given through the Fifteenth Amendment. The response of white people to these freedoms was not positive. The Ku Klux Klan was formed to terrorize African Americans and black and white people were segregated in many situations. The Enforcement Act of 1870 prevented this torture, but the law was hard to enforce, so the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was passed. The act was made to give African Americans equal rights in public places like theaters and restaurants. Some people thought this idea was unconstitutional because the laws paid extra attention to African Americans and set them apart from other people in rights. I think this law would be hard to enforce because so many businesses and people were opposed to the law, and would continue to act against it.
Today, we discussed what it means to be equal. We came up with words like "the same" and "identical." We decided in some situations, equality was crucial, like giving a man and a woman the same opportunity to apply for a job. In other situations, like medical treatments, equality would be unreasonable. In a legal case, Plessy v. Ferguson, the idea of "separate but equal" was challenged. Plessy had tried to act against segregation in train cars, even though the conditions of each car were "equal." The case was lost in all levels of the court. I do not believe in "separate but equal" because there will always be different events and opportunities in different places. If both are "equal," then it should not matter where one person wants to go. This topic brings up many questions over beliefs and morals.
Today, we discussed what it means to be equal. We came up with words like "the same" and "identical." We decided in some situations, equality was crucial, like giving a man and a woman the same opportunity to apply for a job. In other situations, like medical treatments, equality would be unreasonable. In a legal case, Plessy v. Ferguson, the idea of "separate but equal" was challenged. Plessy had tried to act against segregation in train cars, even though the conditions of each car were "equal." The case was lost in all levels of the court. I do not believe in "separate but equal" because there will always be different events and opportunities in different places. If both are "equal," then it should not matter where one person wants to go. This topic brings up many questions over beliefs and morals.
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