Teaching the Civil Rights Movement

Reflection on Teaching Social Studies in Mississippi

            My opinion on the new requirement of teaching the Civil Rights Movement to all Mississippi students at least one semester is that it is a long awaited and much needed requirement. I think that the students today are in need of knowing about the difficulties that American’s have had to overcome or are overcoming. Our freedom and the freedom of all people, not just in America, but the world is a fundamental right in which our country is founded upon and in which our Constitution is built.

            How can our future adults be able to cope with the ever changing world in which we live in if they do not know the past or the way other people live? A great many of our students know nothing of communities, the laws governing the communities or other ways in which people live, govern, and believe. This failure to the students has handicapped them when it comes to global education. There are students in other countries who know more about the Civil Rights Movement then our own citizens do. The fact of the matter is there are countries who have been inspired to copy the U. S. and the movement that brought about this change.

            The civil rights movement is at the center of our countries history, especially for the last fifty years. So many of our students do not know what a difficult time this was and what actually went on before equal rights.  The mere fact that hundreds of people have lost their lives and so many more went through hardships and personal loss in order to bring equality to all races and genders is in itself a reason to include this subject. What a sad legacy we will leave to the next generation if we do not correct this omission. It will be one of ignorance and apathy about an important issue. The students of Mississippi will greatly benefit from the teaching of this issue. So much of Mississippi History has to do with integration and the process it involves.

An example of why this is important to me is one of my own. The library at the Elementary School in Bruce is a memorial to the once all black school. Hanging from the ceiling around the library are the graduation class pictures of the school dating up to integration. During one of my class periods, one little black student was looking at the pictures and asked my why there were not any white people in the pictures. I explained to him that at that time the white and black students went to different schools. We discussed this for a while and then he just said “uhh ok.” That was the response! Ok! I sat there and thought about how important this issue was and is and that this little child was not even interested in the fact that there used to be segregated schools. On one hand I felt that this was good in that the student could not imagine a school where black and white children did not attend together, yet on the other hand I was sad at the fact that Dr. King’s dream was being accomplished and this child did not know the history of the integration.

By insisting that the Civil Rights Movement be taught in our public schools the state is trying to correct the last few years of neglecting this issue. I think  that by educating our young people  about the past and segregation we can not only  teach them about an important event in  America’s past, but we  can try to make sure that it never happens again to any race or religion.

           

           

Freedom songs

Civil rights would have been won without the participation of blues, gospel, and folk singers and songwriters, but the participation of musicians and the effectiveness of sing-alongs certainly helped an incredible amount.

The songs on this list don't even begin to capture the hundreds of tunes that have been written about civil rights in America (and around the world), but if you're looking to learn more about music during the civil rights movement, this is a good primer for your journey. Some of these songs were adapted from old hymns. Others were originals. All of them have helped inspire millions.

1. "We Shall Overcome"

© Sony 1963

When "We Shall Overcome" (purchase/download) first came to the Highlander Folk School via the Food and Tobacco Workers Union in 1946, it was a spiritual titled "I'll Be Alright Someday." HFS Cultural Director Zilphia Horton - along with those workers - adapted it to the struggles of the labor movement at the time, and began using the new version - "We Will Overcome" - at every meeting. She taught it to Pete Seeger the following year. He changed the "will" to "shall" and took it around the world. It became considered the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, though, when Guy Carawan got folks singing it at a rally in South Carolina. It's since been sung around the world.

Deep in my heart, I do believe / We shall overcome some day

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2. "When Will We Be Paid For the Work We've Done?"

© Stax

This Staple Singers classic brings to light the entirety of African-American history until that point, including slavery, the construction of the railroads, and highways, and demands payment and reparations for the horrors and exploitation of the working class African Americans.

"We fought in your wars ... to keep this country free for women, children, man ... When will we be paid for the work we've done?"

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3. "Oh Freedom"

After reflection for EDCI 401 The Civil Rights Movement

After Reflection

     I was convinced when I wrote my before reflection that to mandate the Civil Rights Movement for a semester throughout Mississippi for grades k-12 was a wonderful idea. Now that we have had various assignments and a trip to the Civil Rights Museum to prepare us to teach this subject I am doubly convinced that this is not only a great idea, but a much needed area to include in the Mississippi curriculum.

     The Civil Rights Museum was one of the most interesting museums that I have been to in a while. I think that a field trip to this museum would be educational as well as an enjoyable one. By high school the students may have a general understanding of the Civil Rights Movement, but to see this place where Martin Luther King Jr.  was murdered and then the boarding house to get a view of the hotel from the angle of the shot coming from the gun of James Earl Ray is a part of the event that is not mentioned much neither is the conspiracy theory or the intricate details about how Ray managed to flee the country to England, and the following capture and extraditment which would be a good discussion and lesson

     I am also taking another course this term which is African American Women’s history. This class combined with EDCI 401 has given me such a boost in wanting to teach not only the Civil Rights Movement, but the entire plight of equal rights from the beginning of this country. How can we expect the students to have the responsibility of being good citizens when they have no idea what this privilege cost so many people.

     I found myself feeling very inadequate in my knowledge of the movement, but what disturbed me the most was my perspective of the period of time. By exploring this issue in class I have had my eyes opened to a completely different perspective. As educators we can present the Civil Rights Movement in a way that includes all children and all perspectives in a whole picture of the wrongs in the U.S. I said in my before reflection that if we do not understand the past how can we learn from those mistakes and not make them again. I stand on that still.

     To give students a bunch of facts and present them to the class and hope they learn it is so far from the way we should be teaching Social Studies. Through hands on projects and a learning environment that is exciting and fun we will be able to infuse this information into the student’s life instead of until the next test. Somehow we should take teaching of the Civil Rights Movement and Social Studies to the next level by allowing the students to prod and examine the information from a black, white, male, and female perspective in order to complete the entire picture. The days of cut and dry lessons are over and before us lies a new world in which a student is as much in charge of his/her learning as the teacher. We have too many resources in which to draw on to settle for a mediocre education.

interview number 2

·         1. What is your name? Gloria Bean

2. Where were you born? Bruce

3. Where did you grow up? Bruce

4. What were your parents names and occupations? Della Bean

5. Do you have any siblings? Yes, one sister and one brother.

6. What was your life like growing up as a black girl in Bruce? It was good. I was picked on because I was skinny. I can’t think of anything different. We just went to school and came home and Granny would have us a big supper ready to eat. You know Nancy I never had to cook and still don’t. Maybe that is why I am still so skinny! Haha.

7. Did you ever encounter racism? Explain? Hell yeah! Right now I am. They don’t treat me as well at the school as they do the white aides. They come and go and no one says anything. My white teacher doesn’t have to do what they pay her to do and no one says a word. I am in there getting paid 14,000 a year and I’m doing all the work!

8. Do you think this treatment is because you are black or because you are uncertified? Both! I guess mostly because I’m uncertified. I just get tired of working and fighting to raise my kids alone and I look at those white women complaining about how hard life is and they just don’t have any idea.

9. What would you like to tell these women? I’d like to tell them to shut the hell up! What difference does it makes if your husband is mad at you, or you can’t go on a vacation this summer. Hell I never get to go on a vacation. I have to do everything myself.  Every month I cry because I don’t know if there will be enough money to pay the bills. Praise the Lord there always is, but it isn’t easy.

10. What did your parents tell you or instill in you regarding being a woman, specifically a black woman? My Grandmother told me I was just as good as anyone and certainly better than any man. Men don’t have a good name with my family. They were never around. My grandmother is very strong and she just sort of showed me how a woman was to be. She taught me how to love God. She told me to be a good person and love God

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11. Did you attend school? Yes or No, why or why not?  Yes I went to school here in Bruce and I lack one semester having my degree in Education. I was going to Blue Mountain and they didn’t seem to want to help me. I think it was because I am black. You know it’s a Baptist school and they have to let some of us in, but they don’t go out of their way to help us. I did not like it. There were too many snooty folk.

12. Did you have any children? Yes. I have three daughters. They drive me nuts. No one messes with them though. The teachers at the school know I won’t put up with it. I never have been married. The girls go to see their fathers some but he is remarried and has another family. He pays child support and helps  out a little with the extras.

13. Ask them about their adult life and what it was like living as a black woman? I like being a black woman! I’m proud of my race and think I’m very pretty. I’m getting old though! Haha I think times are hard for any woman especially when they are raising children on their own.

14. I have a lot of friends. Most of them are black women and men. I am active in church so most of my friends are there or family. I have white friends. You know Nancy, your one of them. We have had a few sparks between the two of us but have worked them out. We really are friends. I know I can count on you. Some of my friends, both black and white I can’t count on. There are a few women at work that I think feel they are better than me, but I don’t know if it’s because I black or not.

15. What type of relationship do you have with black men? Whoo they love me (laughing) I haven’t found one that I want to live with though. They are fine for a good time, but I don’t want anyone telling me what to do. I guess I want to control things. I never had a man in the house except my brother. Just don’t know. I see so much abuse. I won’t let a man lay a hand on me! I would have to kill him.

16. What do you think about people dating outside of their race? Black men marrying white women and black women marrying white men?  I don’t have any problem with mixed marriages. I like my men black, but I have had a few white men in my time. They all end up the same. No good. They are good for a good time, but when things get bad they leave. I think that women are just as bad these days. No one seems to put the children first. It bad!

17. What issues do you think most affect black Americans today? I think we need to work on a better school system. Here at Bruce they keep cutting education an our children are missing out. At Coffeeville they had money and spent it on the children. There were afternoon programs and summer programs. Here they just run the streets and get into trouble.

first interview

·         1. What is your name? Rhonda T. Owens

2. Where were you born? Bruce Ms.

3. Where did you grow up? Bruce Ms.  

  

4. What were your parents names and occupations? My Mothers name is Doris

5. Do you have any siblings? Yes or No, names? Yes I have four sisters and two brothers. I also have a lot of nieces and nephews that I am close to. We were all raised up together.

6. What was your life like growing up as a black girl in Bruce? Well I have nothing to compare it to. My Mother and Grandmother were strict and we had chores to do.  We had to go to school. Education was important to my Mom. We played and I was active in the school band and I was one of the first black cheerleaders.

7. Did you ever encounter racism? Explain? Maybe. I don’t think so. I know a lot of my relatives say they did, but I just sort of took over and felt that if I didn’t think there was a difference there wouldn’t be. When I moved up North I saw more discrimination then here in Bruce. I had bosses that made a difference between me and some white man or women, but not many and I usually put a stop to it myself. After they knew I wouldn’t stand for any of that mess we were good.

8. What privileges or setbacks do you feel that you experienced growing up a black female in the North/South? I had the same as anyone. I could go to school, college I just didn’t. I got married and moved up North, got a job, had some kids and then divorced and moved back home.

9. What, if anything, do you remember your parents telling you about race? My Mom and Grandmother felt that we were all God’s children and we were just as good as any white person. We had some white friends and they were welcome to come to my house and I went to theirs. Not much there wasn’t much time. We centered our social lives around school.

10. What did your parents tell you or instill in you regarding being a woman, specifically a black woman? That I was beautiful and just as good as anyone. I didn’t have to take no mess out of any man. No one had a right to touch me or hurt me.

11. Did you attend school? Yes or No, why or why not? Yes I graduated High School and have two years of college.

12. Talk a little bit about those days...I was one of the first black cheerleaders. We were all friends and had a lot of fun. When I went to college the same. I just had a good time and so did everyone else. The racial thing was just over. Yea some folks may have had a problem, but I didn’t.

13. What was it like in school for you as a black female? It was good. I had my choice of boyfriends. I was a good student and the teachers liked me. It was a good experience.

14. Did you graduate and attend college? Yes and I have some college. I was going to go back to school to become a teacher, but with the teacher lay-offs I changed my mind. I may go back sometime, but not now.

15. Did you get married? I got married. Lived with him for five years before I married him. Things were good until we got married. After we married he started drinking a lot more and running around on me. I made sure everything was in my name though and when I kicked him out he had nothing. I lived in the house for a while, and then I came back to Bruce. That man died about four years ago. I didn’t go to the funeral. I don’t think I’ll ever get married again. I have had my chances, but I like my independence. I just don’t like being told what to do.

16. Did you have any children? I have three daughters. One set of twins. They are really something. My first daughter was born when I was barely twenty. I wasn’t married. The twins were born up North and I was married. I wouldn’t change anything. Didn’t need their Daddies. I made it on my own. My oldest girl had two boys without a Daddy. She doesn’t want to support that man. He doesn’t come around much to see the boys anyway.

17. I have worked in different jobs. I was the night manager in a Department store up North. Here in Bruce I’m a Teacher’s aide. I really love it. Those kids just get to me. I don’t give them much slack and they know I won’t take any of their mess, I’ll go tell their parents and grandparents. They don’t mess with me much.  We love each other though. I really love my job. Doesn’t pay much, but I do ok.

18. I don’t know what to say about being a black woman. That is who I am. I don’t have anything to compare it with. I like me and if anyone doesn’t like me too bad. I don’t take much off of anyone so they learn early to take me as I am. I don’t pay any attention to the race thing. I go to church and Jesus tells us to love everyone and so I do. I have always had white friends and they treat me the same. What do you think Nancy? Do you see me as a black women or just Rhonda? (my answer Rhonda)

19.  What type of relationship do you have with black men? I’ve always had a lot of men to choose from. White men and black men. I have a man in prison that I like a lot. He wants to marry me when he gets out. Don’t want any dead beats. I am not going to work my butt off for no man. My ex-husband, like I said, was good to me until I married him. It was like the paper made a difference to him. He began to take me for granted. We were friends when he died,  but I don’t really miss him.

20. What do you think is the role of both black men and women in relationships and inside of the home should be? I come from a home where my Mother and Grandmother ruled. The men were in the distance. For me I don’t need a man. I think that if I were younger and thought there was a good man around I would want one. There are so many men on drugs and liquor. Don’t see many men having anything much to do with their children. I don’t see anything much different with the white family. It seems that they are both going to hell! So many of my students are hurting because of their family life. Deadbeat Dads and Moms too. They either think that their children can’t do any wrong or they just don’t give a damn.

21. What do you think about people dating outside of their race? Black men marrying white women and black women marrying white men? It doesn’t bother me. This is 2011! Who gives a damn? If you find happiness then that is all that matters. There are so many mixed families now that the children don’t suffer as much as they used to.

22. What issues do you think most affect black Americans today? The economy and jobs. If we don’t get a handle on this issue we are going to be in worse trouble than we already are. I don’t see  any difference with the hiring of blacks and whites in the job market. It’s the same to me. I know whites who pick up garbage and I know blacks who are Doctors.

A Rising in the Sun

It was such an interesting thing that happened to me today. I had been thinking about this movie and then while I was working on my exam it came on. All of the issues that we have discussed in class were right there in the movie. Everything from the way a man felt about women to how they felt about being a man. The Grandmother and her power, the way the father had dreams and wanted to see them come true in his children. Hope, love, tenderness, and bitterness. All of these were in this movie. One of the best movie ever made.

lively class discussion

Yesterday in class we had one of the best discussions about why black men dated or married white women instead of black women. There were different opinions about why, but the most interesting to me was when one of the young men spoke. He said that when he began to disagree with the women's reason they ganged up on him and got loud.  He spoke about how black women seemed to not want to be wrong or questioned about their opinion. I think that there were a lot of feelings that came out and that is a good thing.