This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"The Children's March" - Period 6
Today, you watched the film, The Children's March. Please post any thoughts you have about the film and comment on at least one other student's post.
19 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I was surprised to find out that children were responsible for much of the turn around in Birmingham, Alabama. I'd thought is was all adult activists like King behind the marches. The film showed me how violent the police where towards black children who were planing to parade peacefully. I also noticed how important the radio was in organizing this action.
I learned a lot from this movie that i didn't know about. I thought it was interesting that the KKK put their little babies in white cloaks. I agree with Evan how it was interesting that the children really had all the impact. They were the secret unexpected weapon. They got in jail, got out, and wanted to go right back in jail. Over 5,000 people got arrested, which was more than I thought. I never knew that President Kennedy said the photos made him sick. These kids, not even adults, help to legally end segregation. There is no way to official end racism because people will be racist.
I really enjoyed watching this video. I learned a lot about the Civil Rights Movement and the significant role that children played within it. I also thought that it was entertaining in the sense that the kids were so willing to go to jail for the sake of the Movement.
I did not know that 1963 was the lowest point for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, I strongly believe that the children made up for it. I completely agree that the children are the secret weapon. They are the "secret unexpected weapon" because they are the ones who will go through an act no matter the consequences because they have seen the despair that their parents and older generations have gone through. Even though most parents did not want their children to go to the marches, deep down, the parents hoped that they would go. Through non-violence and perseverance/patience, children achieved more in a few days than groups of adults have achieved over the course of centuries. I wish more children would turn out like the children that turned out for The Children's March in Birmingham.
The movie overall was very interesting and kept me focused. I thought that it was very interesting that the parents were so hesitant to let their children protest by going to jail, and what shocked me more is that the parents did not valunteer to go with their kids. I thought that many adults would join the children, but they did not.
It was also highly impressive how the children of small Birmingham, Alabama could easily prove to the entire United States of America that being segregated is just not right. Their actions even caught ahold of the president, who was the ultimate factor for stopping segregation. However, it was the thousands of children who protested by filling the jails who made a complete impact. I also agree with Marwa that the children were the ultimate "secret weapon". The children knew what was happening to their families and did not want it to continue when they grew up either, and they also knew there was one way to end it; and that was to take action.
One thing that really stuck with me from the movie was a scene in which there were white people protesting integration and there was a woman holding a sign that read "God demands segregation." This sort of phrase, using God's name to propagate a movement or condone an action has been used for numerous years to draw people. the interesting part about this is that one of the black children protesting stated a similar sentence in which she said that "God was on our [the protesters] side." Personally, I find these types of utterances extremely ignorant since they seem to change as time goes by; the even advocate the opposite of what the predecessors advocated. As a final note, I think that Caroline has said a very sad truth, that racism can never be fully extinguished.
This was a very interesting movie to watch, yet disturbing at the same time. The kids definitely played a major role, and like Caroline said they were the, "unexpected secret weapon". They were so determined to do this, that nothing could stop them; not even the water hoses nd the dogs. If it wasnt for them then they wouldnt have been able to make it, and finally end segregation. It was also disturbing to see how segregated the South was at the time, and openly looked down upon Blacks so much. I cant even imagine the pain, and torture they had to do go through before they were finally treated equal.
I learned a lot from this video. I, like most people who have posted, didn't know that children in Birmingham, Alabama played such a significant role in civil rights activism. They showed tremendous courage in the face of adversity and I am greatful for the lesson they taught to all of us in this country. I agree with Caroline and Ted that racism will never be extinguished but it is being subdued thanks to the efforts of people like the children in Birmingham.
this movie shows how important the youth of the world are to how it develops. None of this could be done if it were not for the children. That shows that the next generation is always a little more helpful than the last. This was a major step in the civil rights movement that could have never happened were it not for these young children standing up for what they believed in. I also agree with marwa that it is surprising that 1963 was a bad yeah for MLK, but the power of the children made up for his past losses in the civil rights movement.
I learned a lot about the civil rights movement that i did not previously know. For example i never heard about the children's march before the video. The idea of all these children standing up to segregation so that they would be equal is tremendous. The people were victims to segregation and the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson with the idea of seperate but equal. And this movement helped lead the way for Brown v. Topeka, Kansas Board of Education. The nonviolent movement helped show that African-Americans were not being treated equally to whites at all in the South and that there was a need for change.
I agree with Caroline that racism will never truly end. It is a extremely sad truth in life, people will always pick people out based on differences between one group of people and another. One common thing is color of their skin. Some people will always believe that whites are dominant to African-Americans despite what studies and amazing African-Americans do, some people will never learn and will always judge people before they get to actually meet them.
I obviously had an idea that violence took place in Birmingham, but seeing actual footage of the events was shocking. I never would have thought that firemen would have willingly hurt the children and that the policemen would just stand their and watch. Although they were undergoing violent oppression it was uplifting to see that they were able to come together as a united people and demonstrate their fight for equality. I also agree with Caroline that children were a key part in the success of the civil rights movement.
It is disturbing to see people so willingly hurt other people just for being a different skin color. Its wrong to see policemen and firemen, people whose jobs are to protect people, able to attack school children with fire hoses and dogs for trying to peacefully protest. No one was did anything for them to justify using such harsh measures. One thing that I thought was interesting was that one of the leaders of the movement, I think it was Bevel, came out to "Bull" Connor and suggested that everyone should take a lunch break because everyone was exhausted. Bull was the enemy of all of the blacks in Birmingham, and to see Bevel suggest that the everyone should take a break was uplifting. Like Evan I never knew that children played such an integral part in the civil rights movement until I saw this movie.
The main message which I got from watching this film is that a group of people, even a group of kids, can make a significant impact on society through action. I thought it was very interesting to see kids our age going through such hardship for something so much bigger than them. Additionally, I thought it was pretty cool to learn about the impact that kids had on the civil rights movement because most of the figures that we learn of were adults. In general, I think that this film really speaks to the power that any group of people can have if they act as one. I agree with Dave too in that it really was disturbing to see the people who are in society to protect us act so brutally towards these kids. I also think it's amazing that the people who acted so harshly went unpunished in a nation which prides itself on justice.
I really enjoyed "The Children's March" and thought that it was very moving. I think what made the movement in Birmingham, Alabama so amazingly great has to do a lot with what children represent. Children are the epitome of innocence and naivity. A young child doesn't judge and is untainted by the prejudices of the world. I think Seeing hundreds of thousands of children walking the streets, calling out for freedom, is such an unbelievably powerful statement because of this purity and innocense associated with children.
I could relate to Ilana's thoughts about the march. I was suprised that the parents did not join and walk with the kids.
I didn't know that children had such a big impact in the civil rights movement, especially in the hostile envirmoment of Birmingham. All you ever really hear about is the big ones like King and Malcolm. I agree with Evan's point about how it was very cool how they were communicating everything through the radio in code.
I was surprised like Evan, that children had such a huge impact on an important event in the civil rights struggle. The brutality of the police and white members of the city bothered me, because if you think about it, the civil rights struggle wasn't a long time ago.What was most inspiring about the movie was how the children of a community banded together, when the adults wouldn't and made a difference in not only their community, but in the United States
I saw this movie last year and really think it shows how people can make a difference in the world. Also, I believe the film is trying to prove that children shouldn't always be overlooked. I agree with everyone that the kids were the "secret weapon". Civil Rights leaders couldn't have predicted that the children would have one of the biggest impacts on the movement. Overall, I really enjoyed this film and believe it shows what people are able to achieve if they work together.
I think that its awesome that it was the African American youth that were responsible for the great spirit and protest in Birmingham, watching it gave me goosebumps and I think that its great that it was the youth that got up and stood for what they beleived in becuase they knew that they were the people that had to do what had to be done. I also agree with Brian "Honest" Gove who said that it took much courage for these kids to do what they did and that they should be conbsidered some of the most respectible people during the civil rights movement.
I think that its awesome that it was the African American youth that were responsible for the great spirit and protest in Birmingham, watching it gave me goosebumps and I think that its great that it was the youth that got up and stood for what they beleived in becuase they knew that they were the people that had to do what had to be done. I also agree with Brian "Honest" Gove who said that it took much courage for these kids to do what they did and that they should be conbsidered some of the most respectible people during the civil rights movement.
Today, you watched the film, The Children's March. Please post any thoughts you have about the film and comment on at least one other student's post.
19 comments:
I was surprised to find out that children were responsible for much of the turn around in Birmingham, Alabama. I'd thought is was all adult activists like King behind the marches. The film showed me how violent the police where towards black children who were planing to parade peacefully. I also noticed how important the radio was in organizing this action.
I learned a lot from this movie that i didn't know about. I thought it was interesting that the KKK put their little babies in white cloaks. I agree with Evan how it was interesting that the children really had all the impact. They were the secret unexpected weapon. They got in jail, got out, and wanted to go right back in jail. Over 5,000 people got arrested, which was more than I thought. I never knew that President Kennedy said the photos made him sick. These kids, not even adults, help to legally end segregation. There is no way to official end racism because people will be racist.
I really enjoyed watching this video. I learned a lot about the Civil Rights Movement and the significant role that children played within it. I also thought that it was entertaining in the sense that the kids were so willing to go to jail for the sake of the Movement.
I did not know that 1963 was the lowest point for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, I strongly believe that the children made up for it. I completely agree that the children are the secret weapon. They are the "secret unexpected weapon" because they are the ones who will go through an act no matter the consequences because they have seen the despair that their parents and older generations have gone through. Even though most parents did not want their children to go to the marches, deep down, the parents hoped that they would go. Through non-violence and perseverance/patience, children achieved more in a few days than groups of adults have achieved over the course of centuries. I wish more children would turn out like the children that turned out for The Children's March in Birmingham.
The movie overall was very interesting and kept me focused. I thought that it was very interesting that the parents were so hesitant to let their children protest by going to jail, and what shocked me more is that the parents did not valunteer to go with their kids. I thought that many adults would join the children, but they did not.
It was also highly impressive how the children of small Birmingham, Alabama could easily prove to the entire United States of America that being segregated is just not right. Their actions even caught ahold of the president, who was the ultimate factor for stopping segregation. However, it was the thousands of children who protested by filling the jails who made a complete impact. I also agree with Marwa that the children were the ultimate "secret weapon". The children knew what was happening to their families and did not want it to continue when they grew up either, and they also knew there was one way to end it; and that was to take action.
One thing that really stuck with me from the movie was a scene in which there were white people protesting integration and there was a woman holding a sign that read "God demands segregation." This sort of phrase, using God's name to propagate a movement or condone an action has been used for numerous years to draw people. the interesting part about this is that one of the black children protesting stated a similar sentence in which she said that "God was on our [the protesters] side." Personally, I find these types of utterances extremely ignorant since they seem to change as time goes by; the even advocate the opposite of what the predecessors advocated. As a final note, I think that Caroline has said a very sad truth, that racism can never be fully extinguished.
This was a very interesting movie to watch, yet disturbing at the same time. The kids definitely played a major role, and like Caroline said they were the, "unexpected secret weapon". They were so determined to do this, that nothing could stop them; not even the water hoses nd the dogs. If it wasnt for them then they wouldnt have been able to make it, and finally end segregation. It was also disturbing to see how segregated the South was at the time, and openly looked down upon Blacks so much. I cant even imagine the pain, and torture they had to do go through before they were finally treated equal.
I learned a lot from this video. I, like most people who have posted, didn't know that children in Birmingham, Alabama played such a significant role in civil rights activism. They showed tremendous courage in the face of adversity and I am greatful for the lesson they taught to all of us in this country. I agree with Caroline and Ted that racism will never be extinguished but it is being subdued thanks to the efforts of people like the children in Birmingham.
this movie shows how important the youth of the world are to how it develops. None of this could be done if it were not for the children. That shows that the next generation is always a little more helpful than the last. This was a major step in the civil rights movement that could have never happened were it not for these young children standing up for what they believed in. I also agree with marwa that it is surprising that 1963 was a bad yeah for MLK, but the power of the children made up for his past losses in the civil rights movement.
I learned a lot about the civil rights movement that i did not previously know. For example i never heard about the children's march before the video. The idea of all these children standing up to segregation so that they would be equal is tremendous. The people were victims to segregation and the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson with the idea of seperate but equal. And this movement helped lead the way for Brown v. Topeka, Kansas Board of Education. The nonviolent movement helped show that African-Americans were not being treated equally to whites at all in the South and that there was a need for change.
I agree with Caroline that racism will never truly end. It is a extremely sad truth in life, people will always pick people out based on differences between one group of people and another. One common thing is color of their skin. Some people will always believe that whites are dominant to African-Americans despite what studies and amazing African-Americans do, some people will never learn and will always judge people before they get to actually meet them.
I obviously had an idea that violence took place in Birmingham, but seeing actual footage of the events was shocking. I never would have thought that firemen would have willingly hurt the children and that the policemen would just stand their and watch. Although they were undergoing violent oppression it was uplifting to see that they were able to come together as a united people and demonstrate their fight for equality. I also agree with Caroline that children were a key part in the success of the civil rights movement.
It is disturbing to see people so willingly hurt other people just for being a different skin color. Its wrong to see policemen and firemen, people whose jobs are to protect people, able to attack school children with fire hoses and dogs for trying to peacefully protest. No one was did anything for them to justify using such harsh measures. One thing that I thought was interesting was that one of the leaders of the movement, I think it was Bevel, came out to "Bull" Connor and suggested that everyone should take a lunch break because everyone was exhausted. Bull was the enemy of all of the blacks in Birmingham, and to see Bevel suggest that the everyone should take a break was uplifting. Like Evan I never knew that children played such an integral part in the civil rights movement until I saw this movie.
The main message which I got from watching this film is that a group of people, even a group of kids, can make a significant impact on society through action. I thought it was very interesting to see kids our age going through such hardship for something so much bigger than them. Additionally, I thought it was pretty cool to learn about the impact that kids had on the civil rights movement because most of the figures that we learn of were adults. In general, I think that this film really speaks to the power that any group of people can have if they act as one. I agree with Dave too in that it really was disturbing to see the people who are in society to protect us act so brutally towards these kids. I also think it's amazing that the people who acted so harshly went unpunished in a nation which prides itself on justice.
I really enjoyed "The Children's March" and thought that it was very moving. I think what made the movement in Birmingham, Alabama so amazingly great has to do a lot with what children represent. Children are the epitome of innocence and naivity. A young child doesn't judge and is untainted by the prejudices of the world. I think Seeing hundreds of thousands of children walking the streets, calling out for freedom, is such an unbelievably powerful statement because of this purity and innocense associated with children.
I could relate to Ilana's thoughts about the march. I was suprised that the parents did not join and walk with the kids.
I didn't know that children had such a big impact in the civil rights movement, especially in the hostile envirmoment of Birmingham. All you ever really hear about is the big ones like King and Malcolm. I agree with Evan's point about how it was very cool how they were communicating everything through the radio in code.
I was surprised like Evan, that children had such a huge impact on an important event in the civil rights struggle. The brutality of the police and white members of the city bothered me, because if you think about it, the civil rights struggle wasn't a long time ago.What was most inspiring about the movie was how the children of a community banded together, when the adults wouldn't and made a difference in not only their community, but in the United States
I saw this movie last year and really think it shows how people can make a difference in the world. Also, I believe the film is trying to prove that children shouldn't always be overlooked. I agree with everyone that the kids were the "secret weapon". Civil Rights leaders couldn't have predicted that the children would have one of the biggest impacts on the movement. Overall, I really enjoyed this film and believe it shows what people are able to achieve if they work together.
I think that its awesome that it was the African American youth that were responsible for the great spirit and protest in Birmingham, watching it gave me goosebumps and I think that its great that it was the youth that got up and stood for what they beleived in becuase they knew that they were the people that had to do what had to be done. I also agree with Brian "Honest" Gove who said that it took much courage for these kids to do what they did and that they should be conbsidered some of the most respectible people during the civil rights movement.
I think that its awesome that it was the African American youth that were responsible for the great spirit and protest in Birmingham, watching it gave me goosebumps and I think that its great that it was the youth that got up and stood for what they beleived in becuase they knew that they were the people that had to do what had to be done. I also agree with Brian "Honest" Gove who said that it took much courage for these kids to do what they did and that they should be conbsidered some of the most respectible people during the civil rights movement.
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