Thursday, February 25, 2010

PERIOD 2 - "JIM CROW"

You watched the documentary "Jim Crow" in class. Please answer the handout questions in your post.

29 comments:

Jon Rohald said...

The things that stood out for me the most after watching the Jim Crow film were the audiences laughing at the actual minstrelry show and the KKK parade. They stuck out to me because it showed the mass acceptance of blatant racism in our country. I identified most with Booker T. Washington because I share his belief of giving power through education. I had the most difficulty relating to the Mississippi governor who made the black codes because in my own mind, it is astonishing to me that people would consider others inferior based solely on race, and deny them basic rights. The main feeling the film gave to me was pity for the African Americans living in that time because they were so oppressed and denied of rights that are so basic that at the time they had no real viable way of fighting back.

Ryan Santom said...

i wasent here for the class so i coudent answer this question because was at a meeting.

sara ortiz colon said...

I watched the beinning of this film but didnt finish it. Because i was in a meeting but something that cought my attention was how at the time lincoln was the president and if he wasnt rascist he would of stopt the slavery.

haemin said...

I found this movie interesting. As i recalled past history about Jim Crow and Grant. However what really stood out for me were the clips of the nine african american students heading to school and how there were thousands of soldiers there to help them enter the school.

Rachel Saltzman said...

The thing that stood out to me the most was the footage of the KKK members in uniform marching in front of the White House and in numerous cities. It puzzles me to think that groups like the KKK were so successful and mainstream in America at the time. I honestly could not identify much with anyone in the film, but I agree with jon/sanjiv about Washington because he was forward-thinking and tried to improve the situation for the African-Americans. I couldn't at all relate to the KKK members or the freed slaves because I have no idea what that must have felt like. Overall,this film reinforced the whole idea of white supremacy that was so prevalent at the time.

Tom O'Connor said...

Like John, the main thing that stood out for me were the audiences reactions. It was unreal how much the accepted the racism and it was hard for me to witness this. I am also going to have to agree with many of the people above who say they identified most with Booker T. Washington. His main goal was to gain power through education which was what the Blacks needed at the time. It was difficult for me to relate to many people in the film such as all of the audiences, and the KKK members. For me, this film just opened my eyes even more to the cruelty of racism.

Emily Madson said...

The thing that stood out the most to me was that blacks were able to persevere through all of this and even when things were really bad they were able to find something good to hold onto. In the movie there was no one I could really relate to. I’ve never been in an extreme situation like that and I can hardly imagine the hurt and fear the black people were feeling or the mass irrational hatred the whites were feeling. If I had to chose someone who I least relate to it would be the whites. I could never imagine myself hating such a large group a because of how they look. The main feeling I felt after the movie was disgust at how the blacks were treated and that so few white people tried to stop it and instead just went along with it.

Kelly Reilly said...

It stood out greatly in my opinion that the people were so willing and inclined to disregard the laws passed that forced the emancipation of slaves. I found that I really could not identify with anyone in the film, because I don't understand the feelings of those who perpetrated the racist acts, nor do I understand the violence, prejudice, and denial of rights that the former slaves suffered. I similarly think it would be difficult to identify with both the extreme racists, like the KKK, and the slaves who were forced to suffer such unfortunate events. Though I had seen and learned of these events before, the image of the slave who had been whipped repeatedly was very unsettling, because the violence and strength of racisim of the time was so prominent.

Andrew La Belle said...

The most interesting thing that I saw was how public schooling in Boston was not integrated as smoothly as I thought it was. From the little bit that we saw it was apparent that it was on the same level as that of the of desegregation in Little Rock. Its almost hard to imagine that something like that happened so close to home, not to long ago.

Zach Yanoff said...

The biggest thing that caught my attention during the video was how the KKK marched in Dc so openly. It was amazing how it showed how accepting the citizens were of racism at the time. It was also amazing at how people hated African Americans based on their race and nothing else. I couldn't really relate to anyone in the film but the film did open my eyes to how cruel people really were to African Americans.

Mariane Leite said...

The unreasonable racism was the think that stood out the most. It was hard to associate with them specifically. But I could not imagine living in society with those beliefs, and that everything was based on their color, harder than their potentials. I would say it is easy to feel anger about such prejudice.

Brian Leslie said...

The interviews and the visual footage is what stood out for me after watching the film. It’s truly amazing how some people thought and felt during this period. To us, what their saying might be absolutely ridiculous and we question why they would ever think like that, but the fact is many Americans thought blacks did need to be with the whites.

I identified with Booker T. Washington because he revolutionized and changed the way blacks got their education. I thought it was hard to relate to whites during this time period. I found it very hard to understand why white people thought this way about other races. At times I felt embarrassed because of what my race did to black people and even though was of the same race I feel as though they come from a different world.

The part of the film that stood out for me the most is when the reporter that was mistaken to be a black father was pushed, spit on, and beaten, on his way home. I think that one small scene in the movie explains the whole story.

Mark Bernieri said...

I found the Jim Crow movie very interesting. It was amazing the footage they were able to get for the movie and the actions whites took against blacks, and how it was just accepted by everybody. The scene that stuck out most to me in the movie was when the group of whites pushed the African American news reporter because they thought he was a parent of one of the children going to the white school. I agree with sanjiv when he says that it was difficult to relate to the movie becuase I would never act this way

Jill Cafaro said...

I was not here for class on february 25.

Sarah Stoddard said...

I was not in class on February 25th for this video.

Megan Graham said...

The one thing that stood out to me from watching this video was how the African Americans were treated. I think the film lived up to a high standard by creating a realistic atmosphere. I knew that the African American population wasn't treated with equality, but I had not recently seen footage on how awful many inferior races had during that time period. I was able to identify with Booker T. Washington because I agree with how he proceeded to give African Americans an education, which would help them obtain jobs. It was difficult for me to relate to the large masses of KKK groups. I got some of the same feelings as Rachel from seeing the KKK, as she mentioned that she couldn't at all relate to them. I don't agree with how the organization tried to deal with racism and therefore it was hard for me to understand from their point of view. From this film, I got feelings of sorrow and compassion for the African American population.

Kristen Engholm said...

What I remember most about the film was how extreme the KKK was, I don’t think racism is an excuse for burning someone’s house or killing them. Also, Rutherford B. Hayes stood out to me because I couldn’t relate to his reasons for stopping Reconstruction at all. I think that was a very selfish thing to do, and that he was definitely not thinking about the well-being of the entire nation at the time. I came into class late on February 24.

Tonimarie Black said...

The thing that stood out for me the most after watching the Jim Crow film was the straight cruelty to the black race that occurred and the acceptance of it among the white community. I identified most with Booker T. Washington because I agree with his ways of giving the black people education to help them overcome racism. I had the most difficulty relating to the KKK because I can't even begin to understand how anyone could ever do anything so cruel to anyone. It just blows my mind and makes me very angry just thinking that another human being could be so mean. The main feeling the film gave me was the feel of sadness for the African Americans living in that time period. It a frustration of wanting to be just like everyone else when an entire race is looked down upon just because someone claimed that was the way it had to be.

Mark: I agree with you about the amazing footage the film was able to capture. It's so crazy we still have films like this today and we're lucky we get to see them.

Kaio Miranda said...

i was absent on that day

Kayla Donoghue said...

i was absent the day we watched the movie

Margaret Hester said...

What stood out for me the most in the film was the racism that was so apparent during that time period. It wasn’t like today where there are a few racists, and those people still cause outrage. Then, the majority was racist and just about everyone was okay with it; it would be outrageous during that time to be accepting! That whole mind-set just seems unreal to me. Seeing as I have never experienced the harsh oppression that the African Americans faced and have never been a terrible racist, it was hard for me to truly identify with anyone in the film. Despite not being able to 100% identify with someone, I did find myself identifying with Booker T. Washington. Washington believed that education makes a remarkable difference and sets the pace for change and I couldn’t agree more. I am amazed by everything Booker T. Washington was able to do despite all the obstacles in front of him. The film brought up feelings of disappointment, anger and sadness for me. How could America, the supposed “Land of the free” make a group of people the exact opposite of free and be more than okay with? Needless to say, it was a dark time in the history of America.


Kristen- I agree, there is no excuse for the KKK to act as they did. It is disgusting.

Alex Eisenbeis said...

The thing that stood out to me the most in that film was the sheer number of Klansmen in the DC march. It really showed how strongly opposed to civil rights some people were. I also could identify most with Washington because he believed that education was the key to gaining rights and support. I couldn't really identify with or understand all of those southerners who were willing to the blacks suffer just so that they could keep their facilities "pure". This film reminded me how cold and uncaring people can be towards those who they feel are below them.

mrinaal maewall said...

I was not in class I had a guidance appointed

mrinaal maewall said...

I was not in class. I had a guidance appointment.

mrinaal maewall said...

I was not in class. I had a guidance appointment.

Sarah Stoddard said...

The main thing that stood out to me was the nine black students who went into that school as many times at it took for them to finally be accepted in. They showed an unbelievable amount of bravery and persistence. I think I could relate most to Booker T. Washington because I understood his point of view. I thought it was a great idea to gain more respect and power through education of the blacks. It was hardest for me to relate to the KKK in the beginning of the film. I could not believe how cruel and inhumane those people could be to other human beings just because they had a different color skin. I just can't understand why color of skin could separate human beings and cause so much hatred.

Molly Gove said...

Absent Friday and Monday

Patrick Iasiello said...

I would have to agree with Sanjiv, I also felt sad and angry when watching this film because of how the white southerners treated the blacks. Especially the Black Reporter, who was attacked for only doing his job.

Tyler Frank said...

i was absent while we watched this film