Final Exam Discussion

Within the discussion that was had I learned that everyone in life has different perspectives and opinions on things. Even for people that look like me I realize that we don't all have the same stories. This discussion that was had really reminded me of nature vs. nurture. Are people the way that they are because of the environment that they were surrounded in or are they the way that they are because of how their parents and the people in their lives cared for them? Within this discussion some of the topics that we talked about was politics, the effect of social media, Black Lives Matter movement, and if you had to put a name for the era were living in right now what would it be?

I really did enjoy the discussion that was had. It was very interesting hearing the different perspectives on certain topics. I'm not really into politics that much. I just try to stay in tuned with the big news that may directly affect me or those around me. Which I don't know if that is necessarily a good or bad thing. But one case that we talked about specifically is the Brittney Griner case. Which is a case that I did look and read a lot into. She was just recently freed from Russian custody after spending nearly 10 months in Russian custody. She was freed through a prisoner swap. But there are other fellow Americans there still in Russian custody. Some people feel negatively towards the government about exchanging Brittney Griner for someone who is known as the merchant of death. But a fellow American Paul Whelan who is a former Marine is still in Russian custody. This case is still at the forefront right now.

Talking about the effects of social media was very interesting. I personally do not use social media to post and things of that nature. But I definitely can still see the effects that social media has had on this generation. A lot of my generations political views come from what they see and hear on social media.

I think that it is very important that we as society become more intentional about educating ourselves about things that are going on around us. We should expand our horizon about things that goes on around us. A point that was made during the discussion we had was that sometimes something that has happened will be at the forefront of the news for a few days and then it goes away. Although it may have gone away for you particularly for some people whatever may have happened is actually their reality. And we as a country should be more intentional about educating ourselves about things happening around us and being there to support those around us. We want someone to support us when we go through things, we should be willing to be there to support others. So being more intentional about educating ourselves about the world around us outside of our bubble we may live in.

I really enjoyed the part of the discussion we had about the Black Lives Matter movement. Although everyone has different views on the Black Lives Matter movement, I personally enjoy talking about the Black Lives Matter movement. I not only enjoy talking and learning more about it because I am Black myself but because it helps to open up people's horizon to the world around them. Some people are not aware of the world outside of them and some are not that knowledgeable about the Black Lives Matter movement. I really enjoyed this discussion that we had as a class. It definitely opened up my eyes to new perspectives and ways to look at things. It was interesting hearing the different opinions on things. I definitely enjoyed and learned new things from the discussion. 

March to Freedom (Documentary)

March to Freedom was a documentary that came out in 1963. The March to Freedom documentary was meant to showcase some of the struggles that African American people went through. The 1960s was a very uncomfortable time for America. Some of the things that happened during the 1960s was the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., assassination of Malcom X, assassination of Robert F Kennedy, also the civil rights movement. These were some of the historic events that happened during the 1960s. This was a very uncomfortable time for America. This film definitely displayed some of those uncomfortable moments America faced during this time. 

The March to Freedom documentary was narrated by Denzel Washington. Denzel Washington is an American actor and film maker. He helped narrate this documentary The March to Freedom. According to March To Freedom- Essays Creator, "The documentary The Sixties: The Long March to Freedom traces the origins and the evolution of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. It discusses the sacrifices, the political bargain, and the success made along the way." This film really analyzes the struggles that African American faced.

This documentary also puts the spotlight on the prejudice and racism that African Americans had to deal with during this time. During the 1960s the fight between black and white and all men being created equal was something that America could not come to terms with. According to March to Freedom- Essays Creator, "The film also highlights the deeply-rooted prejudice and racism that pervaded American society and foredoomed the initiative to become one of the greatest tragedies in the history of this country." During this time in America racism was very prevalent.

America said that they are a country where all men are created equal. This was not being represented or shown during this time in America. In certain parts of the country segregation was still prevalent. They still had colored only entrances during this time and colored only bathrooms. According to Marching to Freedom- Essays Creator, "In the 60s, segregation in the U.S. appeared as the legally enforced discrimination against the African-Americans, which appeared in the form of physical separation, restrictions on access to social institutions, as well as inequality in the protection of rights and the distribution of opportunities." This film definitely displayed how prejudice and racism was one of the things that America still had to work through during this time.

Based on the information given above you can see how this documentary March to Freedom displayed the struggles that America faced during the 1960s. There were some monumental events that happened during this time that definitely helped to shape the America we know today. Although we still have a lot of work to do as a country. This film definitely does shows you how we have made some progress since then and some of the things that we had to endure to get where we are today. As a reminder, some of the major events that happened were the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., assassination of Malcom X, assassination of Robert F Kennedy, also the civil rights movement. This film also showcases how slavery, prejudice, and racism was still prominent during this time. We still have some growing to do as a country, but this film definitely showcased the struggles that we faced during the 1960s and how we overcame those struggles. Also, how we are still fighting to overcome some of those struggles today. This film helps to show you where we were as a country and things that we went through to shape some of the America that we know today.

Reax EOTO

 

The 1960s was a monumental time during America's history. A lot of events happened during this time that has helped shape the America we know today. Some of those events being the aassanation of Robert F Kennedy, Stand in the Schoolhouse Door, and the Fair Housing Act. There were many more impactful events that occurred during this time, but we are just going touch on the few events that was just named.

First, starting off with the assassination of Robert F Kennedy on June 5, 1968. Robert F Kennedy was a senator, and he won the California presidential primary. Unfortunately, it was the same night that he won the California presidential primary was the same night he lost his life. According to Robert F Kennedy- History.com, "Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary." He was killed by 24-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan. 

During the time of Robert F Kennedy's assassination there was a lot of things that had already taken place that caused a lot of discomfort within America. Things such as the Vietnam War, anti-war movement, and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. had taken place earlier that year. According to Robert F Kennedy- History.com, "The summer of 1968 was a tempestuous time in American history. Both the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement were peaking. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated in the spring, igniting riots across the country." A lot of things had already happened in the year 1968 before June 5 of that year. But when Robert F Kennedy was assassinated that was something new added that the country had to work through.

Stand in the schoolhouse door was also something monumental that happened during the 1960s. At this time the government was starting to integrate schools and Alabama's Governor George Wallace did not want that to happen. So, he stood in front of the door of a schoolhouse and did not allow two black students to enter. According to Stand in the Schoolhouse Door-Encyclopediaofalabama, "The "stand in the schoolhouse door" incident was Alabama Governor George Wallace's symbolic opposition to school integration imposed by the federal government. The June 11, 1963, action occurred in the doorway of Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama and was intended to prevent the enrollment of two black students, James hood and Vivian Malone." This is another example of how the 1960s was an uncomfortable time for America.

The 1960s was a period of time where America was trying to figure out where they stood as far as all men being created equal. The country was very divided at this time. African Americans were still fighting for their rights. The government could not see eye to eye on things when it came to the rights of all citizens. This was a very uncomfortable moment in time for America.

The Fair Housing Act took place in 1968. The purpose of the Fair Housing Act was to prevent any discrimination associated with the sale, rental and financing of housing. America was trying to find every way that they could to display all men being created equal. According to Fair Housing Act- History.com, "The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin of sex." African Americans and Hispanics had a hard time renting property and this Fair Housing Act helped them out with that.

In conclusion, you can see how the 1960s were a very uncomfortable time for America. A lot of monumental events happened during this time that helped shape the America that we know today. We still have some work to do in creating a better America.

Klansville USA Today (Documentary)

Klansville U.S.A. was associated with the Klu Klux Klan. The Klu Klux Klan was established after the American Civil War. According to www.pbs.org, "Following the American Civil War, decommissioned Confederate soldiers in Pulaski, Tennessee established the Klu Klux Klan in 1865 as a fraternal social club." This was a violent group of people. They did not want slavery to end, and they did not believe that all men are created equal. They were very violent towards African Americans. Klansville U.S.A. was a film that really explained and showed what the Klu Klux Klan was all about.

As stated above the Klu Klux Klan did not believe in all men being created equal. They specifically treated African Americans poorly. According to www.pbs.org, "In 1915, D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation romanticized the Klan, portraying their violence towards African Americans as justifiable and necessary to restore order in a chaotic South." The Klu Klux Klan did not want African Americans to be granted the rights to freedom. This film Klansville USA definitely showed you just how much the Klu Klux Klan did not want the African Americans to progress at all.

Eventually the Klu Klux Klan had died down for a little bit. This film Klansville USA caused Klans to come back together in the 1920s. According to www.pbs.org, "The enormous popularity of the film sparked a Klan revival in the 1920s, and by 1925, four million Americans claimed membership. But bad press and power struggles tore the group apart again in the 1930s." The Klu Klux Klan was a very large and powerful group. 

The Klu Klux Klan have broken up and came back together a few times throughout history. But after the Brown v. Board of Education case, they came back again in North Carolina this time though. According to www.pbs.org, "Having been dormant for decades, the Klu Klux Klan reemerged in the U.S. after the 1954 Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision, gaining momentum in the U.S. as the Civil Rights Movement grew. The Klan would rise once again wasn't surprising, but where the reincarnation place was. North Carolina..." The Klan continued to grow in North Carolina. 

Once the Klan came back together again in North Carolina, they came back stronger, and they desired to gain more people. They specifically targeted low-income white people who did not want to feel like they were being left behind. The Klu Klux Klan caused a lot of change in America. According to www.pbs.org, "Tapping into the fears and resentments of low-income whites who believed that a changing America would leave them behind, Jones took his message across the state, establishing Klaverns and signing up hundreds of members." The Klu Klux Klan had impacted America so much it was either you are for or against the Klan. They were so powerful that for the people that supported the Klan but wasn't necessarily a part of the Klan they made them feel like they were missing something. So, they started to recruit more people.

This film Klansville U.S.A. definitely showed you a more in-depth look of the Klu Klux Klan. It allowed you to see what the KKK was all about, what they're whole mission and plan was, and also the impact that they had in America. As the KKK continued to grow in North Carolina under the leadership of Jones they eventually received the name Klansville. According to www.pbs.org, "Under Jones' leadership, membership grew to some ten thousand members, earning the Tarheel State a new nickname: "Klansville, U.S.A." 

Based on the information given, you can see that this film Klansville U.S.A. definitely opened up a lot of people's eyes to things going on around them. Specifically, this film focused on the KKK and it allowed you to get a more detailed understanding of what the KKK was about. It also allowed you to see the impact that the KKK had in America.

Board of Regents vs. Bakke

There have been many cases that have come through America's court and some of them have been monumental cases that have truly shaped America's history. One of those monumental cases being Board of Regents vs. Bakke. The case Board of Regents vs. Bakke was a case that took place in 1978. This is a very well-known case in America. Especially when it comes to the topic of race within the college admissions process.

During the time of Board of Regents vs. Bakke America was in a space where they were still trying to figure out where they stood with all men being seen as equal. Although by this time a lot of progress had been made as fare all men being treated equally but we still had some work to do. This case Board of Regents vs. Bakke was a great example of affirmative action being shown. Affirmative action is Merriam-Webster, "the use of policies, legislation, programs, and procedures to improve the educational or employment opportunities of members of certain demographic groups (such as minority groups, women, and older people) as a remedy to the effects of long-standing discrimination against such groups" This case had a very large impact in America and affirmative action was just one of the very few things.

Now, you keep on seeing it be said that this case Board of Regents vs. Bakke had a very large impact on America you may wonder what was this case all about. As stated above during the time of this case America was still trying to fully live up to what they said about all men being created equally. They were striving to make sure that diversity was being seen in all aspects of life. From diversity being within workplaces to schools. Regents of the University of California only had a certain number of white students and students of color that they would accept. They had it set up this way to ensure that there would be diversity within the school. According to ThoughtCo., "In the early 1970s, many colleges and universities across America were in the beginning stages of making major changes to their admissions programs in an effort to diversify the student body by increasing the number of minority students on campus."

The University of California was a school that Allen Bakke definitely had his heart set on. Bakke worked in NASA for some time, but he always had a very strong interest in medicine. The University of California is where Bakke strongly desired to fulfill his dreams of studying medicine, but Bakke was not only rejected once but twice from the University of California. According to ThoguhtCo.,"Bakke received his second rejection letter from UCD at the end of September 1973...The complaint included a request that UCD admit Bakke into its program because the special admission's program rejected him because of his race." We have to remember that during this time America was really emphasizing diversification being displayed. 

When Bakke was rejected from the University of California, he felt like his reasoning for being rejected was not valid enough. The University of California had a special program that would ensure they only accept a certain number of white students and students of color. Bakke felt that this program was unfair because he had all the requirements and everything to be accepted into school but because of this special program a student of color got accepted instead of him. 

Bakke eventually filed a lawsuit against the University of California. According to ThoughtCo., "On November 20,1974, Judge Manker found the program unconstitutional and in violation of Title VI, "no race or ethnic group should ever be granted privileges or immunities not given to every other race." You may wonder what was the result of this case? What impact did it have on the college admissions process? As a result of this case ThoughtCo., "The Supreme Court upheld affirmative action ruling that race could be one of several determining factors in college admission policies, but it rejected the use of racial quotas as unconstitutional."

Did the supreme court make the right decision on this case? There are still ongoing conversations surrounding this case. Some believe that the color of your skin should not play a determining factor in whether or not you get accepted into college. While others believe that it should play a part in whether or not you get accepted into college. So, who's right and who's wrong? This case definitely had an impact in America specifically within the college admissions process.