Humanities project

Name:

1

State the course reading or an idea generated from the course that you would like to explore in your presentation

I would like to explore the social justice movement for Black Americans to gain equal rights under the law of the United States of America and how all forms of art, including art and music, helped show the hardship Black Americans went through in the 50’s and 60’s.

2

Explain the reading or idea to someone who has not taken HUM 1020:

It is no secret that lately we can see and feel the brutality that Black Americans endure in our modern America. The Civil Rights Movement took place in the 50’s and 60’s to end segregation, voter suppression, housing practices and discriminatory employment of the Black Americans. I believe it’s important to talk about and bring back the value that the Civil Rights Movement held because we still see the negligence of Americans towards Black Americans. As Americans, we need to look back into time, through art and through music to show that activists have been fighting a long fight for equal rights towards Black Americans.

3

In which humanities disciplines/fields does your idea fall?

My idea falls in the moral and civic character. Through exposure to a range of cultural expressions that come from individuals different than us historically or culturally.

4

What kind of project will you create?

A power-point.

5

Provide Six images (or appropriate artforms) with sources:

Image One Title and Artist’s Name:

Dr. Martin Luther King Is Confronted

Ernest C. Withers

Image One Citation:

Withers, Ernest. Dr. Martin Luther King Is Confronted. 1963. Currier Museum of Art, New Hampshire.

Image One:

Image Two Title and Artist’s Name:

I Am a Man/ Union Justice Now

Builder Levy

Image Two Citation:

Levy, Builder. I Am a Man/ Union Justice Now. 1968. High Museum of Art, Georgia.

Image Two:

Image Three Title and Artist’s Name:

Department Store, Mobile, Alabama

Gordon Parks

Image Three Citation:

Parks, Gordon. Department Store, Mobile, Alabama. 1956. High Museum of Art, Georgia.

Image Three:

Image Four Title and Artist’s Name:

Cleaning the Pool, St. Augustine, Florida

James Kerlin

Image Four Citation:

Kerlin, James. Cleaning the Pool, St. Augustine, Florida. 1964. High Museum of Art, Georgia.

Image Four:

Image Five Title and Artist’s Name:

Garbagemen’s Parade, Memphis, Tennessee

Dennis Brack

Image Five Citation:

Brack, Dennis. Garbagemen’s Parade, Memphis, Tennessee. 1968. High Museum Art, Georgia.

Image Five:

Image Six Title and Artist’s Name:

American

Charles, Moore

Image Six Citation:

Moore, Charles. American. 1931. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, Massachusetts.

Image Six:

6

Provide three research sources you’ve found from the BC Online database. These may not be the same sources as you provided for the images. Enter the MLA bibliographic citations here:

Source 1:

Michael Capek. Civil Rights Movement. Essential Library, 2014. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=nlebk&AN=609273&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Source 2:

Colbert, Soyica Diggs. Black Movements: Performance and Cultural Politics. Rutgers University Press, 2017. Project MUSE muse.jhu.edu/book/52068.

Source 3:

Black Theater: The Making of a Movement.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 1978, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=95543&xtid=165953. Accessed 24 Nov. 2020.

7

Create a working thesis statement: (Two to three sentences which state the argument the project will support)

We have to remember the Civil Rights Movement. History repeats itself but the best way to prevent it is by remembering the good fight, realize the impact the Civil Rights Movement has on society, and to be ready to act when we see signs of us regressing.

8

Create a working outline by following the template below:

I. The Civil War began in 1861 because of economic and social differences between the Northern and the Southern States. The differences between the free and slave states sparked the War on April 12, 1861 at Fort Sumter. At the end of 1865, a nation free of slavery began, but the discrimination against Black Americans was still very active and proceeding even after slavery was abolished. This sparked the Civil Rights Movement. Many famous activists like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and Malcom X fought till death to gain equal rights in the United States. While this happened many years ago, we have to realize that history can repeat itself and in this modern America we can feel the rift between Black Americans and White Americans due to our cultural differences and the ability to freely speak on racism through world leaders. The best way to prevent modern America from regressing after all the hard work activists have put for many years is by remembering and talking about the Civil Rights Movement, realizing the impact it has had on society and to be ready to act when we revert to ways before the Civil Rights Movement.

II. Remember the reason people were fighting for equality during the Civil Rights Movement.

a. To end institutionalized racial discrimination.

b. To end racial segregation even after the Civil War.

c. Using image 3 and 4

III. The impact the Civil Rights Movement has on society.

a. The Civil Rights Movement prohibited discrimination in public places, made employment discrimination illegal and integrated schools to give all children the opportunity to succeed.

b. The Voting Rights Act was passed which protected minority voting rights.

c. Using image 1 and 6

IV. Being ready to act when we see signs of our modern America regressing.

a. The protesting we have seen in 2020 is the new American fight for racial equality.

b. Speak up to racial injustice by using creative talents. Art plays a role in healing and activism.

c. Using image 2 and 5

V. In order to repeat the past, we must be able to talk about it and understand what has happened in order to avoid acts repeating themselves. There is a reason activist would put their life on the line in order to protest for their rights, and the reason is for justice and equality for all. The impact the Civil Rights Movement had is the reason Black Americans in America can vote freely, attend whichever school they want and apply to any job they please. With this said, you can feel the rift of modern America and the push of Americans to believe that Black Americans aren’t worthy of equality and it is up to us to be ready to act when we see it whether it’s through protesting or using our talents. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The time is always right to do what is right”.

Links to Images:

https://currier.org/exhibition/photographs-from-the-civil-rights-movement/

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/photos-from-the-civil-rights-movement/9wISPkiyouv-Lw

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/photos-from-the-civil-rights-movement/9wISPkiyouv-Lw

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/photos-from-the-civil-rights-movement/9wISPkiyouv-Lw

https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/photos-from-the-civil-rights-movement/9wISPkiyouv-Lw

https://artmuseum.mtholyoke.edu/object/pictures-made-difference-civil-rights-movement