Final Reaction Blog

Talking about freedom will be a class to remember. From the different perspective we took to learning, to having all of our assignments be blogs to help us build a resume.

And the first thing I want to talk about is the two movies we watched in class. I had seen bits and pieces of both “Gone With the Wind” and “in the Heat of the Night” at home with family but was never interested. Both are timeless and influential in their own ways and in their own time. They are also a preservation of their time, educating people about the period they were set in more than any textbook or lecture. “In the Heat of the Night” shows the prevalence and extent of racism in the 60’s as well as the turning of the populous starting to accept African Americans. “Gone With the Wind” romanticizes the slave owning south a little but as long as you can get past that the movie continues to show future generations what the 19th century and civil war looked like for the majority of Americans.

We had tests and presentations, but the most important part of this class was the blog we all made. Instead of having boring papers, homework, and quizzes, we were set to discuss the topics we covered in class with the world. We were free to express our opinion and share it. For me personally, the shorter, more opinion-based writing really made me think about my understanding and take on our lectures and presentations. Another important part of our blogs is that they can be used as a future reference and a preservation of our freshman year. I will be interested to look back on our blogs in the years to come and see the changes in our writing and as people.

In my opinion, the most important takeaway from this class is our use of AI. Being able to practice and understand our use of AI instead of feeling like we were cheating on an assignment has been influential not only in this class but my whole semester. Understanding how to use AI and everything that can be achieved with it has helped me brainstorm, study, spell check my papers, research, and many more. Learning to properly use AI has been an invaluable skill and will help me as AI continues to grow.  

 

 

 EOTO Reaction

The Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century was a defining era in American history, marked by landmark legislation, courageous activism, and transformative social change. Several pivotal events and organizations shaped the struggle for equality, each contributing uniquely to dismantling systemic racism.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964
This legislation was a monumental victory, outlawing segregation in public places and banning employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It gave the federal government authority to enforce desegregation, signaling a decisive shift toward legal equality.

The NAACP

NAACP Logo

Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People played a critical role in challenging racial injustice through legal advocacy. The NAACP spearheaded cases like Brown v. Board of Education and organized grassroots efforts, proving that systemic change required both courtroom victories and community mobilization.

Lunch Counter Sit-Ins
Beginning in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960, sit-ins became a powerful form of nonviolent protest. Black students occupied “whites-only” lunch counters, demanding service and refusing to leave. These actions highlighted the absurdity of segregation and inspired similar demonstrations nationwide, emphasizing the strength of peaceful resistance.

Freedom Rides
In 1961, interracial groups rode buses into the segregated South to challenge noncompliance with Supreme Court rulings on desegregated interstate travel. Riders faced brutal violence, yet their courage drew national attention and pressured federal authorities to enforce integration laws.

March on Washington

MLK Jr speaking at the 
March on Washington

The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom brought over 250,000 people to the nation’s capital, advocating for civil and economic rights. It was here that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, galvanizing public support for civil rights legislation.

Montgomery Bus Boycott
Sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest in 1955, the boycott lasted over a year and crippled the city’s transit system. Led by Dr. King, it demonstrated the power of collective action and marked the rise of King as a national leader. The boycott ultimately led to a Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.

Conclusion
These events and organizations illustrate the multifaceted nature of the Civil Rights Movement—legal battles, grassroots activism, and moral appeals converged to challenge injustice. Together, they reshaped American society, proving that sustained, strategic action can dismantle even the most entrenched systems of inequality.

Ai disclaimer: I used M365 Copilot to summarize the notes I took in class to create this blog. 

 Brown V. Board of Education

Summary

The landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education (1954) fundamentally transformed American society by declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. At its core, the case presented two sharply contrasting arguments: one defending the status quo of segregation and another advocating for equality under the law.

The Defense of Segregation

Brown V. Board decision in newspaper

Supporters of segregation relied heavily on the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which established the doctrine of “separate but equal.” They argued that segregated schools did not inherently violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as long as facilities were comparable. Southern states claimed that integration would disrupt social order and infringe upon states’ rights to manage education. Their position emphasized tradition and the belief that racial separation was not harmful if resources were distributed fairly—a claim that would soon be dismantled.

The Case for Integration

Protests in favor of desegregation

The plaintiffs, led by Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, contended that segregation was inherently unequal. They argued that separating children by race stigmatized Black students, fostering feelings of inferiority that could never be remedied by equal facilities. This argument was powerfully supported by social science evidence, most notably the doll study conducted by psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark. In this study, Black children were presented with dolls of different races and overwhelmingly attributed positive qualities to white dolls while rejecting Black dolls. The Clarks concluded that segregation damaged the self-esteem and psychological development of Black children, reinforcing systemic inequality.

The Supreme Court’s Decision
Chief Justice Earl Warren’s unanimous opinion rejected the “separate but equal” doctrine, declaring that segregation in public education violated the Equal Protection Clause. The Court acknowledged that education is a foundation of good citizenship and that separating children solely based on race generated a sense of inferiority “unlikely ever to be undone.” This ruling marked a turning point in the civil rights movement, setting the stage for nationwide desegregation and challenging deeply entrenched racial barriers.

Conclusion
The arguments in Brown v. Board of Education reveal the tension between legal precedent and evolving social values. By prioritizing equality and recognizing the psychological harm of segregation, the Court affirmed that justice requires more than formal equality—it demands genuine inclusion. The case remains a powerful reminder that law and social science can converge to dismantle injustice and reshape a nation’s future.

Ai disclosure: I used M365 Copilot to summarize my notes from class into this blog post.