Monday, September 12, 2011

Introducing the Freedom Riders


Today in the eighth grade, we launched our first unit: Freedom Riders.  The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated South to test the Supreme Court’s ruling that outlawed segregation in interstate buses and the restaurants and waiting rooms in their terminals. The first Freedom Ride left Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1961, and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17. Along the way, the Freedom Riders were attacked by the Ku Klux Klan, arrested, and worse. 

Over the next several days, we'll learn about these inspiring activists--many of whom were young college students.  We'll be viewing and discussing large portions of Freedom Riders, a PBS documentary.  To find out more, visit the documentary website, which includes timelines, photos, videos, maps, and more useful features.

Thanks for your strong participation in today's gallery walk.  See you tomorrow.

5 comments:

  1. Segregation feels unneeded. Even if it was some mean to an end and was favorable, It doesn't seem like a fair democracy just because It looks like their skin has on a pair of shades on. Seriously, It wasn't right, never will be right, and will hopefully not happen again.

    I can't say the same for slavery because it is STILL being commited today, but thats another unit,

    Brendan Gallagher, The CCAA Kid.

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  2. That's provocative, Brendan. You're right, it's another unit, but how is slavery still being committed today?

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  3. People sell their KIDS as slaves sometimes. Surprisingly it's Asians that do this. But nowadays this doesn't happen. I remember about 5 years ago there was a case where a kid was held as a slave that was SOLD to him so the parents could have money.

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  4. wow Brendan, even though i don't know you that was well said , precise,and deep.Mr. Toomajian i agree with Brendan segregation was unneeded. i honestly think it was for whites to feel good about them selves and to think they were in a higher element from the blacks. i also think that the KKK was the worst gang ever made in history. if i lived in that time period and i was a black, my biggest night mare would be the KKK.

    p.s: Mr. Toomajian this comment is an extra credit assignment. i also honestly don't know what the history of Dominican republic was. which is sad because i have two parents who went to school there whole life there. they never even considered telling me.

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  5. it's alicia by the way

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