“Nothing but a circus, with clowns and all…”

by sm156522

“It ceased to be angry, it ceased to be hot, it ceased to be uncompromising. Why, it even ceased to be a march. It became a picnic, a circus. Nothing but a circus, with clowns and all. . .”

“…they told those Negroes what time to hit town, where to stop, what signs to carry, what song to sing, what speech they could make, and what speech they couldn’t make, and then told them to get out of town by sundown….”

-Malcolm X

 

Zinn uses these quotes to show how different Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideologies were. King thought the march was still a success, or at least a step in the right direction, even when he had to follow rules set by white people. Which Malcolm X completely shuts down, saying that this was just another example of black submission to white government. Malcolm believed a fight like this had to be fought hard and with passion, and emotion, and most importantly, without submission. Without passion, and anger, the march was a joke, completely pointless. Malcolm believed King completely gave up the fight by obliging by the rules of the people responsible for segregation. Zinn’s use of direct quotes helps him paint the picture of the different characters of both men. King, was very calm and patient; while Malcolm X was very angry, opinionated, and passionate.

Radical Rationalizing

by ao162232

“A new mood has sprung up among Negroes, particularly the young, in which self esteem and enhanced racial pride are replacing apathy and submission to the ‘system'” (460)

1967 was the time of the greatest riots in American History.  This quote, taken from a Commission Report blamed white racist as the cause of such explosive radical behavior. The initial purpose of the  commission report was to get people to face the rebellion and hopefully alleviate some of the tension; however, in Howard Zinn’s eyes, this wasn’t entirely achieved.  “Black Power” became the new slogan of radical blacks and black activists. Among these were Malcolm X; who Zinn regards as “the most eloquent spokesman for (Black Power).” X was a vital component in the radical movement and extremely influential throughout the black youth.  His speeches,encouraging self defense and somewhat subversive acts, were heard all through out the country. To some , the black revolts came as a  surprise; but not to Zinn. He argues that the memory of the terrible acts of hatred were too much for blacks to suppress.

In response to the radical rioters the Civil Rights Act of 1969 was passed, which prohibited violence against blacks. Blacks were now allowed to go to fancy restaurants and hotels. They were allowed to attend universities as well as medical and law schools…if and only if, they could afford it.

Malcolm X: An Inspiration

by mr153683

“You’ll get freedom by letting your enemy know that you’ll do anything to get your freedom; then you’ll get it. It’s the only way you’ll get it. When you get that kind of attitude, they’ll label you as a “crazy Negro,” or they’ll call you a “crazy nigger” — they don’t say Negro. Or they’ll call you and extremist, or a subversive, or seditious, or a red or a radical. But when you stay radical long enough and get enough people to be like you, you’ll get your freedom” (Malcolm X 461).

Malcolm X, a prominently important figure in the Civil Rights Era, is truly an inspiration and a hero. His statement strongly emphasizes the attitude blacks needed to have in order to get their freedom. In addition, his extremely radical behavior is what captures the imagination of young black people and encourages them to stand firmly against racism and racist white people. Many blacks believed that Malcolm X’s passionate rage and anger truly captured the idea of fighting for their rights and freedom more than Martin Luther King Jr.’s attitude did. This is because Malcolm X advocated for violence when it comes to self-defense and the establishment of a separate black community while Martin Luther King was more passive and peaceful. Malcolm X’s messages and speeches were the driving force behind young blacks wanting to fight back against racists. If I were a black student in 1964 listening to Malcolm X’s powerful speech, I would be entirely persuaded to support him and endure the extremities in order to get my freedom. Overall, his compelling pride and influential passion gave blacks the motivation and inspiration to fight for their freedom once and for all.

When Will It Explode?

by do156063

“No, it was a sellout. It was a takeover . . . They controlled it so tight, they told those Negros what time to hit town, where to stop, what signs to carry, what song to sing, what speech they could make and what speech they couldn’t make, and then told them to get outta town by sundown . . . ”-Malcolm X (458)

 

The 1950s and 1960s were a very turbulent two decades for a number of reasons, however Zinn asks “-or does it explode” referring to the second civil war that took place across the country. The diversity of perspectives is a motif that Howard Zinn presents in every paragraph. Here, Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech during the “March on Washington” is experienced from a different angle. Malcolm X expresses the plight of an honest and uncompromising African-American population, following the anti-climatic culmination of their efforts. Zinn includes this testimony to legitimize the claim that: there is more truth to be told. A militant, educated and very angry African consciousness has been omitted from the conversation. Contrary to the broadcasted opinion the “March on Washington” was not unanimously received as a success, but rather the organized circumvention and obstruction of a battle against oppression.

Government for some

by ko138349

”I feel that the federal government have proven that it don’t care about poor people.  Everything that we have asked for through these years had been handed down on paper.  It’s never been a reality.  We the poor people of Mississippi is tired.  we’re tired 0f it so we’re going to build for ourselves, because we don’t have a government that represents us.”

These are the words of Mrs. Unita Blackwell, A local woman.  After seen and witnessing the reluctance of  Congress to passed  laws against civil rights time after time.  However, after war world 2, racism was denounced but segregation was still present in the military between blacks and white service men.  President Harry Truman either by necessity or expediency  in 1946 appointed a committee on civil Rights, which recommended that laws to be passed against lynching, and to end voting  discrimination  and racial discrimination in jobs. Even in the present of convincing argument that passing civil Rights laws wasn’t just for moral reasons but for economic reasons as well, congress did nothing to enact the legislations proposed by the committee. With these kinds of inaction, congress became a stumbling block against civil right in that era of the struggle.

More so, Blackwell’s words could have been as a result of witnessing the  no enforcement position taken by the FBI or the police in the present of violent against black during the civil Right era.  Is it not the duty of the FBI or Police to protect all against the commission of crime? or were members of some group excluded from that protection  in the constitution?  Furthermore, with the kind vehement and aggression the FBI went against the civil Right activists, especially Dr. Martin Luther King, one is left with no other theory but to conclude that there was a hidden motive by the government to undermine the effort of the civil Right advocates.  Is the government turning to murder and terror because all else has failed to suppress the voices of the suppressed?

Zinn in this chapter shows among other things how the laws against segregation, Lynching was not enforced by the branch of government that is charged to do so.  And that if Congress had acted sooner, much killing would have been avoided, especially that of the three civil rights workers James Chaney, a young black Mississippian, and two white volunteers, Andrew Good and Michael Schwerner.  That killing would have been prevented if the a law that barred discrimination in interstate transportation in 1887 was enforced.

Pathway through the works of art to the minds of people.

by Wojciech Nieprzecki

Margaret Walker

“Let a new earth rise. Let another world be born. Let a bloody peace be written in the sky. Let a second generation full of courage issue forth; let a people loving freedom come to growth. Let a beauty full of healing and a strength of final clenching be the pulsing in our spirits and our blood. Let the martial songs be written, let the dirges disappear. Let a race of men now rise and take control.”

As Howard Zinn said “It was all there in poetry […] the signs of a people unbeaten, waiting, hot, coiled.” His words and a last verse of Margaret Walker’s poem called “For My People” written in 1942 says a lot about feelings that blacks had at that time. Black people still had in their minds dormant thoughts of not having a 100% of freedom. They still had on their backs shadow of slavery. As soon as they were able to appear somehow and somewhere in a society like for instance by writing a poem or song lyrics, they wanted to show their independence. For them that was a new beginning, but they also knew that they will never forget how the America welcomed them.
After WWII since 1947 I presume they had two cold wars to struggle with; one opposition coming from Soviet Union and a second one coming from white Americans who still were not able to accept equality between races. By writing a poems blacks showed that they mean a lot for the America, and all kinds of people living here now, as well as in the future, should be familiar with the entire history of it.

No Freedom for the colored 1950s

by Nicholas T

Within the context of the film, Far from Heaven, Raymond Deagan was a african amiercan single parent living in a southern Connecticut town where African and Caucasian races rarely intermingle outside of business. When he tried to befriend Cathy Whitaker every other person in town disagreed with them being friends. He had absolutely no freedom to even pick and choose who he would want in his life because it was not socially accepted during this period in time due to segregation. When Raymond tried to become more then friends with Cathy just grabbing on to her arm prompted everyone on the street to threaten him due to their class differences. His daughter was abused and even stoned just over the fact that her father had a white “girlfriend” which was not even true. Towards the end of the film when Cathy had chosen to divorce her husband she went to find Raymond and asked if they could be together in another location, however Raymond replied with a controversial quote “I”ve learned my lesson about mixing the two worlds” which really was the summing up of what the entire movie was about. Raymond didn’t have the freedom to choose which world he wished to live in, he was instantly viewed with hostility due to the color of his skin, not the character he could have. I feel that Raymond was the person with the least freedom because he had to leave the woman he grew to love so that his daughter wouldn’t have to suffer anymore indignities that could occur because of her father’s relationship.

Life in the 1950’s

by Jessica Bonilla

In the article “Busy Wife’s Achievement ” published in Life Magazine in 1956 is about a young girl name Marjorie Sutton who was married before even graduating high school then from there went to fulfill her housewife duties. Her accomplishments or as the article states “Has made a career”  being able to cook, make clothes for her children and herself , host large parties, be part of the PTA and even run fund raisers.

If you ask any women in Baruch they will laugh at Marjorie Sutton “Career” because cooking, cleaning and making it to your children school meetings would considered more of your obligation as a wife not a career. If this article would to be rewritten today same title “Busy Wife’s Achievement” it would say Marjorie Sutton has just earned her PHD, works 40 hrs a week and still has time to make it to her boys soccer game.

Society has changed very much since the 1950’s. Marjorie’s husband only earns 25,000 a year and lives comfortable that would be impossible today. Now most households have two incomes just to make ends meet. When a couple gets divorce now it is not frown upon on, I have even seen signs that say 2nd divorce is 50% off. A women not married by the age of 20 is very common for todays society too. These are things that would have been frown upon on in the 1950s. I’m glad that society has changed and women are much more independent now.

 

 

Highlighted Honeymoon

by cc159277

 

Their Sheltered Honeymoon (1959) Life Magazine Aug. 10 1959.

” By the late 1950s, tens of thousands of bomb shelters had been built in middle-class neighborhoods, and 40 percent of Americans were seriously considering building one. After being asked by a Miami bomb shelter manufacturer, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Mininson agreed to spend their two-week honeymoon in a twenty-two-ton, steel-and-concrete, eight-by-fourteen-foot shelter, twelve feet underground.”

 

To some, reading about this couples honeymoon taking place locked up in a bomb shelter for two weeks straight might seem crazy and suicidal. If you realize the time frame of this occurrence they might not seem so crazy after all, this was a part of the American life in the 1950’s. The constant terror of the chance that America may a part of a nuclear warfare is what turned thousands of Americans to options like building bomb shelters. The only reason the couple might of agreed to such conditions is the fact that their “real” honeymoon would be paid for afterwards in exchange for accepting the challenge set by the guy who builds bomb shelters in Miami. In completing the two weeks they produced some very useful research on how people might actually turn out in the case of a real nuclear warfare, when in this time was very possible. This gave hope to the thousands that poured money into having bomb shelters built, it gave them a sense of security during this time of great fear for not only themselves but for America as a whole.

This goes to show you the social and even the economical realities in the 1950s. People were frightened and in response they built bomb shelters regardless of the money because it must have costed a fortune. The manufactures without a doubt, prospered during this time and even gave everyone that was on edge a sense of faith especially after the new research presented by the daring “bomb shelter couple”.

 

 

The Era of Separation: Exlusion of basic rights

by ra153888

 

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Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Chief Justice Warren once said, “Education of white children was largely in the hands of private groups.  Education of Negroes was almost nonexistent, and practically all of the race were illiterate.  In fact, any education of Negroes was forbidden by law in some states.”

Due to this so called concept of “separate but equal” the lives of African Americans and their futures were greatly impacted.  This form of segregation was seen in the education system, which this case delineates.  As Chief Justice Warren makes his point clear on the different types of education was provided for whites and blacks was clearly not the same.  Based on the fact that most African Americans had been illiterate, it shows they were not given the proper education that they deserved.  In regards with the Fourteenth Amendment, “no state shall make or enforce any law which shall … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”: this was a clear violation, depriving the youth and the future of society of their innate equal rights.  These separate educational systems proved to be corrupt, and this sense of “separate but equal” is truly unequal and an encroachment of peoples basic rights.   Through Chief Justice Earl Warren’s incisive governance this issue, the Court acted in a unanimous decision which held that racial segregation of children in public schools violates the Equal Protection Clause.