Students on our team have been studying the southeast region. On the last stop of our "tour" we visited Montgomery, Alabama. Students learned about the civil rights movement and peaceful protests.
Students learned that African Americans were still be segregated against during the 1950s. Students picked a topic/area where segregation occurred: water fountains, schools, amusement parks, beaches, etc. They came up with their own slogans and created protest signs.
On Friday afternoon, March 30th, our team participated in a silent march through the hallways.
After the march, students read the following poem:
In the 1950s, Americans wondered when everyone would be truly equal.
Americans heard the strong voices of those who wanted equal rights.
Americans saw Martin Luther King Jr. take a stand against segregation.
Americans wanted the bus protest to be successful.
Americans felt sad when others were treated unfairly.
In the 1950s, the United States was a place where people wanted a better
future for all children.
Then students were asked to complete the bolded statements about civil rights today.
Their beautiful, poetic responses are in italics.
Today, Americans wonder...
why we did not treat black people better
what it will be like in 50 years
if people are still being treated unfairly
why we segregated
if other segregation will arise
what would have happened if it was the same today
why people didn't follow the Constitution
Americans hear...
black and white people talking friendly to each other
about segregation and it brings a tear to our eyes
the footsteps of blacks and white walking together
it does not matter what color you are
black and white kids playing
Martin Luther King Jr.'s story
all of the sadness from segregation
Americans see...
equal rights for EVERYBODY
people drinking out of water fountains
black and white people getting along
freedom for those who fought for it
people going to the same beach
blacks and whites at the same school
that the way it was, was wrong
great people taking a stand and making the world a better place
Americans want....
freedom forever
the world to be a better place
peace
everyone to have food and shelter
for segregation to never happen again
things to be fair
to change the past
everyone to feel safe
everyone to get along
Americans feel...
more equality than in the 1950s
happy that they are living in a safe place
proud of their country because of freedom
sad about how people were treated
happy about going to the same school
that segregation was wrong
brave for sticking up for each other
Today, the United States is a place where...
people can be treated fairly
people can be free
segregation should be gone forever
all people have equal rights
everyone is a person
