Read document #4, "The Movement" by Anne Moody.
PROMPT:
You are a member of the Sit-in Movement in
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Prompt #4: Sit-Ins
Read document #4, "The Movement" by Anne Moody.
PROMPT:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
Read document #4, "The Movement" by Anne Moody.
PROMPT:
Everything is worth it! If i am able to help give future generations peace- what I fought for- then there's nothing better. As hard as it looks, I stayed motivated and peaceful even though I had someone's full course lunch on my back. I was able to keep the peace because I had my eyes on the prize: equal rights for African Americans. Nothing would be better to me then to participate in such a nonviolent movement.
ReplyDeleteI believe every moment is worth it! I remain peaceful knowing I am creating a smooth path for generations to come, knowing one day they will not have to face and go through half the problems I did. It is worth every drop of spit, to know my kids will one day sit in the same class room as white kids, and receive a good education because they deserve it, and not be turned away because of the color of their skin. I know one day black kids will walk down the street with their heads high knowing they finally have that right, sit at this same lunch counter and be able to eat with out the name calling, blows to the head and the spit is a great feeling. Every time I feel a drop of spit I grind my teeth, but hold it in, I know violence won’t solve anything, an eye for an eye, just goes back and forth. And at the end of the day no one wins, “eyes” are just lost. –DIAMOND-
ReplyDeleteI agree with Olivia. I would do the same regardless of the violence I would encounter. The key to winning the war for African American equality is bravery. No matter how difficult the challenge is, we must always be brave so that we can fight and surpass our adversities that prevent us from living in a just society. Especially during sit-ins, we have to remain peaceful so we can suppress violent actions. In order to remain peaceful during sit-ins you must consciously remind yourself of the cause you are fighting for, which are equal rights for African Americans, as Olivia put it. Activists, who still have fears of violence, have NO FEAR because this cause is worth everything because this is the war for equality.
ReplyDeleteWhile all of us were planning these events, we were fully aware that we would have to deal with violence and cruelty from the whites. We were clearly somewhere they did not want us but we all believe that we have the right to sit and eat wherever we want. No one has power over us and no one will tell us where we can and cannot eat. We were able to remain non violent because we are stronger and we have the ability to say what we want and are fighting for without violence. All we want is to be equal and we will not fight violently to achieve that because someday the whites will realize how dumb they are acting and realize we never fought them we just stood up for what we wanted. All of what we do is worth it. If I can help my children be more equal in the world I would do anything.
ReplyDeletePlanning the sit-in was rough. We were warned of the trouble that would be caused, the roughness we would face, and the aggression we would experience. It was frightening, but we didn't have a clue about the actual event. When we began the sit-in, we were calm because not much happened, but that changed. We were assaulted and abused. But we were persistent. The peace we had within wasn't due to ourselves. We were strengthened by our God, and the belief that we should stand up (or sit down in this case) for what we know to be right. We should pave the way for justice, because when justice comes, so will equality. As the movement continues to increase in activity, I see that our actions were definitely worth it.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the sit in, although it's pretty terrible now later I will look back on it with pride. If we get enough people to do them at once then the beatings and humiliation will get less severe. So a big part of my job is to go to college campuses to get people to do them. Overall planning these things I am pretty confident it won't be too bad but it always is. our reactions to the violence is always calmness and a little resistance. In the long run this non-violent approach will be praised and the opposition will be seen through a bad perception filter.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what violence I may face, I know in the long run everything will be rightfully justified in the future. By me sitting calmly at a segregated lunch counter and fighting non-violently for my rights, I am the stronger person. Though food may be dripping down the side of my face and the segregationists are chanting the most hurtful words you can possibly imagine; I am strong. Strong people have the ability to overcome even the most largest obstacles by protesting the most peaceful way. Though I am only a student, I am a warrior willing to fight to the death for my freedom of self, liberty, and justice.
ReplyDelete"While all of us were planning these events, we were fully aware that we would have to deal with violence and cruelty from the whites."-Briana
I completely agree. I know that I was about to march on the most gruelsome feild of all. I know that by sitting at that counter, I entered myself into a battle. Those angry white segregationists were only afraid. They were afraid because we did not wince at hateful remarks; we stood our ground. Through all of the blood, pain, and food stains, those white's knew deep down inside that there was no stopping us.
It is most certainly heart wrenching to be so brutally disrespected by other people. However, I know that this is the only path I can take to claim the rights I deserve. The reassurance that what I am doing will eventually yield positive results is the mantra that is keeping me from reacting with violence against these horrible people. Contrary to the common expression, here the ends will have to justify the means. Unfortunately, until that end comes, I will have to cope.
ReplyDeleteEverything I am doing is worth it. To know that I am playing a big roll in the civil rights movement makes me proud. While plannig for this, i knew about all the violence i would encounter. But knowing how this will turn out, it's all worth it. I feel it in the air that integration is in the near future. When poeple spit and hit me, I will just remember about the promising future ahead of me. My will to survive is unmatched.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what john has said. Participating in sitins now is unthinkable, but the outlook of how the future can become in unmatched. Sitins are necesary to help the world realize that blacks and whites are equal.
ReplyDeleteI believe everything they are doing is defiantly worth it. You need to fight for what you believe in, and they are doing it in what I think is the best way possible, with non-violence. This way they can get their point across is a very mature manner. However, I am sure they will encounter a lot of pain and suffering for what they are doing now. In the long run it is going to be very well worth it, because you need to try until you finally reach what it is you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing to lose but everything to gain, and that is the equality of my people. I was terrified by the thought of the violence that I would have to bear but by being brave I will be paving a new, brighter future for all the people of color. The movement was worth it because I know that the whites will see what is actually happening, they will see that they have no reason to hate us and they will join us slowly, one by one. It was the whites the used violence against us and we are not giving them the reaction that they want. The shame is on them, I am not fighting back with violence but instead playing with their minds and in the end they will be defeated. They think that they could take everything from me by their violence but they can’t take my pride. We are strong because of our faith and I believe that the righteous will be victorious in the end.
ReplyDeleteI am torn with the decision to stay in my seat and get beaten up or to leave and give the vicious whites what they want. By leaving my seat I would be letting the whites win, and I would be protecting myself. What do I really need protection from? Being segreagated is a punishment in itself. Staying seated at the counter is my way of doing what is right, and my way of contributing to the movement. The only way to get my point across is to remain civilized. If I fight back, my message of peace and togetherness is controdicted. I am physically and emotionally exhauseted, but I have to keep sitting.
ReplyDeleteThe sit in I have been a part in have all been violent sit ins. I have been spat on, I have had condiments thrown on me and I have been beaten up. But I enjoy organizing and participating in sit ins. I know one day it will be me and my fellow people who helped this country become a better place and I like the though of that. It’s hard to remain peaceful but I just have to try to remain calm and think about the future and how it will soon all be better for everyone. I am sometimes surprised by the way people act its like we are not human being the rudeness and violence can be discouraging sometimes.
ReplyDeleteIt was very hard to remain peaceful, especially when my friends were being punched and condiments were being poured on all of us. Knowing that what we were doing was for a right cause, ending segregation, made it worth it. I do not regret a moment of it and wish that this helps the Civil War Movement. I hope that this makes other African American's life's easier and more tolerable. I hope this brings us one step forward into to ending segregation.
ReplyDeleteit was super frustrating to stay put and not jump at them, when they were humiliating and assaulting my friends and me. even though we were humiliated , i still strongly believe that we one. no violence, no verbal abuse, just simply staying strong for what you believe in. it was completely worth it, to know that i was helping the Civil Rights Movement, helping the African America's lives and the discrimination in the country, is gratifying enough
ReplyDeleteit was really maddening that all we wanted was to sit somewhere to eat, only to be assaulted violently. It really hard to remain calm and quiet. I almost snapped this one time, when some white guy came up and made a smiley face on my applepie with mustard. Disgusting. Who eats mustard on apple pie. It was definately worth it though, because now i can eat at white diners.
ReplyDeleteThis was all well worth it even though it may have been one of the msot frustrating experiences of my life, sitting not being able to do anything back to any of the white people. Everything worth gaining in this struggle comes at a price, this sit in was somehting that needed to be done, i have no regrets.
ReplyDeleteI knew that we were facing extreme violence. I was ready for it, and was going to take it in order to gain something for my race. I remained calm knowing that one day my people will get not only what they have been fighting for for centuries, but what we deserve. I know that being civil and not causing violence is the best way to go about this, and I was successful in doing this. This sit in was definately worth it becuase people saw what we are going to do to get equality and I don't regret any decisions or choices I made along the road.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I was scared out of my mind walking into a restaurant. I expected anger and negative reactions from the white people surrounding us, and the haunting thought of devastation lingered in the back of my head. I knew all too well what racism is capable of, and death and abuse are usually aftermaths. But I was certain that being involved with this movement was the right decision. It gave me a purpose in this segregated hell. After being attacked at the lunch counter, and being thrown out by the mob, I believe that these efforts ARE worth it. Little by little, we will make a difference. I know in my heart that I am as good as anyone else and that I deserve to sit at the same table as a white girl my age and size and have a sandwich. We are both human beings. The immense hatred and glares lashed upon me as I sat at the counter shocked me and took my breath away. How is it possible that someone as poor and average as me can cause an impact? It was empowering. When I was being pushed and slapped it was very hard to remain stoic. But I clamped my teeth together and looked at the far wall, with the peaceful words of Martin Luther King playing in my head...and I survived.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if I completely agree with Olivia because I don't think EVERYTHING is worth it. When my friend is lying on the ground, bleeding, and a man comes and kicks her over and over in the face until she is close to death...is it still worth it? If she died? Is it worth it? I am proud of all of us in the sit-in movement for speaking up for our beliefs-- but occasionally I wonder if placing our lives on the line and feeling that absence of God and having no one to protect you, and seeing your friend loose consciousness....
ReplyDeleteis worth it.