Listen to Fannie Lou Hamer's testimony about her experiences when she tried to register to vote at the National Democratic Convention here.
Even though Americans actively participated in non-violent protest, they were often confronted with excessive violence, particularly during the 1960s.
Consider the impact of these two ideologies, non-violent strategies toward racial intergration and black nationalism, on African American history and culture.
Have your readings, personal experiences, viewings and class discussion pertaining to the 1960s affirmed, challenged, or changed what you understand about America, African American culture or Black identity? If so how?
I really enjoyed hearing for the first time Martin Luther King Jr.'s perspective on love and non-violent resistance. He said... if you are using violence then you have no love for the oppressor, He believed love would change the world and that violence even if successful would only manifest more social problems.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that LBJ did a press conference just because Fannie Lou Hamers testimony would shock the US. My views have changed because I never learned about this in school nobody wanted to talk about how the white officers raped black women in jail it was just unheard of in school
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed learning that there weren't only male civil rights leaders or activist but there were women also like Fannie Lou Hamer's who told her story but it didn't make it publicly. As an African-American female I am proud to know that there were other African -American women who stood up for their rights.
ReplyDeleteI found it shocking about LBJs holding a press conference during Fannie Lou Hamers testimony as well, because it shows how easily our media resources can be manipulated by the government. It made me wonder what else is out there being covered up because the governement does not want us to know about it.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the testimony of Fannie Lou Hamer was very powerful! If I was Lyndon Johnson I would've been afraid of her powerful words as well. She was the epitome of a strong black woman and her telling her truth was very commendable. Whereas most people would shy away she stood her group and made the world aware of what was really going on in a place like Mississippi while the world were trying to cover up the governments ill treatment of African Americans.
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing how the media can try to hide instances like this in order to sway the public's view in a particular way. When you watch the news, and they switch to a broadcast of President Lyndon B. Johnson talking about something irrelevant, some people will not think twice as to the reason, but it is pretty obvious that the reason is to oppress a particular viewpoint that could make police department look poor.
ReplyDeleteThe discussion about Fannie Lou amazed me, because it showed that even our president who is suppose to represent ALL people, would schedule a press conference so American citizens wouldn't be able to hear a speech about injustice. This lesson taught me that when people like LBJ try to deny that an issue exists, it only makes it worse.
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