The Horrors of June 21, 1964

Engl 165-16 Fall '22, March Blog Prompt

Tags: , , , ,

Mickey Schwerner, Andy Goodman, and James Chaney were all civil rights activists who were working on a project for the Congress of Racial Equality, or CORE for short. One of their main goals was to get black people to register to vote in Mississippi. Mickey Schwerner was married to Rita Schwerner Bender who was also a civil rights activist in Mississippi. Before moving to Mississippi, Schwerner led a CORE group in Manhattan and was also helping in trying to desegregate Maryland. Andrew Goodman had grown up in a community that was very big into activism and socially progressive. James Chaney was very big on activism from his teen years and continued into his adulthood. He had been a part of the freedom bus rides that traveled from Tennessee to Mississippi. 

They were attacked by KKK members and were killed while traveling back to Mississippi from Ohio. They were first stopped by a deputy for speeding and once released they continued on their way back to Meridian. The deputy followed them all the way to the county line where he once again pulled them over but instead of taking them into the station he took them to a deserted area. The deputy turned them over to the KKK where they were severely beaten and shot then they were buried and remained undiscovered for over 40 days. They were traveling to a church that had been burned down that they were planning on using as a freedom school. It was as they were returning from the church that they were harassed by the deputy and taken to a secluded area. There were 18 men arrested in regard to their murder yet only ten were actually convicted of anything. None of the men arrested had a trial held for murdering Schwerner, Goodman, and Chaney. 

 

 

Victims of Hate.

Engl 165-04 Fall '22, Engl 165-16 Fall '22

Tags: , , ,

Three men were brought to the attention of the public when they disappeared near a town named Philadelphia in Mississippi. 

Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney were victims of heinous murders committed by the Klu Klux Klan. They were targeted because of their involvement in civil right activism. Schwerner and Goodman were members of the Congress of Racial Equality, also known as the CORE. 

Michael Schwerner was not only an activist but was a husband. He was married to Rita Levant, at the time of his death she was attending Queen’s College. He grew up in New York City and was raised by his father and mother, Nathan and Ann Schwerner. 

Like Schwerner, Andrew Goodman was also from New York City. He was the son of Robert Goodman and Carolyn Goodman and the brother of Johnathan and David. At the time of his death, he was still attending college. He died at age 20. 

James Chaney was one of two sons  Fannie Lee and Ben Chaney had. His little brother’s name was Ben, he was only nine years younger than him. Unlike Schwerner and Goodman, Chaney was born in Meridian, Mississippi. 

All three victims had families they were ripped away from. They were ripped away from the opportunity to continue to advocate for civil rights. They were ripped away from their lives by individuals with such heinous intentions. Unfortunately, they are known for their murders but should be recognized for their lives and the impact they were trying to make.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-kkk-kills-three-civil-rights-activistshttps://www.visitmeridian.com/explore/historic-trail-markers/civil-rights/civil-rights-trail-marker-18/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/freedomsummer-murder/

 
1 Comment

Freedom?

Engl 165-16 Fall '22, March Blog Prompt

Tags: , , ,

What would I do for freedom? I can start writing about how I would protest and participate in everything to gain my freedom. I can say that I would be part of every protest and be okay with getting arrested and staying in jail for however long the law deems fit like the Freedom Fighters did when fighting for their freedom and rights. The reality of the situation is that I do not know what I would do in that situation until it actually happens. When you grow up in a life without freedom you can start to lose hope and think that nothing will ever change no matter how hard you try. That mentality would seriously diminish any fight you could have had to make changes in your freedom and others’ freedom. That is not to say I have never spoken out and been an activist but I have never gone to protests because I could not. I had wanted to go to protests in DC when Roe v Wade was overturned and during the BLM movement but I was never able to because I had no way of getting there. I would always try to sign petitions and do as much as I could with what I was able to. The thing is you never know if signing petitions actually helps anything or if it is just a way to make the person feel as if they had done something helpful. Even though I have spoken out about issues in government and things I disagree with I will never know if I could be part of their sit-ins and be completely peaceful when people shout and throw stuff at me. I would like to say that I would do everything in my power to get freedom for myself but that is just a hope I have for myself. 

 
2 Comments

Time to Build my Identity as an Activist

Engl 165-04 Fall '22, Engl 165-16 Fall '22

Tags: , , ,

You can always do more! So why haven’t I? 

I could answer that I don’t pay much attention to the news or “politics” in general, which would be true but that’s the problem. It is a problem that I am walking around oblivious to what people are facing today in this world. I should be searching to get involved, the resources are at my fingertips. I am surrounded with so many opportunities. 

Answering the question “Who are you as an activist?” was difficult to find an answer to. I sat with it and really dwelled on the question. After thinking I came to the conclusion that I don’t feel I have much of an identity to claim myself as an activist. I feel I find myself self advocating often. I self advocate in school, to my teachers. At times I even have to advocate for myself when I am with friends or family. But there are also times I advocate for them as well, my little brother especially. I asked myself why I feel the need to advocate for him?  The answer brought me so much clarity. It’s simply because I am protective of him. He’s my baby brother, how could I not be? I love him and would do absolutely anything for him. 

So why can I not apply this to my peers? I may not have the same love for them the way I do my baby brother but I am one in the same as my peers. We are all people. I would go far lengths to protect my rights. It could be me in their situation and I know I thrive with support. 

As a young adult I have the accessibility to do my part as an individual to support my peers. I have to take the responsibility to seek knowledge and give out my support to those who need it. I have the opportunity to build my identity as an activist.

 

 
2 Comments

What Would I Do for Freedom?

Engl 165-16 Fall '22

Tags:

African Americans weren’t protesting to just protest. They wanted to be heard, so they got louder. Discrimination was really bad on African Americans back then, but the problem begins when it still proceeds to happen today. Activism grew strong in the African American community because of their hardships. The definition of activism is the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change. If I was an activist, it’d be for politics. Politics just seems like such an unfair opportunity that some people don’t deserve. The career over time has been taken advantage of by old white men who are making empty promises. Term limits in politics need to first, be instituted and then rigorously enforced. I’d like to see more diversity in politics as well. In the past I would advocate for the BLM movement by posting videos and trying my best to spread the word. If I was to play a role as an activist now, I’d most likely play the leader. I’d want to be heard, I’d want people to lay their trust in me, and I’d want to be able to make change happen. Nowadays activism happens all the time, maybe activism in the past paved the way for activism in today’s time. Activism happens when people aren’t being treated fairly, so they protest in order to be given what they deserve, or what they are entitled to. Examples of activism in today’s time are protesting for better working conditions, pay, jobs, and for simple human rights. For my freedom I would follow the African Americans example and fight. I wouldn’t sit still and let my rights be taken from me. I couldn’t imagine being restricted in life for not having rights. I’d fight for my right to be a college student and for my right to learn. It was harder for African Americans because they didn’t have any rights to begin with. The community endured, then stood up and fought for rights they were never given. African Americans fought for their rights, and they won. Activism is one of the most effective ways to get what you deserve or are entitled to in today’s time.

 
4 Comments

What Would YOU Do for F’eedom?

Engl 165-16 Fall '22

Tags: , , , ,

What would you do for the freedom you enjoy every . . . single . . . day!!!?

Think about the pages you’ve read for this week and then think about the following questions to help you decide what lengths you would go to for the right to go to school to get an education, to have the right to vote, to apply to any college you wish, to apply to any job you want AND be considered if your qualify.

  1. Who are you as an activist?
  2. What role/s have you played or can you see yourself playing?
  3. What type of activism do you see at work in today’s society?
  4. Is it effective and why or why not??

I argue that EVERYONE is an activist in one way or another. What is your way?

[picture from https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/06/18/193128475/how-the-civil-rights-movement-was-covered-in-birmingham]

 
1 Comment

3 Innocent Lives Taken by the KKK

Engl 165-04 Fall '22

Tags: , , , ,

Mickey Schwerner, Andy Goodman, and James Chaney were Civil Rights Workers. They worked in Mississippi, registering black Americans to vote. They were killed by the KKK for their actions of fighting for equality for all. The men were caught in a trap by the KKK on their way back to Meridian. A police officer pulled them over to arrest them. After being released, they were then attacked by members of the Ku Klux Klan, and shot to death.

Mickey Schwerner moved to Mississippi with his wife, Rita, after he was hired to work for the CORE. Prior to this career plan, he attended Michigan State University and Cornell. At Cornell, he was known for working to have a colored student be accepted into a fraternity. Schwerner was originally from the North but felt the need to go down South with hopes of making a change. The casualties of the other 2 men were because the KKK wanted to go after Mickey; however, Goodman and Chaney were with Mickey at the time. He chose to go to Mississippi because he believed he could make the most difference there with the higher number of white-surpemacists.

Andrew Goodman was also born in New York. He was a Jewish-American who became a Civil Rights Activist while studying at Queen’s College. He joined CORE while attending. As part of the Freedom Summer Campaign, Goodman was sent to Meridian along with Schwerner and Chaney. They first met with the families and members of the Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Longdale to see how they were doing after their church had been burnt down by the KKK.

James Chaney was born and raised in Meridian, Mississippi. From an early age, he was taught to have a great amount of racial pride. Him and his friends were suspended in high school for wearing buttons demonstrating their activism. Fighting for his rights was always something that felt very important to him. James had never gotten married. He participated in the Freedom Rides before becoming part of CORE. Chaney worked with colleagues, Goodman and Schwerner to investigate the church bombing. This was a trip that unfortunately, the men never made it home from.

I believe that I would join a cause that had the potential to get me harmed if it was something that was very important to me. I have always been raised to stand up for what I am passionate for and would like to believe that if it was needed, then I would have the courage to take a stand and fight for what I believe in.

Linderd. (2021). Michael Schwerner Biography. Biography of Michael Schwerner. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/price&bowers/Schwerner.htm

Missing Fbi Poster urging for information about the whereabouts of Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner. (2019). The Andrew Goodman Foundation. photograph. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://andrewgoodman.org/news-list/living-the-legacy-of-goodman-chaney-and-schwerner-55-years-later/.

The Stonesong Press Inc. and The New York Public Library, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2021, November 28).
Andrew Goodman, activist born. African American Registry. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://aaregistry.org/story/andrew-goodman-activist-who-gave-his-life/

University of North Carolina Press. (2021, November 28). James Chaney, activist born. African American Registry. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://aaregistry.org/story/james-chaney-fought-for-civil-rights/

 
3 Comments

The Case of Three Missing Activists

Engl 165-04 Fall '22

Tags: , , ,

Murder_fbiposter_700.jpg

The blog post for this week is a little different from the ones we have done in the past. It is about the disappearance of Mickey Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andy Goodman. All three of these men were civil rights activists. This story took place during a time when the Klu Klux Klan was growing in members and was a very active organization. The KKK burned down many churches, one of which was Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Neshoba County, Mississippi. The KKK also beat people who had a meeting held there. Schwerner worked there but was out of town. After hearing news about the burning, Schwerner, Goodman, and Chaney all drove over to investigate what remained. While driving there the three were pulled over. Chaney was arrested for speeding, and the others were arrested for possible involvement in the burning. After being arrested, the three men were released and asked to leave town immediately. While leaving, the three men were being followed by a gang of white men and were pulled over to a nearby gravel road where they were shot, killed, and buried. Their bodies were found roughly forty days after they went missing. 

Mickey Schwerner and James Chaney worked for the Congress of Racial Equality, while Andy Goodman was a student who was part of the Mississippi Summer Project. All three were associated with the Council of Federated Organizations. Schwerner had a wife, Rita, who used this case to help bring attention to victims of racial violence who were overlooked. They wanted to make a difference just like others who fought for civil rights. 

It is hard to answer whether or not I would join a cause if I knew I was risking my life because I have not been in the situation before. Personally, I do not think I would because I do not think I could risk my life. These men were so brave to fight for what they believed in, even though they knew what could and would eventually happen. I just do not think I could do it after reading so many brutal stories like this one.

( Info from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/freedomsummer-murder/ AND https://mscivilrightsproject.org/neshoba/event-neshoba/the-murder-of-chaney-goodman-and-schwerner/ ).

 
1 Comment

Baptist Church Bombing: A Tragedy

Engl 165-04 Fall '22

Tags: , ,

One event in March book three, pages 1-61, that stood out to me the most was the 16th street church bombing. This event was tragic and heartbreaking. Since the church was a meeting place for civil rights activist groups, it was unfortunately targeted.  This makes the event even more disheartening. The news coverage it seemed to get at the time is also somewhat unsettling.

In the book, the news report said that the church bombing was breaking news and that no causalities had been reported at the time. However, as we know, there were four causalities and many injuries. Today, any causalities or injuries would be known almost instantly and would get worldwide attention for weeks. If you look up the bombing today, there are countless reports and pictures and videos about the four girls that unfortunately lost their lives. They are honored and respected and even still mourned. Where was that national coverage for them in the 60s?

I personally think that no matter where the activists decided to meet, the same thing would have happened. Their actions were pure and honest, and they were only working for the human good. They could not have changed their actions or choices in order to have a different outcome. As unfortunate as that sounds, I honestly believe it was true. Sadly, people filled with hate will carry out actions of hate no matter what.

The people that witnessed this bombing had a choice as to what to do with the information they knew. After the bombing, there were four suspects, but due to witnesses being too reluctant to talk, they weren’t convicted until many years later. If I could put myself in the shoes of one of the witnesses, I would tell the truth about what I saw and work my hardest to get justice.

 
5 Comments

Freedom and Activism

Engl 165-04 Fall '22

Tags: , ,

The Birmingham Campaign – 1963 | Black Then

After reading this weeks’ assigned pages in March Book Two, it really got myself, and other students reading these pages thinking about what lengths we would go to for the right to go to school to get an education, to have the right to vote, etc? Although I am taking a class about leadership, I, unfortunately, don’t see myself as one, so I don’t think I would go to great lengths myself, but with the help and support of others, I could see myself going to great lengths. The things that people of color couldn’t do back then weren’t small-scale issues. Getting an education is one of the most important things a person can do, and if I wasn’t allowed to get an education because of the color of my skin, I would be in outrage and would try my best to do something about it. I don’t know if I would risk my life for it, but I would still go to great lengths. 

I personally don’t see myself as an activist. I have my opinions on topics, but I tend to keep them to myself rather than advocating them, and maybe that’s something I should work on. I can see myself in the future partaking in large group activities like a protest for an issue that I feel strongly about. In today’s society, you see activism everywhere for every large-scale issue out there. Whether that be for human rights, for the environment, for politics, or for any other issue, there will be activism for it. I feel like activism is effective because essentially people will advocate for an issue until there is change. That’s the goal of activism. People who are passionate about a specific issue keep going and would rather not give up unless they have to.

As I said, I personally don’t see myself as a leader or activist, but if it was something I was passionate about like getting an education or having the right to vote, I could see myself going to great lengths to have the right to have those freedoms. Activism is a very important thing because, without it, there would be no hope in trying to resolve a large-scale issue.