The Civil Rights Struggle

The Civil Rights Struggle

You have been assigned to assume the character of a leading Civil Rights figure. Your task is to research your reformer and answer the following six questions, creating a biography sheet for “yourself” that includes a picture, dates of life, and information that includes these six questions. In addition to the biography sheet, please provide a “nameplate” that identifies you (and any information you wish to share). You may earn extra credit for bringing a “prop” that helps your “date” identify you—something from your individual’s past or present. (Be creative).

During the speed dating, you will have about 2 minutes to share your story and to listen to the story of the person with whom you are paired. It will be your “task” to figure out who you have “met” and who you still need to meet. At the signal, both people seated at the desks will move.

Use your notes, the textbook, and online credible resources to research.

PART I: Biography Questions

1.  What personal experiences and beliefs shaped the person’s views on civil rights ?

2.  What methods/actions did the person use to improve civil rights?

3.  What success did the individual have in promoting civil rights?

4.  What detail(s) of the person’s work made him or her an interesting historical figure.

5.  To what extent was the figure obsessed with achieving an impractical goal through fanatical or impractical means?

6.  What lasting impact did the person’s efforts have on American society?

PART II: After the speed dating, you must answer the following general questions about civil rights figures.

1.  List several evils that the civil rights figures tried to eliminate.

2.  What factors created a climate favorable to reform in the mid-twentieth century?

3.  What common vision of a better world did these individuals have?

4.  What motives drove some of the reforms of this era?

5.  To what extent did these figures achieve success toward their goals in the period 1950-1970?

Name ______

Civil Rights Figure ______

PART III:

A commission has been established to create a national memorial dedicated to the most important figures of the 20th century civil rights movement, sort of a Mt. Rushmore of Civil Rights. It’s a given that MLK will be one of the 4 figures. Your task is to propose the three names that will accompany him into posterity. Select the three and then explain why the contributions of each warrant their inclusion as the most important figures of the movement.

Your task may be

1) written/typed. (3/4 to 1 page)

OR

2) Submit a visual design or layout of the memorial. Make sure to identify the figures with a sentence explaining their choice.