history

Description

If you watch the entire film (it’s about an hour and 50 minutes) and take some decent notes, you should be able to earn some easy points here. Plus, this is one of my favorite documentaries about a really important event in American history, and it ends on kind of a positive note (a rare thing for our class, I know!). You also really get to see the face of racism in the 1960s, as well as gain some insight into the Kennedy Administration, and you’ll learn how persistence, courage, and unity accomplished tremendous things. It really is an inspiring story.

Watch the posted film on the Freedom Rides. The film covers an important event in the history of civil rights in the United States.

Take notes and write up a summary of the film. Your summary should be detailed, and should contain detailed information, including some names and dates and locations. The dates should be really easy to include since there are big title cards for each important date.

The best way to do this is to watch the film and take some notes on the computer as you do so. Remember your goal with the notes it twofold: First, the notes show that you were paying attention and understood the main parts of the film, and second, it shows me that you watched the whole thing, so you want to include enough detail to prove that you watched it from start to finish. You can also include any questions that you might have about the events or your general reactions to it, but you don’t want the whole summary to be your reaction or questions.

In addition, include a final paragraph where you answer the following questions:

1. What did it mean for the students under Diane Nash to go on the rides? What were they giving up/risking? Do you think you would have gotten on the bus knowing what they did?

2. How did the federal government (i.e. the president) respond to the rides?

3. What were the consequences, the legacy, of the Freedom Rides?

4. What are your final thoughts on this film and the Freedom Riders?

Your write up should be about 3-4 full pages double-spaced, but it can be longer if you need to. Don’t forget a heading with your name and date!