Driving Miss Daisy

 Driving Miss Daisy is a film from the 1989s starring Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, and Dan Aykroyd. It takes place during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. This film is about a woman who suffers from early stage dementia and forgets how to operate a vehicle. The opening scene shows her crashing the car because she forgot what gear to put it in. Her son then decides to hire a man, named Hoke, to drive her around. Hoke is an African American man and therefore Miss Daisy is a bit hesitant, not only because of his race but because she does not want to admit that she can no longer transport herself anywhere. 

This film not only shows prejudice against African Americans, but against the jewish community. Both Miss Daisy and her son are Jewish. There is a significant scene in the movie where Hoke is driving Miss Daisy across state lines. They get pulled over by two police men asking Hoke where he got the car and if he was allowed to drive. They then saw Miss Daisy's last name on the registration and asked her what kind of name it was. She told them it was German. The officers' prejudice shows after Hoke and Miss Daisy drive away when they call the both of them slurs. 

At the end of the movie Miss Daisy and Hoke become very good friends and confide in each other. Miss Daisy teaches Hoke how to read and Hoke helps Miss Daisy all around her house and garden. They bond over their love for Martin Luther King Jr. and Miss Daisy goes to hear him speak. In the end, they both realize they have more in common than they had realized and form a lovely friendship. 

Trial/EOTO Reaction

 The trial of Brown v. the Board of Education was a major turning point during the civil rights movement that greatly benefitted African American citizens. It ended the separate but equal policy, that resulted from Plessy v. Ferguson, within school districts. Up until this trial, African American children were forced to attend a separate segregated school. These schools claimed to be the equivalent to those in which white students were attending; however, they did not even meet the quality of the white schools. After this trial occurred, schools were then integrated. 

The first EOTO presentation group that presented was those explaining the events that hindered African American citizens. These included discussions of the KKK and how lynching and violence was a very serious concern. African Americans could be physically harmed by this violence at any moment and any time. Another topic that was discussed was the film, The Birth of a Nation. This film tells the story of the KKK as the protagonist. This filmed had a very negative portrayal of African Americans and was extremely racist as well as offensive. Violence like this led to acts like the Mississippi burning. African Americans were at risk of losing their lives for so much as riding a bus. 

The second group to present was those explaining the events that benefitted African American citizens during this time. Some examples of these are the Great Migration. This was when African Americans would pack up and leave their homes in the Jim Crow south to seek refuge in the North. During this time, it was a big deal to move away because there was a good chance that they would never see their loved ones again. They were forced out of their childhood hometowns. Communication technology was not as advanced as it is today. It was much harder for people to remain in touch. 

Trial Post- Economic Argument

    Good afternoon. I come before you today to discuss our economy and how the separate but equal effect that resulted from Plessy v. Ferguson negatively affects the United States economy. 

    Think about how much it costs to create water fountains, schools, train cars, etc.; now take that price, and double it. This actively demonstrates the expense of having to uphold these absurd separate but “equal” policies. Think about all the money that our tax paying citizens contribute for the purpose of providing a superb education for their children. Now take this tax money and divide it half. Only half of the tax money is going to your child's schooling, transportation, water fountains, and restrooms. This does not provide our children with a superb lifestyle, it provides them with a substandard one.

     I am going to lay it out for you plain and simple. Upholding the Jim Crow, segregation, separate but equal, guidelines costs an arm and a leg from the federal government. Think about how much better your childrens’ education would be if you did not have to pay for double the amount of schools, staff, and books. Think about how the quality and quantity of public transportation such as buses, trains, ferries, and airplanes would all be greatly improved if we did not have to pay times two for everything. If we were to integrate all schools, public transports, and public accommodations, for the purpose of saving money, there would be more tax money available for military funding and spending. 

    To sum up everything that has been stated so far, segregation doubles federal spending on schools, restrooms, water fountains, public transports and faculty and staff to work them. It would be more beneficial to be integrated for the purpose of saving money and benefitting our nation's economic standing. The most important thing to focus our attention on is the education of our children. Do not provide your children with a substandard education because of this division and unnecessary separation. Do not deprive African American children of their right to have a lawful and aboveboard education and future. Afterall, these children are our legacy. They are the potential leaders, commanders, officers, and managers. They are the future of the United States of America and each and every one of them deserves a blue-ribbon education.