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.