Civil Rights in the 20th Century
Reflection
My experience in this program, in conjunction with my years of experience as an AP teacher have provided me the opportunity to grow the skills of historical interpretation and synthesis and implement them into my practice. To “do” history in earnest. In my final project for Civil Rights in the 20th Century, my research on Dick Gregory required me to examine primary sources and set them within the context of existing histories of the Birmingham Campaign. It also provided me the opportunity to deal with the very real struggle with selectivity in examining sources, considering the mountain of primary sources I was able to gather. Newspaper articles, telegrams, and memos needed to be compared to Glen Eskew’s authoritative history on the subject, But for Birmingham and Barbara Freeman and John Richardson’s more critical view interpretation of the press coverage there in 1963. Turning my research into a mini documentary allowed me to examine Gregory in a new light as I was able to examine photos of Gregory demonstrating in the south, film and audio of his performances, and his repertoire of material for his act (replete with its scathing commentary on race in America) and combine it with my research to enrich my interpretation and give it life. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I’d had in the program.