What stands out most about this film is the tenacity and will of the civil rights activists who confronted racial segregation in the American South in the early 1960s. Sit-ins, boycotts, and freedom rides are all seen in the film as methods of resisting segregation in public facilities and the movement (7eventytimes7, 2016). Activists persisted in organizing peaceful demonstrations in the face of threats, assaults, and arrests by police and segregationist mobs. The sequence when North Carolina University students kept their sit-in protest going despite being harassed and assaulted by a crowd of white segregationists was the most moving part of the film (CrashCourse, 2022). The students’ bravery and resolve in fighting for their rights and questioning the status quo were inspiring. Ultimately, this lesson stands out because it demonstrates that social change is possible through nonviolence and perseverance despite seemingly impassable challenges.
This movie information supplements classroom study of the civil rights struggles by visually depicting key events and activist strategies. Both the text information and the film on the sit-ins and freedom rides highlight the nonviolent resistance tactics used by civil rights activists (CrashCourse, 2013). The history of the civil rights struggle is brought to life via the video’s more realistic and expressive representation of the events.
This video information can be related to the larger world by highlighting the ongoing struggle for civil rights and social justice worldwide. Several current social justice groups, like women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, and Black Lives Matter, may draw from the Civil Rights Movement’s example of peaceful resistance and perseverance in the face of persecution (O’Connell, 2020). The movie has the potential to inspire people to make changes for the better in the world. It is a timely reminder of the need of standing up for what is right and challenging unjust systems (CrashCourse, 2022). For instance, the video’s depiction of civil rights campaigners demonstrates how nonviolent demonstrations and public education may lead to meaningful change (7eventytimes7, 2016). These deeds show that people can overcome insurmountable challenges and bring positive change when banding together. Moreover, the movie reminds viewers of the need to maintain the battle for social justice and the equitable protection of human rights.
References
7eventytimes7. (2016). Eyes On the Prize – (Part 3) Ain’t Scared of Your Jails 1960–1961 [Video]. YouTube. Web.
CrashCourse. (2013). Civil Rights and the 1950s: Crash Course US History #39[Video].YouTube. Web.
CrashCourse. (2022). Martin Luther King, Jr: Crash Course Black American History #36 [Video].YouTube. Web.
O’Connell, J. E. C. (2020). The American Yawp Chapter 27: The Sixties. American YAWP. Web.