*I have a dream - a must-read before Monday

One of the things you will be asked to discuss during the writing session on Monday is Martin Luther King Jr.'s world-known speech "I have a dream". Read the excerpt below, make sure you understand it and that you know what the "March on Washington" was. This text will also be handed out in class today. You should also see the video clip above - Martin Luther King Jr. was known for his great speeches and the way he delivered them. If the video does not work - click here!

"I have a dream"  

Speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. at the "March on Washington", 1963 (abridged) 

"[…] 

I say to you today, my friends, though, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."  

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.  

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream . . . I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.  

I have a dream today . . .  

[…] 

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning. "My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountain side, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.  

But not only that. Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi, from every mountain side. Let freedom ring. 

When we allow freedom to ring—when we let it ring from every city and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last, Free at last, Great God a-mighty, We are free at last." 

*How to prepare for Monday!

Rules of thumb when it comes to writing sessions:

1. Come prepared!
   1. Read through the timeline you made in the beginning of the semester. Look at the blog, notes from class and homework, and the compendium "American History".
   2. Read the excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I have a dream". See blog post above.
2. Read the tasks thoroughly! Make sure that you understand the tasks and that you know what the task is asking you to do.
3. Show your knowledge, but make sure that you stick to the topic.
4. Show that you have expanded your vocabulary by using words such as civil rights, independence, abolition, declaration, constitution, segregation, freedom fighter, equality, emancipation correctly.
5. Use connecting words and various ways to express your opinion. Avoid using the words VERY and REALLY! 
6. Read through your text thoroughly before you hand it in. Check for errors, typos, and verb conjugations. Your message must be clear – rewrite sentences if you are unsure. Make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as you have done earlier.
7. Remember:
1. That you can bring all the aids you need - but you cannot use the Internet. 
2. That you only have two school hours to complete the task - so come prepared.
3. Check this out. It´s just a hint.

*Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement sparked off with events such as the death of Emmett Till. And it truly sparked off when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man. She stood up against an unfair system and government by sitting down! It has been said that the death of Emmett Till and the trial afterwards had made Rosa Parks especially angry, and that he was in the back of her mind when she refused to move.

Read about the Civil Rights Movement in your compendium at page 20 - 21. Then write a summary of the text where you include the most important events and facts.

10EF: This is homework for Wednesday September 23. 

*Meet Malcolm X

Not everyone shared Martin Luther King's thoughts on gently and non-violently asking for civil rights.

Read the following text about Malcolm X.

Answer the following questions carefully in your book:

1. Why do you think young Malcolm was angry at the American Society?
2. Why did he take X as hs last name?
3. Why did he convert to Islam?
4. How did the pilgrimage to Mecca change his views?

If you like, you may watch this short film of Malcolm.

This is homework for Wednesday 23rd of September.

*American History essay

This week you are going to finish parts of your essay on American history. Your essay should include:

An introduction, with a clear thesis statement.

Three body paragraphs with clear topic sentences.

The three body paragraphs should be about

• The first settlers
• The War of Independence (and the Declaration of Independence)
• The Civil War and the abolition of slavery.

Feel free to include other paragraphs, and feel free to finish the essay. 

NB! Vary your language, use connecting words and use some of the new words you have learned while working with this topic:

civil rights, independence, abolition, declaration, constitution, segregation, freedom fighter, equality, emancipation

HW: For 10CDEF for Wednesday 16th. Upload the text on "itslearning" - go to Fag -> Engelsk skriftlig -> Essay American History

*The Death of Emmett Till

After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery there was a century in U.S. history where black Americans were free but far from equal. In the Southern states blacks were treated particularly bad. One event that partly sparked the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 60's was the death of a black boy named Emmett Till. The young artist Bob Dylan even wrote a song about it. Listen to the song and read the lyrics below. Then write a summary of what the lyrics are about. 

10CDEF: This is homework for Wednesday September 16th

The Death of Emmett Till 

’Twas down in Mississippi not so long ago
When a young boy from Chicago town stepped through a Southern door
This boy’s dreadful tragedy I can still remember well
The color of his skin was black and his name was Emmett Till

Some men they dragged him to a barn and there they beat him up
They said they had a reason, but I can’t remember what
They tortured him and did some things too evil to repeat
There were screaming sounds inside the barn, there was laughing sounds
out on the street

Then they rolled his body down a gulf amidst a bloody red rain
And they threw him in the waters wide to cease his screaming pain
The reason that they killed him there, and I’m sure it ain’t no lie
Was just for the fun of killin’ him and to watch him slowly die

And then to stop the United States of yelling for a trial
Two brothers they confessed that they had killed poor Emmett Till
But on the jury there were men who helped the brothers commit this
awful crime
And so this trial was a mockery, but nobody seemed to mind

I saw the morning papers but I could not bear to see
The smiling brothers walkin’ down the courthouse stairs
For the jury found them innocent and the brothers they went free
While Emmett’s body floats the foam of a Jim Crow southern sea

If you can’t speak out against this kind of thing, a crime that’s so unjust
Your eyes are filled with dead men’s dirt, your mind is filled with dust
Your arms and legs they must be in shackles and chains, and your blood
it must refuse to flow
For you let this human race fall down so God-awful low!

This song is just a reminder to remind your fellow man
That this kind of thing still lives today in that ghost-robed Ku Klux Klan
But if all of us folks that thinks alike, if we gave all we could give
We could make this great land of ours a greater place to live

Copyright © 1963, 1968 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1991, 1996 by Special Rider Music

*The Rabid Racists

The Ku Klux Klan was formed in 1866 after the Civil War had freed the slaves. Find out why the Ku Klux Klan was formed and give examples of what they did. Write at least half a page.

This is homework for 10EF for Monday September 7th.
This is homework for 10CD for Monday September 7th.

*Strange Fruit

Strange fruit was a poem written in 1937 by a teacher named Abel Meeropol. Many singers have performed it as a song - most famous is Billie Holiday's version.

Read the poem below and listen to Billie Holiday's version. Then write a text where you explain what you believe the poem is really about. Give examples from the poem. Write at least half a page.

Strange Fruit

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

This is homework for 10EF for Monday September 7th
This is homework for 10 CD for Monday September 7th

*Meet Langston Hughes

This is Langston Hughes. He was born in 1902. He is a famous poet, writer and playwright.

HW:

1) From what you have learned about American history, what was the USA like in 1902 for black people? Write a short text. Use specific vocabulary. (Ex: civil war, segregation, equality)

2) Read this short text about the Harlem Renaissance. 

3) Watch this film.

3) Describe in your own words what the Harlem Renaissance was and why Langston Hughes played an important part. 1/2-1 page.

10CD for Wednesday 9th of September
10EF for Wednesday 9th of September

*The American Civil War

The American Civil War is one of the most important events in American history. It is very important that you know why it broke out, and what it led to (AND what it didn't lead to).

HW:
1. Read the following two links:

North and South

Emancipation Proclamation

In addition you should read "The American Civil War" + the text about Abraham Lincoln on page 11 - 14 in the compendium.

2. Explain in your own words what caused the Civil War and how it ended.
3. Choose five words you did not know before, write them down and make new sentences with them.

10CDEF: For Monday 31st of August.

*Abraham Lincoln

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

On Monday you guys interpreted this excerpt from The Declaration of Independence (signed 4^th of July, 1776). It is time to jump forward some 75 years and get to know one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history; namely Abraham Lincoln. This is the guy who led U.S.A. through the Civil War (1861 – 1865) - trying to keep the country united while fighting for the freeing of the slaves. He believed that ALL men was created equal – not just the white man. Let’s just call him “Awesome Abe”, because he was truly awesome – THE Freedom Fighter of the 19^th century.

Take a look at the video-clip above. Write down 10 facts you find important to know when it comes to “Awesome Abe” and bring them to class.

10EF: This is homework for Monday 31st of August

*History of Slavery in the U.S.

You now know that president Lincoln freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. But what is the history of slavery in the U.S? Click HERE to learn more about it!

HW:
1. Read the article.
2. Write a short summary using your own words (about half a page).

10EF: This is homework for Wednesday September 2nd
10CD: This is homework for Wednesday September 2nd

*The Declaration of Independence

On Monday we will look into the American Revolution. For that lesson you are to read about the causes of the revolution + see the film clip above. This clip is about The Declaration of Independence. This declaration was actually a letter to King George III (in England) written by Thomas Jefferson. He was part of a committee which included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingstone and Roger Sherman. These five gentlemen have later been called "The Founding Fathers". On the 4th of July in 1776 the declaration was signed by all five (plus many many more "important" men) - a new nation was born!

Homework for 10EF for Monday the 24th: Read page 4 and 5 in the compendium. Then see the film clip above. Why do you think Thomas Jefferson and his crew wrote the declaration to the King in England? Think of what you have read and what you see in the film. Write at least half a page.

Homework for 10CD for Monday the 24th: Read page 4 and 5 in the compendium. Then see the film clip above. Why do you think Thomas Jefferson and his crew wrote the declaration to the King in England? Think of what you have read and what you see in the film. Write at least half a page.

*Star Spangled Banner

The Americans love their flag and their national anthem, and who can blame them when they have singers like Whitney Houston to perform it? (Well, had. Houston sadly passed away in 2012) Listen to this!



Others use the anthem to criticize the government, such as Jimi Hendrix at the Woodstock festival in 1969. Listen how he makes his guitar sound like bombs falling, as a critique against the war the American troops fought in Vietnam. This is probably one of the most famous performances of the song.

Homework for 10EF for Wednesday 26th: Listen to the two perfomances of "Star Spangled Banner". Then read page 7 and 8  in the compendium "American History". What do you believe is the main message of this song? Write half a page.

Homework for 10CD for Wednesday 26th: Listen to the two perfomances of "Star Spangled Banner". Then read page 7 and 8  in the compendium "American History". What do you believe is the main message of this song? Write half a page.

*Meet Mr. George Washington

This week we want you to learn more about George Washington, the first US President (Barack Obama is the 44th, by the way).



Homework for 10 CDEF for 26th of August: Watch the movie above. Afterwards, write down everything you remember. Then discuss the following question (at least half a page):

Would you consider George Washington a freedom fighter? Why/why not?