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
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 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
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)
The Thursday to come (September 3rd) will be the first showing of a film related to what you are doing in class.
The film is called "Glory" and is about the Civil War. You will follow the first unit of Afro-American soldiers in the Union Army (the army who represented the northern states, Lincoln's army). These men were fighting to keep the U.S.A. united, and most of all they were fighting for the freedom of slaves in the southern states. These men were the true freedom fighters of the Civil War! The film is based on a true story!
The film is old, but golden. It won three Oscars plus many more rewards! Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman make the film even better. Keep in mind though that this is a war movie - there will be fighting and death (some of the scenes are quite brutal).
Nevertheless; this is a film everyone ought to see - it has been named the best Civil War movie ever made! Meet up at U11 at 2 pm on Thursday September 3rd, and enter Cinema Nordseter :)
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).
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.
