Due February 5 Total needed: 70 points

All material should be placed in the Section Exam section of your online notebook.
Create a page in that section, call it “Exam #1”, copy and paste
KJ1. Discuss the role of "We Shall Overcome" in the social movement of the 1960s. (10
points)
The song “We Shall Overcome” played a major role in the movement of the 1960s as it was a
motivational song, and it gave people hope. Furthermore, it has been a traditional civil rights
song ever since. It was a great folks song to bring people together and unite as one. Also,
people could convey their own message as you could change the lyrics.
A GOOD START -- NEED MORE SPECIFICS -- WHEN, WHERE….
9/10

KJ3. Describe the role of the spiritual in the lives of the American slaves. (10 points)
Spirituals played a major role in the lives of the African American slaves, as they would use
them to help them get through work. Furthermore, they also sang them for motivation, and to
underhandedly talk about the slave owners on occasion. The slaves also sang them to mourn
the lose of fellow slaves. Moreover, the African American slaves sang the spirituals mostly for
worshipping the Lord. Additionally, they also sung the spirituals in a chanting fashion and
danced to celebrate or brighten their spirits.
https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200197495/
GOOD -- BUT YOU SHOULD ALSO MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT THE HIDDEN MESSAGES ABOUT ESCAPE
AND FREEDOM….
8/10

BY6. Using your timeline as a guide, pick out what you think are the five most important
events that occurred dealing with African Americans in the United States. Explain why these
were important. (15 points)
I believe that the Underground Railroad was the first of many important events that occurred
dealing with African Americans. The Underground Railroad organization is important in my
opinion because it was the first stand that freed some slaves. Furthermore, I believe that the
Emancipation Proclamation was another important event that occurred because it was the first
legal declaration that freed the slaves. Another event that I believe to be important was when
Rosa Park wouldn’t give up her seat on the bus for a white man. She was not only arrested for
this action, but she made a statement. Moreover, I believe this event is important because it is
one of the first memorable stands against discrimination, and helps to spring the Civil Rights Act
into action. By the same token, the Civil Rights Act was in my opinion is one of the biggest, if
not the biggest legal action against discrimination to this day. Following, the outlawing of the
Voting Rights Act was also another major event as it outlawed the ability to make it hard for
African Americans to vote.
15/15

BY7 Why would Time magazine, in 1999, name "Strange Fruit" as the most important song
of the century? (10 points)
 Time magazine would name “Strange Fruit” the most important song of the century, in 1999,
because it was the most influential. It made people realize what was happening to these
people. Additionally, the gruesome descriptions of the people who were being hung, showed
the pain the people were feeling when their family members were taken away to be hung. By
the same token, it was the most important song of the century as it sent a message to the
people.
TRUE -- WHAT ABOUT HOW/WHEN IT WAS SUNG?
8/10

BY8. Refer back to the definition that you established for social justice (injustice) earlier this
year. Apply it to the circumstances of African Americans in the 1960s. (15 points)
Our class definition stated, “Social justice refers to society’s distribution of rights and privileges
to ALL members of that society; including the way people view ALL members of that society.
This includes matters over time - past and present.” Additionally, I capitalized the word “all” in
the definition because most of the injustice done in the 1960s had to do with treating “some”
fairly, but certainly not all. For example, until 1964 there wasn’t a law that prohibited
discrimination of all types of people. Also, people tried to underhandedly deny African
American’s the right to vote by making it hard for them to vote. Although, 1 year later in 1965,
the Voting Rights Act was made outlawing the ability to make it hard for African Americans to
vote.
GOOD USE OF THE SPECIFICS FOR VOTING -- BUT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE OTHER
EXAMPLES AS WELL…
12/15

BY10. Why do some people believe that they are "invisible" to society? (10 points)
Some people believe they are invisible to society because they get bumped into or they aren’t
really noticed. Furthermore, they feel this way because they feel as if no body really cares
about them. They feel that they are invisible as no body apologizes for running into them. The
people bumped into them just keep walking as if nothing happened. Additionally, they believe
that they are there but people can only see around them or they think that they are a figment of
their imagination.
GOOD THOUGHTS -- A FEW SPECIFIC EXAMPLES WOULD BE GOOD
9/10

BY13. List works of literature other than Invisible Man that reflect the issues of racism in the
20th Century in this country. (10 points)
 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
o When she died they took her cells and used them without consulting her family.
 The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
by Michelle Alexander
o Alexander tells of a family where generation after generation they were discriminated
against, and couldn’t vote.
 2/10

BY14 Write your own lyrics for “We Shall Overcome.” (3 verses, 10 points; if sung, 20 points)
Sang on 2/6/18
We shall overcome,
We shall overcome,
We shall overcome, some day.

Oh, deep in my heart,

I do believe,
We shall overcome, some day.

We will be alright,
We will be alright,
We will be alright, some day.

Oh, deep in my heart,

I do believe,
We shall overcome, some day.

We will make it through,

We will make it through,
We will make it through, some day.

Oh, deep in my heart,

I do believe,
We shall overcome, some day.
20/20