The Importance Of Freedom In Little Rock Arkansas

Improved Essays
Many times in history, certain groups have been limited freedom. They are seen as inferior, and are mistreated. They have barely any rights, and do not know how to get out of it, and if it will ever get better. This happened in Little Rock, Arkansas. Nine students integrated into a school of white children, and they were not treated nicely. They need to know what role to play in order to gain more freedom. Individuals play a huge part in how their futures will turn out. The most important role that an individual should take to change a society that limits freedom is standing up for themselves, because it shows others what to do, and convinces people that they are not following their assumptions.
It is the most important role for individuals to stand up for themselves, because it shows others to stand up for themselves too. When someone plays the role of standing up for themselves, it makes others do the
…show more content…
In a society that limits freedom, the victims are generally seen as bad people. Standing up for themselves can show that they were wrong, and that they are not bad people. Melba was often bullied and called stupid. She stayed calm, and proved them wrong. “‘Niggers are stupid, they gotta study real hard, don’t they?’ he said in a loud voice. ‘Thanks for the compliment,’ I said, looking at him with the pleasantest expression I could muster so he would believe I wasn’t annoyed,” (Beals, 181). She stood up for herself by not letting the bullies get to her. By not giving them an attitude back, it is not as fun for the bullies, and they will not think that Melba is actually stupid. This is the most important role, because it shows others that they were wrong, it helps the movement, and changes people's minds. By standing up for themselves, people can see their sides of the story. Showing others that they are strong, and confident, helps them realize that they are wrongly

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    The struggle for civil rights in this clip still made it difficult for blacks to attend school. Littlerock, Arkansas Central High school in 1957 allowed for 9 individual black kids into the school for exceptional and outstanding grades. However, things only got worse, for example, Elizabeth Eckford was an individual going to an all-white school with eight other black students. Those eight students showed up to school with their parents and others to protect them, and Elizabeth Eckford showed up all alone while walking into a horrible situation. Those eight students had already left because riots, and racial comments from the federal government.…

    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over the last two weeks in class we were reading speeches from Hammond, Crevecoeur, and even Patrick Henry. However, the two speeches that really resonated with me and made me ponder the future were the speeches by Frederick Douglass and Red Jacket, Douglass being a former slave and an abolitionist and Red Jacket a Native American. Both of these men discuss the obstacles and struggles they face because of white oppression. I understand that modern people of color do not face the same kind of oppression that Douglass and Red Jacket faced when they were alive, but today’s colored people still experience their own struggles with oppression. Reading these speeches by these two men has really made me think about our future as people, as a society.…

    • 943 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The inauguration of the 45th presidency is coming up pretty soon as this paper is being written and many people in the United States are mad about who the president elect is and there are also people who are happy about it. There have been recent news reports about how people in America are going to march and protest during the president elect's inauguration on how they want to stop the inauguration and not have the president elect officially become president. However, does people protesting during the inauguration will stop the president elect from becoming president? In the ardent and fervent article, “Protesting 101”, the author claims that some protests are not very effective due to the people not procuring action that will actually cause…

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cedreana Hoover The African Community as a whole has been fighting for freedom and equality for generations. From the 17th and 18th century when African-Americans weren't even treated like humans and instead aminals, they were constantly running away in hopes for freedom, in the 1800’s when slavery was finally abolished they had nowhere to go nor were they wanted, during the civil rights movement African Americans died for justice and equality and now today African Americans may be equal in the eyes of the law but not in the eyes around them. Throughout these movements in history there has been multiple mechanisms used to create equality whether it be taking a problem to the supreme court, using violence, causing riots, or peaceful protesting. The idea of using civil disobedience to create equality and raise awareness of injustice has been the most effective whether it be participating in sit-ins or boycotts.…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Imagine yourself working endlessly, scorching hot days out in the fields plowing, planting and harvesting your crops. I work so hard to keep my family together so we can try to create a future. However, this land is not my land. I can’t keep and cherish all my harvest for my family and I. I am required to sacrifice a portion of the harvest to the white landowner. This situation draws a picture of what the African Americans during this time period went through.…

    • 1137 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    On September 11, 2001, one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in United States history took place. After the planes had collided with the Twin Towers, the masses of the United States of America suddenly was hit with anxiety and concern. America was prepared to lose their confidentiality in exchange for refuge from whatever dangers may follow in the future. When the Homeland Security Act, was passed in 2002 by President Bush, It showed how much the American people favored the constant surveillance by the government than the danger of being in harm's way. H.L. Mencken, an American essayist, and social critic wrote, “The average man does not want to be free.…

    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Niema Poindexter Professor Guevara Pols 197 9 December 2014 Natives and African Americans The race relations with races within the United States are damage and needs to be repair. The damage was created the day they set foot on Jamestown. The whiteness was created by the greed for power, money, and domination; whiteness has belittled groups that we see as minorities.…

    • 1944 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Justice doesn’t come easy to anyone who wants it. For justice to be given, it means a lot of patience and sacrifice. In the ancient Greek story Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone is a strong, young woman who does not abide to ruler Creon’s decision to refuse her brother, Polyneices, a proper burial. The Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. discusses M.L.K.’s desire to end segregation and racial injustice in America for the good of the people. Although these two bold characters differ in their ways of gaining justice, both Antigone and Martin Luther King Jr. neglect laws that they believe to be unjust, regardless of the negative results that follow.…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While writing the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers knew the importance of human rights for Americans. The ideals of equality for everyone were challenged as discrimination rose. The fight for equal human rights led to the Civil Rights Movement. During this movement, many prominent leaders led the way for change. In the writings, “Racism: The Cancer that is Destroying America” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, two emerging human rights activists present their perspective on eradicating racism in America.…

    • 1463 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society as it promotes the creation and the retention of a free country. Free societies are often considered more advanced than the oppressive ones because freedom is something that evolved out of oppression. Now, in the modern world, governments are more or less established, and for them to be changed, the people must act. Civil disobedience is woven through the fabric of the United States. The Revolutionary war granted the underdog colonies independence-- not just independence but freedom.…

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I am reading “The Skin I'm In” by Sharon G. Flake and I have completed this book. The Skin I’m In, is about this seventh grader Maleeka Madison who has a low self of esteem because of how dark she is. Maleeka is tall, fairly skinny and dark skinned and, that’s her problem because others have a problem with that. Maleeka is hated by the bully in her school the bully makes fun of her, calls her names and makes her life harder that is already is.…

    • 909 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    FDR Synthesis Essay

    • 1568 Words
    • 7 Pages

    People thought, “well if FDR was able to dig us out of that hole, maybe the federal government is not really all that bad.” From the 1930’s in FDR’s presidency to the 1960’s during Johnson’s presidency, we saw a massive growth in the central government, and the individualistic America was very much okay with it because it was getting the job done. The citizens were happy to see the government able to step in and begin to help solve their problems, but that wasn’t the only reason why FDR’s presidency was so successful. FDR had a knack for public speaking. Historical accounts claim that when he would come over the radio in households across America discussing an important topic, everyone would take a ‘sigh’ of relief because of the way he talked and the…

    • 1568 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Not only does lack of sufficient school funding deprive minorities of their freedom but also of the ability to reach fulfillment of ones’ potential. Abraham Maslow created a theory that states “that there are several levels of needs that a person must strive to meet before achieving the highest level of personality fulfillment” (Psych book 352). He arranged these into, what he calls, “the hierarchy of needs” (Psych book 352). Abraham Maslow’s theory is that once each level of needs is met, humans reach self actualization.…

    • 1220 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Primordialism Essay

    • 1125 Words
    • 5 Pages

    This was very inconvenient for many people and their education quality was not the same as the White’s school. Although you do not have these legal laws anymore, there are parallels to the present laws. For instance, during the Jim Crow Laws era, students were segregated based on skin color and social class. Now, you see children in public schools having unequal education because of being working class minorities. The families living there cannot afford to pay for better school education, and the society has not helped by giving the poor and corrupt school systems.…

    • 1125 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Great Debaters Essay

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages

    During the Great Depression whites people were still discriminate against colors people. African American started to fight back with racial riots, protest on civil right movement. White people had another thing coming, African American were building a union to let other know that we are human and should be treated equally. Each movement of African American union leaders inspire young and old our brother and sister to do better for themselves. In 1935 in little small town Marshall, Texas the Wiley college powerhouse debate team, related to the movie “The Great Debaters”, discussion of issue directed by union finders motivating our culture, education out of poverty.…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays