Final blog post

 Slide one: 

“Throughout this course, one of the things I learned was how valuable shorter assignments can be. Instead of long papers, I had to focus on being specific but short, and It helped me learn by not having a huge workload of assignments.

The online format also made the process more interesting and entertaining. I had the chance to experiment with visual elements, formatting tools, and different styles of presenting information, which made each assignment feel more interactive and creative.

Overall, this experience taught me a lot about professionalism in writing. I learned how to structure my ideas in a clean, organized way and how to present my work . 

Slide 2:

One of the most impactful parts of this course was the EOTO assignments. Switching roles and letting us teach the class changed my way of learning by teaching others. Instead of just listening, we were responsible for sharing the material, which made the learning feel more active and collaborative.

Doing the research for these topics also made the information so much more engaging. Rather than reading a textbook chapter and trying to memorize facts, we had to read and learn about what we were gong to present, and decide how to explain it in a clear and interesting way. The involvement made the content more memorable and meaningful.

And finally, presenting our work helped us grow more comfortable speaking in front of others. Every presentation was a chance to practice our communication skills and learn how to share information confidently with an audience. 

Slide 3:

I appreciate how using AI in this class made us much more comfortable and familiar with new technology. Instead of treating AI as something complicated or intimidating, we had the chance to experiment with different tools and learn how they can support our work. This hands-on practice made AI feel a lot more approachable.

At the same time, using AI pushed us to think about the ethical side of it—like when it’s helpful and efficient to use, and when relying on our own ideas and analysis is more important. It made us more aware of issues like originality, accuracy, and academic honesty.

Another major benefit was the speed and accuracy that AI brought to the research process. It helped us gather sources faster, double-check information, and clarify concepts that might have been confusing. That combination of efficiency and reliability made our research stronger overall

Brown V. Board

 Segregation in public schools is one of the clearest examples of how the United States failed to live up to its promise of equality. When learning about Brown v. Board of Education, I realized that this case was not just about schools—it was about dignity, fairness, and justice. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public education violated the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law. Separating students by race went directly against that promise.

Brown v. Board 

Before Brown v. Board, segregation was defended by the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson, which supported the idea of “separate but equal.” In reality, schools were separate but never equal. Black students were often forced to attend schools with broken windows, no heating, old textbooks, and overcrowded classrooms. White schools usually had better funding, safer buildings, and more resources. Calling this system “equal” ignored the lived experiences of Black students.

One of the most powerful parts of Brown v. Board is that it focused on the harm segregation caused to children’s dignity. The case began when Linda Brown was denied access to a school close to her home simply because she was Black. Instead, she had to attend a faraway school that offered fewer opportunities. The Court recognized that classifying citizens by race sent a message that some people were less valuable than others. That message alone caused deep harm.

Segregation also goes against moral and religious teachings. In Galatians 3:28, the Bible says, “for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This verse supports the idea that all people are equal and deserving of respect. Segregation did the opposite by dividing people and denying equal treatment under the law.

Plessy v. Ferguson

At the time of Brown v. Board, some states, like South Carolina, argued that they spent a lot of money on Black schools. However, spending money did not fix the core issue. True justice cannot exist when people are separated based on race. Segregation was about control, not fairness.

Even after Brown v. Board in 1954 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, racial inequality in schools did not disappear overnight. Sixty years after Plessy v. Ferguson, segregation was finally ruled unconstitutional, but the struggle continued. This case reminds us that America cannot move forward if it keeps clinging to the past. Progress only happens when the country chooses justice and protects the dignity of all people.

 AI disclaimer: After watching the trial teams present and taking notes, I used Co-Pilot to help form this article. I also added some of the facts pointed out by the teams.

Heat of the Night Reflection

 Before seeing the movie “In the Heat of the Night,” I wasn't excited to sit through another boring history movie. After the first few minutes of the film, I got more and more intrigued until I realized this film is also based around crime. I don't necessarily like watching movies unless they are about crime or horror, so I was interested in what the rest of the film had to offer. Overall, I really liked the story and thought it was really entertaining as a whole.

In this time period, separate but equal was huge, and white and African Americans couldn't share the same space, but were initially equal. In Sparta, the community lied about this because everyone wanted to point fingers at Mr Tibbs for the murder found that night because he is black.

I also think a lot of the other detectives didn't want to side with him because they didn't want to own up to the fact that an African American police officer was better than them. I think he felt very alienated and outnumbered by the other police officers and detectives. In the scene, he was probably also eager to get his name cleared in the case.

The relationship between Det. Tibbs and police chief Gillespie start off very distant, and they don't really trust each other at all. Police Chief Gillespie doesn't value Det. Tibbs' skills till he proves he is reliable, and Police Chief Gillespie begins to trust him and later on advocates for him. Their relationship grows throughout the movie, I guess, put it into perspective of how quickly people were to judge back then, and not let others have a chance.

After watching the movie, I was really looking forward to them finding the killer and the case coming to a resolution, so I was left with a more positive feeling.

The female characters of this movie, Mrs. Colbert,  Delores Purdy, and Mamma Caleba, all represent some sort of place in separate but equal standards. Mrs. Colbert doesn't face any backlash because of her race as a white woman or her marital status. While Delores Purdy is not married and poor, she faces more issues as a low-class, unmarried, white woman. I think Mamma Caleba has the worst placement, with little to no rights, as she is a poor African American woman.

The scene in the nursery is one of importance because Endicott slaps Tibbs, and he slaps him back. This is a pivotal moment in the film because it portrays a black man standing up for himself and also not facing immediate punishment. This represented both parties, one being the enslaved and one being the slave owners, and his pushing back was extremely surprising. He starts crying because he realizes how powerless he's becoming and how the world around him is changing.

In the Heat of the Night, the film doesn't really speak on abortion as a main problem, but they do show how little control women had in this time period. Purdy announces she is pregnant, and a lot of the decisions leading up are handled by the men and police. This shows that she and a lot of women couldn't handle big decisions in their lives on their own, unlike today.

For the male characters, I didn't think they were treated equally at all. Race is a huge factor for some, but a lot of the white male characters also didn't have a lot of rights because they were poor. This did shock me because I didn't know that wealth was such a strong factor in the socioeconomic pyramid at this time.

Videos Reaction post

Booker T. Washington and the Struggle for Black Progress After Reconstruction

After the Civil War ended in 1865, America entered a difficult period known as Reconstruction. The country had to rebuild not only the South’s economy but also its sense of justice and equality. President

Abraham Lincoln 

Abraham Lincoln had a vision to reunite the nation through his Ten Percent Plan, which would let Southern states back into the Union if just 10% of their voters pledged loyalty to the U.S. and agreed to end slavery. Before his assassination by John Wilkes Booth in 1865, Lincoln even spoke about granting voting rights to African Americans — a radical idea at the time. His death changed everything.

After Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson became president and tried to continue Reconstruction, but his approach was weak and full of compromise. He allowed many former Confederates to regain power and resisted strong protections for freed African Americans. Congress eventually impeached Johnson in 1868 for clashing with their plans to ensure equality and civil rights. Lincoln’s assassination was a tragic turning point — it set off what many call the “first volley in the long war for Black freedom and rights.”

During this era, African Americans gained legal freedom but struggled with economic survival. One

Andrew Johnson

system that kept them trapped was sharecropping. Landowners would divide plantations into small plots, and freedmen could farm them in exchange for food, shelter, and a portion of the crops. On paper, it looked like a fair deal — a way to rebuild life after slavery. In reality, it was a new form of economic slavery. Sharecroppers rarely earned enough to pay off their debts each season, leaving them tied to the same land year after year. By 1870, only about 30,000 African Americans owned land, while millions remained stuck in poverty. It wasn’t truly about farming; it was about keeping white supremacy in place.

Amid these challenges, a powerful new leader emerged: Booker T. Washington. Born into slavery in Virginia, Washington worked in coal mines as a child and taught himself to read and write. He believed deeply in education as the key to progress. Later, he attended and then led the Tuskegee Institute, a school in Alabama that taught African Americans practical trades like carpentry, farming, and mechanics. Washington believed that through hard work, self-discipline, and education, Black Americans could gradually earn respect and equality.

In 1895, he gave his famous Atlanta Compromise speech, where he emphasized education and economic progress over immediate political power. While some, like W.E.B. Du Bois, criticized him

Illustration from Reconstruction Era

for being too cautious, Washington’s message inspired millions of people to pursue education as a path to dignity and independence.

Booker T. Washington made history not just as an educator but as a symbol of progress. He became the first African American leader to dine at the White House, invited by President Theodore Roosevelt. That dinner was a small but powerful statement in a time when racism was still deeply rooted in American society.

Washington’s life reflected both the struggles and the hopes of the Reconstruction era. He rose from slavery to national leadership through education, perseverance, and faith in the power of self-improvement. His story shows how, even in the face of systemic racism, education remained a powerful tool for freedom — a message that still resonates today. 

 AI disclaimer: After watching everyone's videos and taking notes, I used Co-Pilot to help form this article, and I used subheadings and expanded on the AI-generated text by adding my own thoughts to it.

Case Reaction Post

Plessy v. Ferguson: The Case That Defined “Separate but Equal”

In 1892, a man named Homer Plessy boarded a train in Louisiana and made history. Plessy was one-eighth African American, meaning only one of his great-grandparents was Black. But under Louisiana law at the time, that single connection was enough to classify him as Black. The state enforced segregation laws requiring separate train cars for white and Black passengers. Plessy, who bought a first-class ticket, peacefully sat in a “whites-only” car — and for that, he was arrested.

His case quickly turned into a major legal battle over civil rights. Plessy’s lawyers argued that Louisiana’s segregation law violated the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees “equal

Train Station (1890s)

protection of the laws” to all citizens. They also said it went against the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, since segregation continued to enforce a system of racial inferiority. In their view, separate can never be equal. Forcing African Americans into separate train cars was not only unfair — it was unconstitutional.

At the heart of the case was a question that defined an entire era: Can the government separate people by race and still claim that everyone is treated equally? Sadly, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that it could. In 1896, the Court ruled against Plessy, declaring that segregation was legal as long as the separate facilities were “equal.” This ruling became known as the “separate but equal” doctrine, and it opened the door for decades of racial segregation under the Jim Crow system.

But history shows that “separate” was never truly “equal.” Segregation sent a clear message that one race was considered superior to another. Schools, neighborhoods, and transportation for white citizens were better funded and better maintained, while Black communities were denied the same resources and opportunities. This didn’t just harm individuals — it also hurt Louisiana’s economy by holding back a large portion of its workforce and consumer base. As Plessy’s lawyers argued, discrimination weakened the entire state by limiting who could participate in its markets and institutions.

One of Plessy’s defenders, Malania Moris, pointed out that Plessy “was a paying customer who had

Inside Train car (1890s)

every right to be there.” He wasn’t being disruptive or violent; he was simply challenging an unjust law. His quiet act of civil disobedience forced the nation to confront its contradictions between freedom and racism. Although Plessy lost his case, his courage helped lay the groundwork for the modern civil rights movement.

More than half a century later, the Supreme Court reversed this injustice in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), declaring that separate schools for Black and white students were inherently unequal. That ruling finally overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and marked the beginning of the end for legalized segregation in America.

Plessy’s story is a reminder that equality isn’t automatic — it’s something people must stand up for. One man’s train ride in Louisiana became a symbol of resistance, proving that even small acts of courage can change the course of American history.

 AI disclaimer: After taking notes and doing research on this case, I used Co-Pilot to help form this article, and I used subheadings and expanded on the AI-generated text by adding my own thoughts to it.

Reconstruction Era Video

 

The Legacy of Reconstruction and Its Lasting Impact

On June 17, 2015, tragedy struck in Charleston, South Carolina. During a Wednesday night prayer meeting at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a white supremacist opened 

Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church

fire, killing nine Black parishioners. This horrifying act was not an isolated event—it was a modern echo of centuries of racial violence embedded in America’s struggle with equality. To understand how such hatred can continue, we must look back to the Reconstruction Era that followed the Civil War.

The Hope of Freedom

After the Civil War came to an end on April 9, 1865, when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, enslaved African Americans were legally free for the first time. It was a moment filled with both joy and uncertainty. Formerly enslaved people didn’t know where to go or how to begin their new lives. Many sought to reunite with family members who

Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant

had been sold away, while others joined the Union Army—over 180,000 Black men served by the war’s end, helping to strengthen the military and secure Union victory. Records from the National Archives reveal the courage and contributions of these soldiers who fought for freedom and citizenship.

The Promise and Struggle of Reconstruction

The Reconstruction Era (1865–1877) was meant to rebuild the South and integrate freed African Americans into society as equal citizens. For many, it was a time of hope—they could finally dream of owning land, earning wages, and even participating in politics. Black men began to vote and hold public office, marking a revolutionary shift in American democracy.

Yet progress came with fierce backlash. Former slave owners and white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan responded with violence and intimidation. They refused to accept the idea of racial equality, attacking Black communities and political leaders. The collapse of Reconstruction led to the rise of Jim Crow laws, segregation, and a century of systemic discrimination—effects that still shape America today.

The Questions of Citizenship and Freedom

Reconstruction forced the nation to ask fundamental questions: Who is a citizen? What rights do they have? President Andrew Johnson—who took office after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated—

Former slaves during Reconstruction 

clashed with Congress over how to reunite the nation. His lenient approach to the South allowed many former Confederates to regain power, undermining much of the progress that had been made.

For freed people, true freedom meant more than the absence of chains—it meant access to land, education, and political representation. Yet these dreams were often blocked by racist laws and violent resistance. The end of Reconstruction didn’t bring peace; it left behind a legacy of division and unfinished work.

The Ongoing Legacy

The struggle for equality that began in the 19th century continues today. From the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, the question of what it means to be free—and truly equal—remains central to America’s identity. The Charleston church shooting is a painful reminder that history isn’t just in textbooks; it lives in the present, urging us to confront the unfinished work of justice.

AI disclaimer: After doing my research and taking notes on the Reconstruction Era, I used ChatGPT to form this blog post and help organize my thoughts. I also changed some of the words around and added some of my own personal notes to complete this blog post.

The first African American member of Senate and House

 

    In the years after the Civil War, America was struggling with major changes, and two remarkable men emerged who broke racial barriers at the federal legislative level: Hiram Rhodes Revels and Joseph Hayne Rainey. Their lives and achievements are significant because they carved out spaces in the U.S. Congress for African Americans during Reconstruction and beyond.

Hiram Rhodes Revels

Hiram Rhodes Revels was born in North Carolina (circa 1827) as a free man and became the first African-American U.S. Senator. U.S. Senate+3Wikipedia+3Encyclopedia Britannica+3 He took the oath of office on February 25, 1870, to represent Mississippi. U.S. Senate+2U.S. Senate+2 Before his Senate term, he had worked as a minister, educator and had served in several public roles in Mississippi. National Park Service+1 In the Senate, Revels spoke in favor of racial equality, supported the seating of black legislators in Georgia (despite severe opposition), and also advocated an approach of reconciliation and moderate policies toward former Confederates (so long as they swore loyalty). Wikipedia+1 Though his tenure in the Senate was brief (just about a year), his presence carried symbolic and practical weight: it told the country that African Americans could serve at the highest levels of government, even in the immediate post-Civil War era. Zinn Education Project+1

Joseph Hayne Rainey

Joseph Hayne Rainey, born June 21, 1832, in Georgetown, South Carolina (into slavery), became the first African-American U.S. Representative when he was sworn in on December 12, 1870. History, Art & Archives+1 His childhood and early life were shaped by the constraints of slavery, but his father’s work as a barber allowed the family’s eventual freedom in the 1840s. Encyclopedia Britannica+1 After the Civil War, he became involved in Republican politics and, after being elected, he served several terms in the House representing South Carolina. Rainey used his voice to push for civil rights protections, and in his maiden major speech, he argued for federal troops to protect African Americans from violence by groups like the Klan. Zinn Education Project+1 His role was not merely symbolic—he was actively engaging in shaping Reconstruction-era legislation, defending “human rights” in his words (covering civil, political, and economic justice). Encyclopedia Britannica

The impact of these two men was profound in several ways. First, by holding office, they shattered prevailing assumptions about African Americans’ political capacities and helped redefine American democracy’s boundaries. Revels sitting in the Senate and Rainey in the House meant that agencies of power which had long excluded black voices were now being forced—however imperfectly—to include them. Secondly, their advocacy contributed to the struggle for civil rights and equality during Reconstruction, setting a precedent that later generations would build on. Third, they provided role models: their presence said to African Americans of the era and future generations, “You too can serve, you too belong.”

African American members of the House and Senate

Of course, the era wasn’t perfect. Both men served in a time of intense backlash, and their achievements were constrained by the political limits of Reconstruction. But even so, their lives remind us that progress often happens when individuals step into new territory and carry both the hopes and burdens of symbolic change.

In short, Hiram R. Revels and Joseph H. Rainey deserve to be remembered not only because they were “firsts,” but because they used their positions to advocate for fairness, to challenge exclusion, and to open doors. Their legacies ripple through to later eras in American political life.

AI disclaimer: After doing my research on these two leaders and their achievements, I used ChatGPT to form this blog post and help organize my thoughts. I also changed some of the words around and added some of my own personal notes to complete this blog post.