Civil Rights Reading

     The Story "Nightjohn" is a great example of how many people were denied civil rights. The story takes place in Texas during the civil war. The main character's name is Sarny. She is a very curious girl. One day the plantation she lived on, had a new slave. His name was John and he was from the North. He had been beaten many times. This was easy to tell when he had his shirt off because he had many scars on his back where he had been whipped. His goal was to teach slaves, young and old, how to read and write. He did this so they could share their story of how they were mistreated. One example happened right on that plantation. Another young girl was walking around outside at night and she was savagely beaten when found. Sarny was the one who was going to learn from John. She traded him so tobacco for the alphabet. This story signifies how slaves were traeted and were forced against thier will to do tasks.

     "Mascot" tells how the events in a young man's life led him on the path of becoming a great leader in the civil rights movement. This story is about Malcom X and takes place in Michigan around the year 1937. As a young man he lived in the shadow of his brother, who was a great boxer. Malcolm would end up trying to be a boxer himself. In his first fight he was knocked out. He was so disgraced because the kid was a white boy. He challenged the same kid to a rematch and was again knocked out. He was so samed he couldnt show his face in his own town. After that he wanted to become a lawyer. Later in his life he was sent to reform school. While there he lived with an all white family, and he was the only black person in the whole town. However, he was treated very well. At his school he was one of the most popular people. He was very involved in his school activities. He played basketball and was also voted class president. Later in his life he would go to Boston to help become a lawyer. He said it was one of the only places he felt comfortable. The events in Malcolm X's life led him to be a great leader.

     The movie The Great Debaters had many similarities and differences with the stories "Nightjohn" and "Mascot". First it was similar becasue Nightjohn and the movie both took place in Texas. In the movie a black man was lynched; in the story a young girl was beaten savagely. John taught slaves to red and write to tell the story of racism, while the debate team spoke about it. Also, Samantha Booke, from the movie, and Malcolm X both wanted to be lawyers. The Debate team went to Boston just like Malcolm X. Malcolm X and the debate team were both from small schools. However, there were many differences. Nightjohn took place while slavery was still a part of everyday life. Also Malcolm X lived in the North. Malcolm was also the only black man in his school while the debate team was from an all black college. Also when Malcolm went to live with a white family he was openly welcome. The debate team was shunned when they were debating a white college.