COMMENTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE- Please comment and post! Studying English is also being involved outside of the classroom and making this website alive.
CHAPTER 2 « BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL »
Photo by Elliott Erwitt
THE WHOLE GROUP : Describe and comment on the picture above. Reactions?
The Freedom Riders history: watch and take notes
Book p. 89: This can be done in pairs
1e S5 : Read the poem and comment on it in details. 150 words minimum.
1e S6: Look at the painting by Jean Michel Basquiat, describe it + comment on it. 150 words minimum
STRANGE FRUIT worksheet: Strange Fruit lyrics and worksheet
Jim Crow PPT :Jim Crow ppt
Martin Luther KIng’s speech:
Malcolm X’s speech :
Can you compare the 2 speeches in the form and content? Comment on website.
MLK’s speech « I have a dream » (sutitled) :
Any other suggestions for good movies about segregation in the USA?
Your (group) PPT presentations on segregation are here :
+ More info about the Montgomery bus boycott:
Black Panther movement powerpoint
CHAPTER 1 « ADVERTISING »
Have a look and describe this poster, giving as many details as possible. Give your personal impressions at the end.
Look at this PPT about the evolution of some famous slogans:
slogans-evolution [Lecture seule]
Download (or print) this list of vocabulary related to advertising, and learn the words and expressions. You will need to use them when speaking about the topic.
Placement products :
Your oral comprehension test (without the cuts I made):
The Maslow Pyramid: read the document given to you and have a look at this PPt and the ads presented. Answer the question.
different ads and the Maslow Pyramid
Useful expressions for debating – to use in class !
Expressions for Discussion and Debate new
Correction of oral Comprehension test : CO ads
Extract of the series ‘Madmen’, have a look !
It has nothing to do with advertisement, but don’t miss this film !
Good afternoon,
It’s almost out of the subject but I think that the website is a good place to debate, so…. read me:
I have a question, don’t take it like an attack or something like that because it’s really objective:
Why do black people run faster than the white?
When I asked around me, anyone knew it, and this type of « taboo » can be at the base of racism.
In my opinion, the day we talk about the colour of the skin as we do with the colour of the eyes, it will be the end of racism, so answer me please, let’s debate!
Let’s make this website alive… and not closed…
Thanks for reading,
Bastien
I think the speech of Malcom X is a incitement to fight violently. It is not a protest, it is a violent fight for equal rights. It’s the opposite of all MLK speeches.
It’s interesting. I had no idea that the name « Ku Klux Klan » could have come from a rifle- bolt noise.
I listened to both speeches. I didn’t understand lots of information (transcription?). With the little I heard: When MLK is for a peace movement, leader Malcom X seems to be more agressive.
Once again, history shows us that violence is not the only solution. There’s always one without agressivity. But sadly, people prefer to fight.
I do agree of course. Peaceful protests should be the solution …if they were even heard.
If only sit ins and peaceful protests had made the world change we would know it by now. Not that I preach violence, obviously. But if you look at History, a lot of social advances were made because people fought for their rights. Not always with violence, but unfortunately often.
Some movements of protest that were supposed to be ‘peaceful’ descended into riots because of agitators or because of police provocations towards the demonstrators.
Some examples in History that should not be forgotten :
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/08/women-suffragettes-died-vote-today-gender-injustices
http://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/sidebar.php?id=65-258-3
Plus, the right to protest is part of the Convention of Human Rights.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/protest/six-reasons-why-protest-is-so-important
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/qa-defending-europeans-right-protest
Now, how to protest and stand up for one’s rights is of course another matter entirely. And we can always hope that progress will be achieved without violence, but with committed and active citizens.
To answer the question about the name « Ku klux klan »
I found a link which talks about it. There are different points of view of many people about the history of the name:
https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-4726,00.html
I find it very shocking (from a 21th century point of view) to represent black people this way in the 20th century in cartoons which target kids. For some of them, they maybe didn’t even see coloured people for real, and it was the only image that they had of them…
Any links along with your post?
Romain, your comment reminds me of the comic book « Tintin au Congo » : the representation of colored people is very simplistic and they are shown as dumb and lazy people. This was the representation of African people at that time.
2 months ago I saw « Black klansman » wich is inspired from a real story. The story is kind of strange but shows you how superficial the kkk is and how strange their arguments are. It makes them look like kids who are crying for no reason.
I saw it too it’s a good movie. You can have it easily on your usual streaming website.
MAYBE YOU COULD POST YOUR COMMENTS ON THE PICTURE (black and white) ON THE WEBSITE (ALSO TO BE FOUND IN YOUR BOOK) ? AND SUGGEST SOME MOVIES OR OTHER MATERIAL ON THIS TOPIC? ARE YOU NOT INTERESTED IN THE SUBJECT ?
Last year I saw « Hidden Figures » which talks about three black women who work at the NASA.
The women had to go to toilets which were different if you were black. One of the women wasn’t near the « black toilet » so she took everyday a long time ?? When her boss discovered this, he tore the paper where « white women » was written.
I think that this is a very intetesting scene because it was a white man who realised that segregation was very stupid and unfair.
Thanks Maëlle for your interest and your suggestion. I haven’t seen this film but heard about it. It seems that you are the one taking the initiative about posting comments !
I saw it too !
And I thought the same way
Before seeing this movie, I didn’t know that black women helped the NASA
I saw this movie too. This scene is the strongest one in the film. I also like the scene when a white astronaut asks the black expert to check again the calculations done by a white man before going into space.
I agree with you, even if I don’t think it will have a major impact.
I think that her book can help to make the people aware of racism and the black discrimination that also affects educated or rich black people.
Black discrimination and all discriminations in general are shameful. It must stop as soon as possible. In my opinion, however, Michelle Obama’s book about her life and her fights won’t change anything about it because people who will buy it and read it are the ones who already believe in her ideas : people against black discrimination. She should write a guide about dicrimination specifically and include it in schools.
Do you think Mr Trump has read it ?
What do you mean by ‘include it in schools’ ?
I mean it should be shown at school in order to learn to children good behaviors, because young children are very influenceable for the better or worse.
Do you think that Michele Obama’s book will change something about black discrimination ?
I think her book will change some minds about racism in general, maybe make some people react, some of them will like it, others won’t see the point of this memoir but I defintely think that she’s helping the worldwide fight against racism.
I guess that would change something if she becomes the first US woman president.