Eyes on the Prize

Destinee Williams  

Ms. Robertson

Eyes on the Prize

1.      What did John Lewis say about the way the students dressed and the manner in which they entered the sit-ins? Why do you think they were so particular?

·      The students were dressed like they were on their way to church and entered in a very professional manner.   Being that they were black they must carry themselves like this in order to look well educated and credible.

2.      How did Black communities support students who protested?

·      They began to unite behind the students.  Black merchants supplied food for those in jail and homeowners put up property for bail money.

3.      What was the “negro buying power” in 1960? How did the African Americans in Nashville use money to create change? 

·      Negro buying power was the amount of money blacks had spent buying things from white businesses, evidently keeping them in business.  They stopped supporting these businesses buy not shopping in the downtown stores in so that their company would receive pressure to change their rules and regulations.

4.      How did boycotters respond to African Americans who tried to shop at white owned stores? What are your thoughts on their methods?

·      They would snatch bags and things away from them, letting them fall on the ground and demanding them to stay out of town.  I think these were suitable methods because they needed to get their point across someway somehow.

5.      What is SNCC (pronounced Snick)? How did it start? What was Ella Baker’s advice to the students? Why?

·      SNCC is a student nonviolent coordinating committee.  Over 200 students attended an organizing conference and later met under the sponsorship of the southern Christian leadership conference.  She had advised them to stay independent of adult organizations because she felt the students should maintain control of their own organization.

6.      How did President Kennedy’s assistance to the King’s affect him politically?

·      Kennedy’s call to the judge to get King out of jail gained him much political support from blacks, leading him to barely win the election.

7.      What was the purpose of the Freedom Riders?

·      The purpose of the Freedom Riders was to easily point out the racist people in the south to create a crisis so that government would be compelled to enforce federal law.

8.      How did the mob react to white involvement in the Freedom Riders?

·      A mob fire bombed the lead bus and blocked the exits.  The second bus was met in Birmingham by a mob of clansmen and beat freedom rider Jim Peck.

9.      How did Dr. King and the First Baptist Church respond to attacks? 

·      He made a speech to the public which stated that they should remain calm and not panic.  To stand up for what they know is right and that is freedom.  Remain as one and stand together.