Through My Eyes By Ruby Ridges

Mamie specifically wrote this book to tell her son’s story, representing hope and forgiveness, which revealed the sinister and illegal punishments of the south. She wanted to prevent this horrendous tragedy from happening to others. The purpose of the book was to describe the torment African Americans faced in the era of Jim Crow. It gives imagery through the perspective of a mother who faced hurt, but brought unity to the public, to stand up for the rights of equal treatment. This book tells how one event was part of the elimination of racial segregation.

Michie’s “Holler If You Hear Me” and Kozol’s “Still Separate Still Unequal” are quite alike, considering they both discuss south side Chicago schools. However, the differences between the two texts far outweigh the similarities. Although there are a few similarities, such as both authors discussing and calling out the issues of segregation in their texts, there are many differences, such as Michie’s work being a narrative while Kozol’s is not and only contains anecdotes. In addition, Michie focuses on the experiences and opinions of students, instead of also discussing the physical state of inner-city schools or the strategies of teachers.

Linda Brown was 7 years old when her father and 12 other families tried to enroll their children in the all white public school in their neighborhoods. Linda had to walk seven blocks in freezing weather and then take a bus for another two miles. Her trip to school took two hours even though there was a school only three blocks from her home. She was sad and confused that she couldn't go to school with the other kids in her predominantly white neighborhood. Linda's father was a minister and leader in his community.

Melba Pattillo Beals’ novel, Warriors Don’t Cry, takes on an amazing first-hand account of the integration of Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas. Melba’s work is formed as she recounts many of the stunning events that she and the other eight students were forced to go through that challenged them and pushed them beyond their limits. Because of the discrimination, taunting, and other racial injustices these students had to go through, the nine students were indeed Warriors because Warriors themselves must face great hardships in times of battle. And though this battle was a tough one, Melba found confidence in continuing with the war for integration in herself and her grandmother.

Integrating public schools in the south proved to be dangerous but also necessary. Melba, through her memoir, gives a look into what she dealt with. Brown vs Education is hugely important but as it is learned through the book, implementation was another monster. Segregationist represented immaturity and ignorance of the “old south.”

In the memoir Warriors Don’t Cry, Melba Pattillo Beals details her and the rest of the Little Rock Nines’ struggles against segregationists in their attempt to integrate Central High School. They fought through constant harassment and death threats on their journey to become the first black students to successfully complete a school year at a previously all-white school. The book highlights the effects of racial segregation while emphasizing the importance of perseverance and resilience when facing adversity. One of the major themes of the book is the effects of racial discrimination and segregation. Everything from bathrooms to water fountains were separate and black people were treated as second-class citizens.

“For when she heard the explosion,Her eyes grew wet and wild she raced through the streets of Birmingham,Calling for her child. ”This illustrates that the mother thought her child was in a sacred place because she did not go to that protest but a situation irony occur where her child might have been killed in the bombing that took place at the church, where the mother was it was a sacred

Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High School by Melba Pattillo Beals is a memoir of Beals’ experience as one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of students in Arkansas who were the first African American students to integrate the state’s public high schools. Beals was only fifteen when the decision was made that schools in Arkansas would integrate. Beals details her experience from the moment she found out she had been chosen to integrate into Little Rock High School, to having to endure walking the halls and trying to learn in an environment where almost everyone hated her on the basis of something she could not control. She reveals instances of mental and physical abuse from students and

A few days later Mrs. Henry, Ruby’s teacher, communicated with the staff of the school about Ruby, combining with the other students because the staff were breaking the law for not placing Ruby in those classes. After a couple of days of being at the school Ruby’s father lost his job because his boss did not want a Negro working for him when his child

She writes

Ruby was picked to take a test in kindergarten to see if she could go to a white only school. The test was very hard because they didn’t want African Americans at their school. Her dad didn’t want her taking the test because he was afraid of problems occurring. Her mom wanted her to take the

On September 25th, 1957, in Little Rock, Arkansas, nine courageous African American students entered not only through the doors of Central High, but the doors leading to change. They were strong enough to do this and knew what they were doing and understood it’s worth. The integration of Little Rock Central High was a milestone in the civil rights movement, and it was known across the country and through the world. Though there were likely many different reasons battling in the nine’s head about why or why not to go, they chose to go to the school.

Parents withdrew their children from schools and protested against integration. Coles implies this by saying, “The people carried signs that said they didn’t want black children in a white school. People called Ruby names; some wanted to hurt her” (Coles, 11). Yet, despite the danger and hostility, Ruby Bridges and her family remained committed to making a change in their community and becoming educated. Having to deal with a racist school is no easy feat, and it is a risk that Ruby took.

In order to change history, people must learn from their mistakes. Segregation in North America has been a big issue in North America that unfortunately still happens in the world today, however, it is not as bad as it once was. In the poem “History Lesson” by Natasha Trethewey, the author uses mood, symbolism and imagery to describe the racial segregation coloured people faced in the past compared to more recent times, where equality is improved and celebrated. The author uses language and setting to influence the mood and meaning of the poem.

In the novel “And Still We Rise: The Trials and Triumphs of Twelve Gifted Inner-City Students” written by Miles Corwin demonstrates how Inner City Los Angeles is not just full of gangbangers and drug dealers, but also full of success and diversity. Corwin, a reporter, spent a year at Crenshaw High School to document the lives of the students as they manage to fight the obstacles in Advanced Placement English, inside and outside of class. Toni Little, an AP English teachers, also struggles this year due to the fact of discrimination for being the only white teacher. Corwin also spent the year with another AP English teacher, Anita Moultrie, who is Little’s “nemesis.” After taking several beatings of discrimination from Moultrie, the school