The Harlem Experience

This week we were treated to a wonderful historic experience, visiting Harlem.  Our tour guides Neil, Andy and Billy Mitchell (Apollo) provided a rich and engaging history of an area that represents the centerpiece for African American culture and history in our country.  Consider what you learned during this experience, and share some reflections about your understanding of why Harlem was so important to the African American community in the past and now in the present.

Was Segregation Good?

How would you respond to the following:  that segregation was actually good for African Americans because it created more opportunities for blacks than integration.  For instance, separate black institutions employed more principals and teachers, in schools set aside for blacks, than did racially mixed schools?

Would this be a good argument in favor of segregation?  Why or why not?

Video Project

What one fact have you learned about the study of history, during the process of doing your project, that you never knew before.  Expand on your response.......

Separate But Equal

One of the major issues following Plessy v. Ferguson was the idea that "separate but equal" facilities was socially acceptable.  The problem was that there was really no way possible to ensure that facilities could be equal, and in fact the white facilities were always better.  Do you think if the accommodations were "truly equal" that laws like these could be valid or acceptable?  Think about schools, hospitals, restaurants, movie theaters--even water fountains!!!!