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Black History Month 2016, Sylvia Woods

February 26, 2016

Our final video for Black History Month is a piece by Sylvia Woods who describes how hard it is to speak out against racism and what happens when one does that. Woods was a a pioneer in the struggle of African-American and women trade unionists. Actress Jasmine Guy reads from a Sylvia Woods journal.

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month/videos/sylvia-woods-freedom?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

1. Sylvia's writing talks about her first experience speaking out against racism. What event stops her from singing the Star Spangled Banner?

2. What happens when Sylvia is found not to be singing with the rest of the class?

3. Would you consider Sylvia a heroine for standing up at 10 years old? Why or why not?


7 Comments

1. She was confused why she couldn't play in the park with the other kids and why she could only walk through it. The Star Spangled Banner states "Land of the free, home of the brave" but Sylvia didn't feel that way.
2. The teacher quietly called her up to her to ask her, and Sylvia explained her feelings.
3. Yes, she felt something was unjust, so she did something about it. More importantly, she did that non-violently and still proved her point.

 Joseph T.   Mon, February 29, 2016

1) The Star Spangled Banner says "Land of the free and the home of the brave," but she says it was not the land of the free and the home of the brave.
2) When she is found not singing the Star Spangled Banner, her teacher asked her why. She said that she couldn't sing it because it was not, "the land of the free and the home of the brave." Then her teacher asks if she could pledge allegiance to the flag, but she said she couldn't because she was not free, she wanted to be like the white kids and be able to swing; but she couldn't.
3) I would consider Sylvia a heroine because she had a lot of nerves for say that to her teacher even though she was right.

 Steven B.   Mon, February 29, 2016

1) The Star Spangled Banner says "Land of the free and the home of the brave," but she says it was not the land of the free and the home of the brave.
2) When she is found not singing the Star Spangled Banner, her teacher asked her why. She said that she couldn't sing it because it was not, "the land of the free and the home of the brave." Then her teacher asks if she could pledge allegiance to the flag, but she said she couldn't because she was not free, she wanted to be like the white kids and be able to swing; but she couldn't.
3) I would consider Sylvia a heroine because she had a lot of nerves for say that to her teacher even though she was right.

 Steven B.   Mon, February 29, 2016

1) The Star Spangled Banner says "Land of the free and the home of the brave," but she says it was not the land of the free and the home of the brave.
2) When she is found not singing the Star Spangled Banner, her teacher asked her why. She said that she couldn't sing it because it was not, "the land of the free and the home of the brave." Then her teacher asks if she could pledge allegiance to the flag, but she said she couldn't because she was not free, she wanted to be like the white kids and be able to swing; but she couldn't.
3) I would consider Sylvia a heroine because she had a lot of nerves for say that to her teacher even though she was right.

 Steven B.   Mon, February 29, 2016

1) The Star Spangled Banner says "Land of the free and the home of the brave," but she says it was not the land of the free and the home of the brave.
2) When she is found not singing the Star Spangled Banner, her teacher asked her why. She said that she couldn't sing it because it was not, "the land of the free and the home of the brave." Then her teacher asks if she could pledge allegiance to the flag, but she said she couldn't because she was not free, she wanted to be like the white kids and be able to swing; but she couldn't.
3) I would consider Sylvia a heroine because she had a lot of nerves for say that to her teacher even though she was right.

 Steven B.   Mon, February 29, 2016

1. Sylvia's writing talks about her first experience speaking out against racism. What event stops her from singing the Star Spangled Banner? Not being able to swing in the swings in the park.
2. What happens when Sylvia is found not to be singing with the rest of the class? The teacher asked why she isn't sing and she says I'm not singing because this is not the land of the free or the brave.
3. Would you consider Sylvia a heroine for standing up at 10 years old? Why or why not? Yes, because its hard especially at 10 years old to do that, and for that age I would definitely consider her a hero.

 Johnathan M.   Mon, February 29, 2016

1. Because Sylvia says, "Because it says this is the land of the free, when it isn't, and she doesn't know who is brave so she isn't going to sing it anymore."
2. The teacher called her over, asking her why she wasn't singing along.
3. Yes, I would consider her a heroine. I say this because, she stood up for herself, and what she believed in.

 Olivia Rainey   Mon, February 29, 2016