Please add your comments about this website and the Civil Rights Movement.

Dear Civil Rights Activists,
first of all congratulations for this website, it is very interesting and.....usefull for my studies! I am doing a final thesis on the Civil Rights Movement but I am focusing especially on the influence of the movement on Obama's politics. I would like to ask just 3 or 4 qustions which will be very important for my analysis....someone can help me?!
thank you, Alberto

 —  alberto (albertobenve@hotmail.com), Florence, Italy, 6/12/2008

I just stumbled upon your fantastic website this morning when I researching the slogan "one man, one vote." What a great website.

There has been one image that has intrigued me for several years and it is included in your website as one of the images in the section, "Young People Led the Way." It is the image of the young man on the march to Selma who is has white chalk, paint, make-up on his face with the word "VOTE" on his forehead. It was taken by Bruce Davidson. I own a poster in which an enlarged close-up of this image is used. It is from 1972 and was produced by the organization, The Student Vote, obviously used at that time in an effort to get young people out to vote.

I have a few questions regarding the young man in the photo.

First of all, does anyone know who this young man is? Second of all, is he still alive?

[Unfortunately we don't know his name. There were a number of marchers on that day who used sunscreen in that way to express why they were marching. He was probably one of the contingent from Selma or Marion, but we don't know for certain.]

Lastly, I have always thought it was extremely powerful because I believed it was an intentional twist of whites use of "black face" in performing minstrels around the turn of the century (1900s). To me, the young man is saying if he was white he could vote. This highlighted the injustice of denying African Americans the right to vote and mocked the "white" voting system.

Is this interpretation at all correct?!? Do you know anyone who might have the answer to this question? I have previously tried to track down Bruce Davidson, the photographer without any success. I do know Mr. Davidson is still alive. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

[It's certainly a valid interpretation of the symbolism, but whether the marchers who used sunscreen that way to promote voting rights where taking all that into consideration, I can't say.]

Thanks,

 —  John Olsen, Ankeny, IA, April 20, 2008

It is a shame that our black sisters have not beem given their just due for their actions during the 60's movement. White history has not been kind to blacks in america, but I do not understand why leading blacks have allowed lies to be told about the civil rights movement in favor of the black status-quo. Why is it that Parks got the credit rather than Colvin? Also I am insulted when my civil rights leader, Gloria Richardson Dandridge is not mentioned in the annals to the degree of MLK or anyone else. Black men in America for hundreds of years, have been complaining about the white man's racist actions and rightfully so, but I wonder why we black men have oppressed the real warriors of the movement "black women" in a sexist way as it pertains to who really led the way during the movement. Shame on you so called black leaders, and stop allowing our black kid to be taught lies about black history.

 —  Larry L. Chester, Cambridge, Md., April 15, 2008

[For those not familiar with Gloria Richardson and the Cambridge Movement, see the History & Timeline 1962-1964.]

I watched a movie once about a white woman who died fighting the cause. I would like to know how many white people have died for the civil rights movement?

 —  Jackey, Palm Bay FL, 03/19/2008

[We know for sure that at least seven whites were killed for participating in the Freedom Movement: William Moore, Rev. Bruce Klunder, Mickey Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, Rev. James Reeb, Viola Luizzo, and Johnathan Daniels. It is possible that there were others, but direct links between their deaths and the Movement have not been established. We do know that Paul Guihard, a white reporter from France, was killed while covering the Klan organized riot in Oxford MS after James Meredith was admitted as a student, and a second white man was killed that same night under mysterious circumstances. It is possible that there were other whites murdered at other places and times that we don't know about.]

I am doing a study on the Civil Rights Movement, I am interested personal recollections from individual on their experiences in the Civil Rights Movement in relation to their gender and socio-economic status. How their gender and socio-economic status impacted their experiences in the Civil Rights Movement. What types of discrimination were experienced as a result and how did that individual cope or survive in the midst? I'm trying to get a feel of the setting: what age, education, type of work, marital status, and family relations did that individual have at the time of the movement. ANY response would be greatly appreciated.

 —  Denese, US, 02-26-08

[Denese, you did not include any email or other contact info, so we cannot respond to you directly. However, we suggest that you contact Movement veterans listed on the Speakers List, and that you look over the interviews and narratives in the Our Stories section.]

i think this site is really interesting, but it would be better if there was less violance!!!!!

 —  me, el paso. texas, 2-25-08

I was really shock when I was reading you book and saw some of the pictures. I want to know where I can buy the book to have to show my Grandbaby when she is older.

 —  Catherine Matthews-Perkins, Fort Myers, Fla. 33905, 02-13-2008

[We're not sure what book you're referring to. There are a number of good photo books about the freedom struggle. Among them are:
Civil Rights Chronicle
Civil Rights Movement: A Photographic History 1954-68
Faces of Freedom Summer
Powerful Days]

Hello, I just started to see the website and it is really good website. It reminded the event which is just took place on October last year in India, "the Janadesh". Have you ever heard? It is about people's verdict and non-violence movement. I know a documentary about this movement if you would like to see: thenyouwin.yooook.org.

Peace...

 —  Pachinee Buathong, France, 05/02/2008

first and for most my last name is real it is just reallylong....anyway i love this site it helped me get an awesome grade on my paper thanks!!!!

 —  sarah creploreytopackiseeltoroussety, new york, 2/1/08

The best website I've seen yet documenting the Civil Rights Movement. A little brother to movement leaders... ages 7 to 15 during the height of the movement... provided vivid memories of the period of time. Plan on sharing this with my students this year!

 —  Donald Parker, New Orleans, LA, 01/23/2008

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