Diasporic and other Wanderings

From what I have read so far in Freedom Summer, I have realized that there were many different confrontations concerning the status quo. The one problem in particular that got to me was the double standard surrounding the issues of "the weaker sex." Also, the beginnings of the Free speech movement and the Student Movement itself were a huge controversy at the time. I think that, once the people began to examine the issues that were put forth concerning equality in concern to sex and equality in general, they began to slowly understand the perspective that the African-Americans were coming from.
The volunteers' encounters with white supremacist violence and their experiences with interracial relationships, communal living, and a more open sexuality led many of them to "climb aboard a political and cultural wave just as it was forming and beginning to wash forward." I think that with this contact that the volunteers had, they became more intune with the problems surrounding the Civil Rights Movement, and how much things actually had to change.
One example of this is when an SNCC worker started going to schools in an attempt to teach them about non violent protests. Many African-Americans jumped at the chance to show others that they could protest, and not hurt anyone in the process. However, those against the protests decided to make an example of them by expelling them or even arresting them.

Freedom Summer

I found Freedom Summer, so far that is, to be a intriguing read. It was nice to finally have some good news to read about regarding the fight against racism. I was happy to read that during this time of darkness, mankind stood together and was able to form a united front. This ability to unite in the face of hard times, made me proud to live in Illinois. I was happy to read that Illinois had the largest number of volunteers from the midwest region of the country. What I am curious about is the white womens involvement in the fight. It is well known that many white men stood with many AFrican-Americans in the fight for equality, but what about their counterparts? Were the women involved at all in bringing the movement into their homes? Was the issue of racism made more clear as the people getting to know those that they were helping?
I have to wonder where they got the courage to stand up against the "norm." It is not unusual for people to not want to become involved in anything, especially something as controversial as the Civil Rights movement, if they are not going to be directly affected. what i want to know is why, exactly, did they get involved?

Thinking About Baldwin, Thinking About Today

While Baldwin may be happy with the current change our country is going through (a new president), I doubt he would be surprised that racism is still alive and well today. While the racist comments and issues that arise are nowhere near as overt as they were in Baldwin's time, they still exist and are still a problem today. I would say he would be disappointed in the way people view races different than their own. Notice I did not say the way people view African-Americans; the reason I did not single out only African-Americans is because they are not the only racial group that experiences situations in which they are discriminated against because of their color.

I recently had the unfortunate experience to sit in a restaurant and see a white man treat a hispanic couple like garbage. It made me sick to my stomach that I had to witness that; i was so disturbed in fact, that I got up and left the restaurant. I have a strong feeling that Baldwin would have been just as disturbed at the condition our society is in today. However, not all is doom and gloom on the issues of race; within the past forty or so years, our country has made significant progress towards people and things that are "different" and "outside of the norm."

First Response

The year at UIS, thus far, has been really difficult for me. I am from Chicago which is a large city, and I am not used to the quiet and "non-bustling" activity here in Springfield. As far as the classes I've had to take so far, I've been surprisingly disappointed. I was expecting classes much more entertaining and challenging, but so far I've been disinterested and a little bored. However, during the last CAP class "Who Am I?" there were many interesting class discussions that we had. It made me a little excited for the next chapter in the CAP journey, if you will.
The novels we read in the CAP class were interesting to read, but the first book for this sememster, Nobody Knows My Name, by James Baldwin, has yet to capture my interest. I hope that the class will be as interesting, if not more so, than last semesters CAP class.

i wonder if this works

let me know if you all can read this...then maybe ill have a clue if i'm doing something right