The Children's Crusade and the Role of Youth in the African American Freedom Struggle Author(s): Erin Cook and Leanna Racine Source: OAH Magazine of History, Vol. 19, No. 1, Martin Luther King, Jr. (Jan., 2005), pp. 3136 Published by: Organization of American Historians Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25163740 . Accessed: 08/05/2013 20:33 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . Organization of American Historians is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to OAH Magazine of History. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 198.91.32.137 on Wed, 8 May 2013 20:33:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Lesson Erin Cook and Leanna Racine| Plan The Crusade Children's of in Youth American a As the the Role African Freedom Struggle I have sat through and have acquired firsthand classes many experience history an ideal lesson in a meaningful is one that goes For me, students way. engage plan to develop consciences and to work for social their social students change. inspiring ?Leanna Racine high school of lessons kinds the and senior, about that classroom, the beyond Senior, Palo Alto (CA) High School following lesson plan focuses on the role young people played in the African American freedom struggle, specifically the Children's Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition The to examining we that Crusade, have that highlight the critical contributions young people made to the civil movement. rights Overview Young people played an essential role in the African American freedom in many participating struggle, ofthe major of Birmingham were who campaigns against the city's segregation policies, people As will were students find great made critical learn that while inspiration will in their efforts to bring in the movement, they a source of about social justice. like Barbara Johns, Claudette Colvin, and Mary Louise Smith most likely be unfamiliar in acts of resistance participated Luther King, Jr., gained to your students. These and civil disobedience national prominence for young women before Martin his role in Standards struction" one take between connections American and class four periods. between freedom struggle role in youth in current of the African role the and their of the African for struggles justice and equality. on the events reflection encourage as to our freedom struggle they apply source evaluate and interpret primary To To own American lives. documents. ofthe "Second 4a: Demonstrate understanding its advancement and analyze of civil rights. The Children's Crusade Recon told me "My mother twelve year-old in tion When Birmingham. a to serve my said Anita Woods, time," racial segrega for demonstrating against to go home if she wanted asked she I had arrested girl replied, "Yes! But I'd do it again. I'll keep on marching freedom" the campaign 1963 national publicity generated response larly violent by in the campaign. children On till I get (i). In and Luther Jr., was King, more troops," T. Walker Wyatt from released jail only to find that the demonstrations "We needed support. to desegregate Alabama, Birmingham, action because federal ofthe particu to use and the decision segregationists Martin 20, April Birmingham's were losing later recalled. "We had scraped the bottom ofthe barrel of adults who would go [to jail]." Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) staffmem ber This lesson plan will fulfill the following standard in the National Standards for History Education: Era 9: Postwar United States Standard To make the Montgomery bus boycott. Exploring their contributions to themove ment not only clarifies King's place in history but also reminds young people of their potential to effect change in the world. National should of young the contributions of youth role lesson they dissented Martin Luther indeed Jr., was King, was movement in the the for many people struggle, citizens of ordinary who exhibited extraordinary up mostly and strength courage Names the as success. to the movement's about en masse arrested this Objectives To help students see beyond the dynamic leaders ofthe movement and focus instead on themany contributions made by people who are not included in the history books. ofthe civil rights movement as well as initiating personal protests against racial injustice. From Barbara Johns leading a strike of her fellow students at Moton High School in Farmville, Virginia, in 1951 to protest the inequities between black and white education, to the children Depending include, of events stories several included Time on the number of additional activities teachers may James Bevel, a that while argued many in the demonstrations to lose. some had King deliberation conscience ofthe in participant initiated the idea of using adults the may Nashville sit-in movement, in the demonstrations. children have been reluctant Bevel to participate for fear of losing their jobs, children had less reservations the use about he the action agreed, hoping to the nation judgment of but after the "subpoena seat of morality." Members OAH Magazine of History This content downloaded from 198.91.32.137 on Wed, 8 May 2013 20:33:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions children, would January 2005 31 ofthe SCLC and the Alabama Christian Move ment for Human Rights (ACMHR) immediately local canvassing began On May 2, hundreds their skipped The demonstrate. one first six years just volunteers. of students?many and school toothbrushes, came classes and blankets, rying for schools of young group from emerged old, car books? to ready students, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church carrying signs and singing freedom Onlookers songs. as cheered the chil dren approached police lines. A bewildered po liceman asked Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth how more many least child a thousand," were involved. protesters a he replied, eliciting Ah'mighty" from the policeman when ran out of paddy police (2). were of students numbers Large "At "God and arrested, school wagons, buses were used to carry the children away. The laughing and singing youngsters offered no resistance. While some ran when participants police approached, At the end ofthe day, over were children 900 in May 1963 in Birmingham, Crusade Alabama, 900 students taking part in the Children's into a holding pen. (Image courtesy in a makeshift jailwhen the police turned a sports stadium of Bob Adelman and Magnum Photos.) Some most ofthe marchers fell to their knees and prayed. taken were ofthe held away to Birmingham jails.As the jails overflowed, James Bevel and Andrew Young discouraged parents from posting bail. The next evening King delivered a speech at the Sixteenth Street in Birmingham, Church Baptist ents ofthe young protesters: encouragement offering "Don't worry about your to the par children; they are going to be alright. Don't hold them back if they want to go to jail, for they are not only doing a job for themselves, but for all of America and for all of mankind" (3). King was criticized for using children in the demonstrations. One ofthe most vocal came criticisms from X who Malcolm "Real stated, men don't put their children on the firing line" (4). King responded by allowed that the demonstrations saying in freedom of their own stake to develop children justice." and expulsion of suspension returned students superintendent, from threats Despite the school "a sense and on May and principals 3 to continue the demonstration. Police barricaded the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, where the black students had assembled; when the students tried to leave the church, theywere blasted with fire hoses and attacked by police dogs. Two girls ran through the park in just their slips, their outer clothing ripped off by the fire hoses. Several others had their torn shirts The off by next day the water. the around newspapers country carried shocking images of the violence taking place in Birmingham. Pictures of children being attacked by dogs, of fire hoses knocking bodies into the street and up against buildings, and of women being beaten by awaken helped policemen was 10, an agreement May of many of Birmingham's The Birmingham movements Jobs and the announced campaign The resulting ofthe nation." was success the largest mass according activity statement protest for to King, for the students the lesson, "anticipatory set" activity, called "Dividing invites the an to form students a brief to prepare and defense a about opinion of it. Tell students that they are going to be learning about the role young people played in the African American freedom struggle, specifically in the Birming on the board Malcolm X's statement, "Real and write campaign, on the write line." Have students don't put their children firing to the provocative statement sentences in response followed several by or one and ten a number of their level between agreement reflecting ham men with disagreement statement. the Have the students a form line across the room in numerical order and then split the line in half so are students facing one another. The to have is here object the extremes ofthe line (ones and tens, twos and nines) pair off with one another for a brief exchange of their views. In addition to requiring to take students a stand, "Dividing Line" to back them encourages up their opinions with reasons and to defend them in a brief exchange with someone who likely holds very different views. After students have had ones, several twos, the 2.Why 3.What tions tens share their their Have Crusade. Children's in small positions, discussions groups or students in their have some with the ofthe class. (1989) on Birmingham address the following journals: did the SCLC and ACMHR make the decision to use in the campaign? were from posting bail for their children? parents discouraged do you think King meant when he stated that the demonstra to develop stake in children "a sense of their own allowed freedom and 4. How might demonstrations? 5. What about? and "Eyes on the Prize: No EasyWalk" II.Watch and to discuss minutes nines, 1. Why could largely be attributed to the thousands of young people who participated and affirmed a personal commitment to justice. The Birmingham campaign helped pave the way for the passage of the most significant civil rights legislation ofthe 1960s: the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 32 OAH Magazine of History This children in the March onWashington in Birmingham, Line." provocative to prime and knowledge begin with the following questions in the desegregation of several call on prior I. To On public facilities. in 1963 that culminated Freedom. conscience "moral Procedures A. Main Activities justice"? you have sacrifices Be would responded to the call you be willing specific. January 2005 This content downloaded from 198.91.32.137 on Wed, 8 May 2013 20:33:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions to make to participate for a cause in the you care In a class III. reactions share discussion, and about thoughts Links the role youth played in the Birmingham movement. Were students familiar with the Children's Crusade, or had they only learned a King-centered version of Birmingham? How does this change their perception of the movement, King, and of youth? the role Ask students where Separate Views a response write the of in their in Strife Birmingham:" cartoons ofthe to one journals Have students included at the 1.What 2.What who person 3. What it tell us about itwas 4. Briefly explain the issues current social Below is a brief social and in this Is it effective? be document How B. Additional Activities overview of several ofthe use Teachers may or they may wish to these to develop on expand one of them We have provided a list of suggested to help activities get events youth-centered that helped shape the modern African American Crusade as a separate further readings, unit, at Moton High school and sixteen 23,1951, April year old School in Virginia, her encouraged fellow Barbara lesson. were organized Johns, that at: Koerner not used as socioeconomic there were arrests previous for same the to learn to give that Rosa up her Parks seat? <http://www.kingdomnewsmagazine.com/ After students read the article, test cases. How have Encyclopedia at: <http://vvww.stanfordedu/group/King/aboutJdng/>. Also see Ellen Levine's Freedom'sChildren: Young Civil RightsActivists Tell Their Own Stories (NewYork: Putnam, 1993). a student an assembly at her in an atten to participate students in Montgomery, Council age, gender, and/or might a role? played background on the Additional information bus boycott, Rosa Parks, and Montgomery can be found the Montgomery in the King Association, Improvement links, and possible Rose Political discuss why itwas that Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith I. Barbara Johns and Brown v. Board of Education (1954) On the Women's articles/feb2003/history.pdf>. started. you mentions Brendan freedom struggle. the Children's of Ask students to find information on Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith in their textbooks. Why aren't they included in the history ofthe Montgomery bus boycott? How does this change the way they think about the teaching of history? Have students read "WhoWas on the Bus? The Untold Versions" by situation? political the Nation .html>. ohns are bus boycott, Montgomery they surprised was not the first person arrested for refusing to our relevant Change action. Have students read the handbill and then ask if anything stands out about it.Given the history thatmost students have learned about the of the climate political to the cartoon. response addressed and the produced? your might document of the it? created does in which period in creating this cartoon? tell us about the values and beliefs the cartoon does Helped Alabama, wrote a handbill calling for a boycott of the buses. The s intent is the author leader Robinson, end of this lesson plan, addressing the following questions: Protest II. The Montgomery Bus Boycott: Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith Following the arrest of Rosa Parks, attorney Fred Gray and JoAnn Crusade. "Domestic IV. a Student-Led How stories_people_j they would place themselves on the "Dividing Line" after learning about the Children's but Unequal: <http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfld=i8947i3>. PBS: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/ dance strike to protest the inequities between their school and the local white school. She told them that if they acted in solidarity the town jail could not hold them all. Johns stated, "We knew we had to do it ourselves and that if we had asked for adult help before taking the step, we would first have been turned down." Johns wrote a letter to the NAACP asking for the organization's help. The NAACP law yers, who had planned to tell the children to go back to school, recalled, "These kids turned out to be so well organized and their morale was so high. We just didn't have the heart to 'em tell of to break the five Brown Have it up." The case school desegregation v. Board of Education. a response write students became cases 7^ * i^^BI^^^^B*' " ^^^^HB ^^^^BBlBBirBBi #% ..-';VMMMjj^^^H^^^^^^^^B\ aA^^^^^^^^^^^^HfjE^^B '^ ';s^^^^3 ^^^P>???-/l^slS^'^S ^ BH^^^HiB^h 4. BP one under in ^^^^ ^^H:'':' their ' ^^^B i^^HHBi^L^ * ^^B ^^HB^^B ! IHP^aH^d^&^l**!^^ '^^^Bb^^^^B ^kL^Bsl^^^^^^^^BBB^^Biir^'V'' IB ^mmtidBbM^&wmmU ti; j*^^BB^^B^^^^B^^^B^^B^flBBII :: :^ ^^^^h^^^^B^^BtfBI^^B ^r *?jkTnBi^B^^i ^yiHIHP^B^^^^^^^^^Bi^^B'M?fIbPI journals to Barbara Johns quote, "It [suing for the end of segregation] seemed like reaching for the moon." Suggested Reading Presents Civics for Ralph Nader A Journey for Teachers and Stu Democracy: dents. Washington, DC: Essential Books, 1992. Kluger, Richard. Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board 1975. of Education. New York: Knopf, Irons, Peter. Jim Crow's Children: The Broken Prom Isaac, Katherine. ise ofthe 2002. Brown Decision. New York: Viking, A group of African American Alabama. May 1963. (Image in the Children's high school students participating of Bob Adelman and Magnum Photos.) Crusade in Birmingham, courtesy OAH Magazine of History This content downloaded from 198.91.32.137 on Wed, 8 May 2013 20:33:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions January 2005 33 III. Little Rock Nine Following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling that the doctrine of "separate but equal" had no place in the field of public education, the Little Rock School Board developed a plan for the gradual desegregation at Central High School. However, on Septem ber 2,1957, the night before school was to begin, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus on called state's the National to surround Guard 4. Could see you yourself 5. In what were ways 4, September the nine of eight students Elizabeth student, ofthe was Eckford?who to school and went meeting un old?was 15 years only was alone. Eckford greeted by an angry mob of people; some yelled "Lynch her! Lynch her!" One woman on her. spat to get from away Finally, crowd. the specific the conflict and state and federal woman her helped a bus board 6. Consider various the tactics made news. international forced power to ensure Rock President The battle students the students' safety. The newspaper, a letter wrote Tiger, to her fellow students entitled "CanWe Meet the Challenge?" (included in the documents following this lesson plan.) Bring a letter from the editor an or a current from editorial to newspaper and class introduce students to the basics of writing an editorial. (You can find plenty of an editorial" to write "How in the place themselves on sites Internet.) of The Tiger editor the of Have the a familiarity Suggested with and write put a letter the Rock events or both, Nine," Little surrounding and Rock's Don't Warriors Beals, Cry: Searing Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High Books, involve youth examples motivations and tactics used Louise and Mary Colvin Claudette fellow students. Have students and campaigns i. What similarities 2. What 3.Which differences itwas In contrast, Crusade, 'Freedom' From Cell in Birmingham "Negro Girls Define Benjamin, Jail," New York Times, May 9, 1963, 17. 2. Diane McWhorter, The Climactic Alabama, Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Battle ofthe Civil Rights Revolution and Schuster, (New York: Simon 2001), 367. Luther King, 3. Martin Jr., "Address Church," May 3, 1963. "Malcolm X Terms 4. M. S. Handler, Delivered at Sixteenth Dr. King's Tactics Street Futile," Baptist New York 11, 1963, 9. Memoir and compare events, the and do you do you 'Freedom' From Cell in Birmingham "Negro Girls Define Phillip. Jail." New York Times, May 9, 1963, 17. Luther King, Jr. New York: Carson, Clayborne, ed., The Autobiography ofMartin Warner Books, 1998. in Negro Protest at Birmingham." New York "500 are arrested Times, May 3, 1963, 1. A Journey for Isaac, Katherine. Ralph Nader Presents Civics for Democracy: Teachers and Students. Washington, DC: Essential Books, 1992. Foster. Hailey, King, Martin Luther Jr., Why We Can't Wait. New York: The New American Library, 1964. Simple Justice: The History of Brown v. Board of Education and Kluger, Richard. Black America's edition. New Struggle for Equality. Revised and expanded York: Knopf, 2004. on the Bus? The Untold Versions." Brendan. "Who Was Koerner, Kingdom News 9-10. (February 1003): Diane. Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle McWhorter, 2001. ofthe Civil Rights Revolution. New York: Simon & Schuster, Morris, Black Communities ofthe Civil Rights Movement: 1984. for Change. New York: The Free Press, My Soul is Rested: Movement Days in the Deep South Remem bered. New York: Putnam, 1977. The Origins Aldon. ofthe Los Angeles in Alabama: Children March Off to Jail in Racial Protest." Times. May 7, 1963, 1. New York: Sanford. An Eyewitness History: The Civil Rights Movement. Wexler, Checkmark Books, 1993. An Easy Burden: The Civil Rights Movement and the Transfor Young, Andrew. mation 1996. of America. New York: Harper Collins, "Strife (New York: Pocket action, a there were by participants. Smith acted alone, For with out any organizational support; Barbara Johns enlisted the help of her Children's above. Erin Cook isAssociate Director ofthe Liberation Curriculum at theMartin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project and a Teaching Assistant for Professor above of different example, integration. and Contrast all ofthe number reflect 1994). IV. Compare While should Reading Petilla Melba "Little the students, listed campaigns effective? Why? Organizing Raines, Howell. students addressed to their fellow students. The lettermay be addressed to just the white they Bibliography / Suggested Readings Show the first film in the Eyes on the Prize series, "Fighting Back" (1992). Activity: Letter from the Editor On September 19 Jane Emery, co-editor of the Central High School's did Benjamin, action. continued. students Where i. Philip between to take Eisenhower On September 25, 1957, the "Little Rock Nine" entered Central High under the protection of federal troops. While the battle had ended in the eyes ofthe media and the nation, the daily battles for the nine in the used do you consider to be the most Which Times, May He federalized the entire Arkansas National Guard and sent soldiers to Little a success? campaigns fall short? to attack any black person who approached the Mobs continued school, a white or campaigns Endnotes to about enroll met Daisy Bates, president ofthe Arkansas NAACP, to face the violent mob they knew would be waiting for them. The ninth aware the Little were who of ones? Why? Rock Central High School and prevent black students from entering. On in any participating events above? Which adults who were efforts contrast see between the primarily part of a differences the various organized the long campaign. the between campaigns? see? example did you find most 34 OAH Magazine of History interesting, or inspiring? Why? Carson's Clayborne She works struggle. ment, using history with the materials interns undergraduate on course local high of school the King teachers Papers in teaching. interested American the African on curriculum and Project, Leanna Racine freedom develop supervises is a high school senior at Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, California. Leanna began volunteeringfor The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project because of herpassion forsocial justice and political activism. She hopes to continue working with the Project with ambitions to make a difference in her community Jr., and and encourage the African American others to learn about struggle. January 2005 This content downloaded from 198.91.32.137 on Wed, 8 May 2013 20:33:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Dr. Martin Luther King, Document i m t. , . ?.,. /orkln^el^uIsvmeTimea "My third grade cousin went to jail with the fifth graders. "' to UPelley #with Kberty ^ # ? Liederman in The Long Island Daily The ChristiaitScienceMonitor' ? justice f0f aU Presi "Women and children first" OAH Magazine of History This content downloaded from 198.91.32.137 on Wed, 8 May 2013 20:33:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions January 2005 35 Document 2 Can You Meet the Challenge? By Jane Emery are You being watched! to know what They want now us. After before your reactions, all, as we is watching the world Today and impulses behavior, see it, it settles the students you, now of Central amatter will be concerning to amatter of interpretation High. of law and order. you be stubborn, Will your of knowledge is the chance This mind, youth science or tradition superstition, broad outlook, has not "gone not being the decision that the youth of America wise High to show facilities. love and cherish That Will question? let customs, you choice growing friendly, can prove you spiritual, for. Through an open that America's and educational standards of Arkansas and students are is a progressive thriving and improving its social, health, and conscientious happy, of state of citizens their freedom. up your own mind in making been waiting that Arkansas it is a state with ofthe or will action for you as citizens said that life is just a chain It has been has a careful the world sides for you? It is a state that is rapidly alert people. to both your that their moral, is the opportunity Little Rock Central who and thinking, to the dogs" This and educational determine you help to listen determine lowered. wide-awake or refuse obstinate, of problems. and determining If this is true, then right from wrong will this experience be of great value to in life. you The and challenge ability controversial 36 OAH Magazine of History is yours, to make question. as future decisions What adults by how is your of America, your answer react, to prove behave, your maturity, and conduct intelligence, yourself to this challenge? January 2005 This content downloaded from 198.91.32.137 on Wed, 8 May 2013 20:33:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions in this
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