Mock Trial 3

Today, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are here to address the reality that has been developing for centuries: the ongoing abuse African Americans are facing at the hands of our justice system. Throughout our history, there have been demonstrations of injustice against African Americans, that are not only unethical but also a burden on the very principles that this nation is supposed to defend, as highlighted by the lasting stain of slavery. However, if history has taught us anything, it is that advancement away from segregation will not be permanently stopped. As time passes, generation after generation has come forward to create a new America.  One where, regardless of one's race, are we seen as equal parties in the eyes of the law. 

As a society, let us not forget the actions of slavery, which is considered one of the darkest times in our history. Twisted beliefs that placed one race above another were used to justify enslaving people simply because of their skin color, reducing them to nothing more than property. However,  the fight for justice had already begun to take action. As more voices rose, calling for equality, freedom, and dignity, the abolitionist movement started to grow. Additionally, with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865, this country was able to be free from the bonds of slavery. Was it perfect? Not at all. But it was a step in the right direction, proof that justice was finally starting to win, even after so much time and effort to bring about change.

Yet even after all of the years of slavery, what followed? Segregation—an ugly system built to keep African Americans separated from the full rights of citizenship. Jim Crow laws were created to further drive the idea that one race was superior to another. However, the world was watching and progressing, showing a way forward.  The nation’s consciousness was sparked by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and later, which raised the voices of those who had once been oppressed.  Figures such as Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, and innumerable others, brought forth the fight for voting rights, desegregated schools, and equal treatment under the law. Every last one of their messages brought forth a new light, one where we were all given the same treatment, seen as American citizens, and not by the color of their skin.  The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Brown v. Board of Education decisions were all significant successes for this movement. They stood for shifts in our society’s moral foundation as well as modifications to the legislation. Once more, history was turning away from the segregation that deprived African Americans of their dignity and toward equality. 

But this isn’t where the story ends, ladies and gentlemen. Even though segregation is not legal anymore, its effects are still around, whether that be in the criminal justice system, housing, schools, and the economy. Today’s fights for racial equality remind us of the different changes we have enforced into today's society, to ensure that we do not repeat the past. More specifically, we can see it in the fight for fair policing, equal opportunities in education and housing, and justice for everyone. History is moving forward, step by step, getting us closer to a world where equal rights are a reality and oppression is left behind.

Segregation is outdated, a leftover from a time we’re leaving behind. We’re not there yet, but we have to keep pushing forward. History is moving toward equality and fairness, and instead of being the generation that slows it down, let’s be the one that speeds it up. Thank you. 

EOTO 3 Reaction

 

Today during class, my classmates discussed the Civil Rights Era. Initially, one of my classmates started discussing the stand in the schoolhouse door incident. On June 11th 1963, Vivian Malone and James Hood, the first Black students to try to enroll at the University of Alabama, however, George Wallace stopped them from entering the Foster Auditorium. The strong opposition to integration was shown in Wallace's statement, "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever." President John F. Kennedy’s involvement showed how the federal government was becoming more involved in supporting civil rights by making sure the students were allowed to enroll. Another incident that my classmate discussed was the 16th street baptist church bombing in Birmingham Alabama. Klan members planted dynamite in the walls, killed four young Black girls and injured 23 others. The church, a meeting place for civil rights leaders, became a symbol of resistance. This attack, the third since integration became legal, showed how much violence activists were facing. The protests and national anger after the bombing helped push President Kennedy's civil rights bill. Furthermore, another incident was entitled the 3 civil rights workers. On June 21, 1964, three civil rights workers; James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman went missing near Philadelphia, Mississippi, due to the actions of the KKK. They were involved in Freedom Summer, a campaign to increase Black voter registration in Mississippi. After months of FBI investigations, their bodies were found on August 4th. This tragedy brought attention to the civil rights movement and exposed the daily violence activists faced in the South. Their deaths helped push President Lyndon B. Johnson to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Civil Rights Era was full of challenges and change. Events like the Stand in the Schoolhouse Door and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing showed the fight to end segregation and the dangers activists faced. The murder of three civil rights workers during Freedom Summer and the Orangeburg Massacre highlighted the violent opposition to equality. Learning about these events helped me understand the courage it took to fight for civil rights and why it’s important to continue the work for equality today.

State v Mann Reaction EOTO 1

 Today during our class, we listened to the supreme court case of State v Mann. The reason as to why this case is so significant is because a white man shot a woman in the back of her head. The reason why this murder happened was because Lydia was on loan to Mr.Mann from Elizabeth Jones, she attempted to run away, but failed to do so. 

The state charged Mr.Mann a fine of $10 for his attempted murder and assault. He decided to appeal and the State presented arguments initially against Mr.Mann. 

Initially, the State argued the case from a religious standpoint, claiming Judeo-Christian principles, such as the idea that we were all God’s children and the significance of abiding by moral laws which is considered the foundation of America. John Mann’s behavior went against these fundamental values and demonstrated a lack of regard for them. From a religious perspective, Mann’s actions make it obvious that he is at fault here, and should be penalized for his actions. 

Furthermore, the State argued the fact that America is consistently falling behind the rest of the world in terms of abolition. Slavery is a cruel act that should not be continued during that particular day and age, making America stuck on the past rather than moving forward to the future. 

On the opposing side, Mr.Mann’s attorney argued a completely different story. In several respects, Mann's argument might be viewed as a kind of self-defense. First, Lydia might have harmed someone, taken something, or even started a slave uprising if she had fled. Second, it makes natural that Mann would attempt to safeguard his slaves because they are the source of his income, and he shouldn't be penalized for doing so. 

After the judges careful consideration of both arguments, he decided to rule in favor of the defendant, and that John Mann is not to pay the fine of $10. 

EOTO 4 Post - Bakke vs University of California

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the values embodied in our Constitution must serve as our compass as we stand at a stop where justice and equality must meet. This specific case is not just about denying the need for progress or ignoring challenges that minority communities face. However, it is about declaring the truth that discrimination, in any type of form and against a person, is wrong. Initially, let us discuss the history that protects Mr.Allan Bakke from the injustice that he faces on the stand today.

After being enacted in 1868, the 14th Amendment guarantees that no state would "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." This amendment was intended to ensure that everyone, regardless of race, would have equal access to opportunities and to undermine systems of racial injustice. The dedication to evaluating people based on their character and ability rather than their skin color is a fundamental component of American values that must be met. Unfortunately, Mr. Allan Bakke was denied this amendment as the University of California would not accept him, as they believed that the image of the school was far more important.

Furthermore, Allan Bakke, a qualified applicant with a GPA of 3.5 and amazing test scores he received on his Medical College Admission Test, was denied admission to the University of California’s medical school solely because of his race. The school admitted students under a quota system that reserved spaces exclusively for minority applicants. While the intention behind this policy was to address historical inequalities, its execution contradicts the very principles it seeks to uphold. By rejecting Mr. Bakke on the basis of his race, the University replaced one form of discrimination with another. 

Although this country has a tragic history of discrimination, it tells us that creating new victims is not the answer to injustice. Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., promoted a society in which people are evaluated on the basis of their character rather than their skin color. With the University of California going against his statement, the school brings society back to a time where skin color is the only concept that makes a person.

The promise of equality in the Constitution is clear and absolute. Nowhere does it say that a person has equal protection, unless it serves a greater good. If we allow race to dictate who is given opportunities and who is not, we risk undermining the very foundation of fairness and justice that our laws are meant to protect. By doing so, we send  a message that equality is conditional, and that goes against everything our country strives to stand for.

The University of California is going to try and argue that by denying Mr.Allan Bakke it is to address past injustices and promote diversity. While the intention is to support students who have been overlooked before, the focus is more on race instead of one’s academic qualifications. 

All in all, this case is about achieving diversity in a way that upholds principles of justice and equality, not diminishing the importance of diversity itself. Like everyone else, Allan Bakke deserves to be evaluated on his qualifications, not judged or penalized based on the color of his skin. Would you want an exceptionally qualified doctor to be denied the opportunity to pursue his dreams and contribute positively to society, simply because of his race? If not, then I urge you to do what is right and give Allan Bakke the chance he deserves. 

Thank you. 

Nullification Crisis

 

The Nullification Crisis, a watershed in American history, tested the limits of federal power and state autonomy. The crisis, which occurred between 2828 and 1833, was mostly caused by the intense regional disputes between the Northern and Southern states, primarily over tariffs that favored Northern industry while severely burdening the agrarian South. At the heart of the conflict was South Carolina, which sought to overthrow federal statutes it believed to be unconstitutional. A constitutional and political impasse with the federal government resulted from this.

The origins of the issue originated with the Tariff of 1828, commonly known as the “Tariff of Abominations”. The Southern economy, which was mostly dependent on importing goods and exporting raw materials like cotton, was harmed by the high charges this tariff placed on imported goods, which protected Northern businesses. These tariffs were seen by Southerners, especially in South Carolina, as unjust and detrimental to their economic interests. They contended that the tariff disproportionately benefited the North at the expense of the South and expressed concern that the institution of slavery, which was essential to the Southern way of life, may someday be threatened by ongoing federal meddling in state affairs. 

Politicians from South Carolina, led by Andrew Jacon’s vice president John C. Calhoun, created the nullification thesis in reaction to the 1828 tariff. According to Calhoun, the US constitution was a contract between sovereign states, and as such, any state was free to declare any federal statute to be illegal. He believed that if the federal government overreached, the states might intervene and veto the offending statute. In the South Carolina Exposition and Protest, which was published in 1828 under a false name, Calhoun introduced his nullification idea. He asserted that the states must eliminate the tariff because it is illegal. Tensions had escalated by 1832 when Congress enacted a new tariff that, although it reduced some levies, fell short of what the South had demanded in terms of significant reductions. In order to declare the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 to be inside its borders, the state of South Carolina convened a convention and passed an Ordinance of Nullification.

President Andrew Jackson saw South Carolina's actions as an outright assault to federal power. He was adamant about keeping the Union intact at all costs since he thought the constitution gave the federal government the upper hand over the states in legal problems. In a proclamation sent to the people of South Carolina in December 1832, Jackson unannounced the nullification as unlawful. He then proclaimed that the federal government was entitled to the enforcement of its laws and issued a warning that independence would result in unkindness. 

In early 1833, Congress approved the Force Bill, enabling Jackson to employ military force in South Carolina to uphold federal laws. Nevertheless, compromise proved to be the key to defusing the crisis. The Compromise Tariff of 1833, put out by Senator Henry Clay, progressively lowered the rates over the course of the following 10 years. In order to maintain its position on states rights, South Carolina also invalidated the Force Bill but yet accepted this compromise and repealed its Ordinance of Nullification. 

The Nullification Crisis constituted a crucial test of federal authority in the early republic. It emphasized the developing tensions between the North and the South along their respective sections and hinted at the arguments over secession and states rights that would lead to the Civil War. Despite a peaceful resolution, the crisis served as a warning about the Unions vulnerability and the limitations of compromise in bridging the states profound political and economic divides. 

In the Night Reaction Post

Through its characters and surroundings, the movie In the Heat of the Night explores larger societal tensions while capturing the various themes of racism, power, and justice in 1960s America. The plot, which takes place in Sparta, Mississippi, centers on Virgil Tibbs, a Black detective from the North, who becomes involved in a murder investigation. Tibbs challenges the town's established power structures, forcing the police and residents to face their prejudices. 

First of all, the audience is made acutely aware of the presumptions of white supremacy that were prevalent in the town at the time of Tibbs' encounter with the local authorities. After Tibbs was falsely accused of murder due to his race, the movie becomes more intense. Tibbs must thus demonstrate throughout the entire movie not just his innocence but also his ability to function in a hostile setting. 

The Spartan society, who see Tibbs as a threat to their way of life, is also involved in the struggle in the film, in addition to Tibbs and the town's police. His status as an outsider—a knowledgeable, powerful Northern Black man—challenges their perception of societal norms. Those who are opposed to change argue that Tibbs is intelligent since he was able to systematically determine the case's reality. 

One of the film's strongest aspects is its analysis of how individuals deal with or resist systemic injustice. Gillespie, the town's police chief, personifies the conflicts between tradition and progress. Gillespie eventually learns to value Tibbs as a person and a professional, despite his initial impression of him. Even though the broader cultural structures remain in place, his gradual transformation raises the prospect of individual growth. 

Class has a significant role in Spartan society and affects racial relations. Poor white individuals, such as the defendants in the Tibbs case, have power over Black citizens despite their financial hardship. This demonstrates how systematic racism can make even individuals with lower position feel superior in the racial hierarchy.  

Through its multi-layered narrative, In the Heat of the Night compels viewers to confront the intricacies of justice and the pervasiveness of prejudice. When faced with systemic injustices, Tibbs' journey's fortitude and perseverance show the limitations of individual successes. The movie serves as a reminder of the work needed to end historical injustices, both then and now. 

Starting of the United Negro Fund EOTO Present

One of Americas most well-known organizations is the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). This organization is committed to expanding access to higher education for African American students. Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, the Tuskegee Institute's president at the time, founded it on April 25, 1944, working with civil rights activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune and other prominent people of racial equality in education. UNCF was established during a specific time period when HBCUs were facing significant financial difficulties, highlighting the necessity of a steady and dependable source of funding to help these important institutions.

Initially, UNCF provided services to 27 member schools and universities, which together taught about 12,000 students. A solid basis for the organization's future was laid by the support given to its first fundraising campaign, which included endorsements from famous individuals including John D. Rockefeller Jr. and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. During a time when structural racism and segregation severely limited African American students' possibilities, these goals demonstrated the significance of giving them access to high-quality education and resources.

UNCF has greatly increased its influence throughout its existence. One example of their success is their ability to obtain college degrees for more than 500,000 students from the $5 billion it has raised over the previous 80 years. In addition to supporting 37 member HBCUs today, UNCF keeps pushing for laws and initiatives that help students from marginalized and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. One of its main advocacy campaigns is through pushing for more federal funding for financial aid initiatives like Pell Grants, which have been crucial in assisting low-income students in affording higher education.

UNCF's famous tagline, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste," is central to the organization's aim. The organization's dedication to guaranteeing that all students have the chance to pursue higher education and realize their potential to contribute significantly to society. It also represents a larger goal of lowering educational inequality and providing students who might otherwise be excluded from these chances because of institutional obstacles with a path to success.

In conclusion, the United Negro College Fund was created to help HBCUs and their students with their financial difficulties. It has been crucial in increasing African Americans' access to school over the years, highlighting the significance of educational equity. In addition to changing the lives of innumerable students, its efforts have reinforced American higher education's foundation and made it more diverse and inclusive of the country.