EOTO reflection

 Today I witnessed in my classroom a mock trial of Brown v. Board of Education, the historic 1954 Supreme Court case that reshaped public education in America. Seeing my classmates bring this moment to life made the past feel immediate and real in a way that reading alone never could.

The Fight Against Segregated Schooling

Education Under Jim Crow

At the center of the case was a deeply important question could states legally separate students by race? The team representing Brown illustrated just how damaging segregation truly was. They showed how Black children were forced into schools with poor facilities, outdated supplies and limited opportunities, while white students nearby attended better funded schools.

One of the most powerful points they raised was the emotional harm caused by separation. They shared scientific studies revealing how segregation affected children’s sense of self worth, sending the painful message that Black students were less valued by society. The economic inequalities reinforced this reality too, with Black families earning dramatically less than white families. Their argument came down to a simple truth the 14th Amendment promises equal protection and segregation violated that promise entirely.

The Defense of Separate but Equal

The students defending the Board of Education argued from the perspective of the time period and hearing their points was both surprising and unsettling. They claimed that schools were already equal and that states had the constitutional authority to structure their education systems however they chose. Some even leaned on religious interpretations, suggesting the Bible supported racial separation. They insisted that segregation preserved social stability and reflected the wishes of parents who believed separating races was best for their children. As strange as these arguments sounded today, they reminded me that many people once genuinely believed them.

A New Era of Equality

Realizing the Weight of the Decision

What impacted me the most was seeing how passionately both sides defended their positions. It made me understand just how intense and emotional this debate was in the 1950s. The mock trial highlighted the courage required from families who challenged segregation not just legally, but socially and personally. When the Supreme Court finally declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, it did more than overturn a policy. It acknowledged the dignity, rights and humanity of millions of children who had been denied equal opportunity for generations.

A Lesson That Still Matters Today

Walking out of class, I found myself thinking about how far the country has come and how important it is to study moments like this. The mock trial didn’t just teach me about a Supreme Court decision it showed me why the fight for fairness and equality in education still matters today.

Recon vidio

Reflecting on the Reconstruction era, it becomes clear that it was one of the most complex and contradictory chapters in American history. It was a time filled with extraordinary possibility new rights, new opportunities and a new vision for what the country could become. Yet it also unleashed fierce backlash, violent resistance and new forms of oppression designed to keep Black Americans in their place. Even though slavery had officially ended, the struggles that followed reveal just how fragile freedom could be and how deeply its legacy still shapes the present.

Andrew Johnson’s Presidency and the Setbacks to Freedom

President Andrew Johnson

Although Johnson blamed wealthy Southern planters for causing the Civil War, he still held deeply racist beliefs that shaped his policies. Frederick Douglass quickly realized that Johnson had no intention of supporting true freedom or equal rights for Black Americans.

The Freedmen’s Bureau led by General Howard found itself trapped in an impossible situation. The Bureau technically controlled large amounts of land that could have offered freed people real independence. Instead, Johnson ordered that much of this land be returned to former slaveholders. As a result, many newly freed individuals had no choice but to sign labor contracts with the very people who had once enslaved them. For many, this system felt like slavery by another name.

Black Soldiers Fight for Freedom

The Formerly Enslaved Men and the Fight for Freedom

During the Civil War, thousands of enslaved people seized the chance to escape to Union lines in the summer of 1862. For many, it was the first step toward safety and a future they had once only imagined. By the end of the war, around 180,000 formerly enslaved men had enlisted in the Union Army fighting not only to preserve the nation but to secure their own liberation. Their service fundamentally transformed the meaning of the war.

After Appomattox, even President Abraham Lincoln began considering the radical idea of extending voting rights to some Black men. His vision hinted at a future where equality might be possible. But Lincoln’s assassination brought Andrew Johnson into power and that hope began to fade.

The Rise of Violence and Resistance

KKK March on Washington

By 1865, Southern states began passing Black Codes, restrictive laws meant to limit the rights and movement of Black people. Almost immediately, violence escalated across the South. White supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan emerged, using terror, intimidation and murder to try to restore racial hierarchy.

Congress responded in 1866 by taking a stronger stand. Lawmakers passed civil rights legislation and pushed forward the 14th Amendment, guaranteeing birthright citizenship and equal protection under the law. These acts represented monumental steps toward a more inclusive democracy, even though they were met with fierce resistance.

Hope, Determination, and the Claiming of Freedom

Despite the constant threats and systemic barriers, African Americans pushed forward with determination. They believed in democracy believed that it could work for them and fought to reshape their own futures. Their progress during Reconstruction was extraordinary. In the span of a single decade, formerly enslaved people built schools, created churches, established communities and held public office. They proved that once people claim their freedom, it cannot be easily taken away.

AI Disclosure: I put my notes from the video to create this blog, then I went in with my personal thoughts and added some. I then added pictures and captions.

Talking about freedom reflection

When I first walked into Professor Smith’s class, I thought I already had a general idea of what freedom meant in American history. I understood the big moments the end of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and the laws that reshaped the nation. But as the semester went on, I realised how much of the story I had only seen on the surface. Through a combination of timelines, blogging and EOTO presentations this class pushed me to think deeper about what freedom actually looked like, who had access to it and how often it was limited or taken away.

One of the most impactful assignments for me was the creation of historical timelines. Laying out events in order opened my eyes to the uncomfortable truth that freedom after slavery did not equal equality. I had never fully understood how quickly newly gained rights could be restricted again. Seeing the rapid emergence of Jim Crow laws only a few years after emancipation was shocking. It painted a clearer picture of how systems of discrimination were rebuilt, just in different forms.

Sharecropping especially stood out to me. Learning how formerly enslaved people were forced into contracts that kept them trapped in poverty for generations helped me recognise that freedom can be fragile when economic power is so uneven. It was heartbreaking to see how closely sharecropping resembled the conditions of slavery, simply repackaged to fit a new era. Yet what inspired me most in these timelines was not just the struggle it was the resilience. Despite every barrier placed in their way, people continued to fight for their rights, organize their communities and push the country closer to the ideals it claimed to stand for. That persistence became one of the central themes of the course for me.

The blog assignments also played a major role in shaping my learning experience. Instead of writing long, overwhelming essays, blogging allowed me to slow down and reflect on each topic with more intention. The shorter, focused posts helped me clarify my thinking and express my ideas more directly. Publishing my writing online gave everything a more professional feel like my reflections were meant for a real audience, not just for a grade. Over time, I could actually see my writing improving. I became more confident not only in my ability to structure a response but in how I connected my thoughts to the larger themes we discussed in class. Blogging made the course feel more personal and creative, which helped me understand the material on a deeper level.

Another assignment that stood out was the EOTO project. This activity was unlike anything I had done in history classes before. Instead of simply being the learners, we became the teachers. Doing independent research transformed the topics from distant historical facts into something much more engaging and meaningful. Presenting in front of the class challenged me to explain information clearly and confidently, and it pushed me to really understand the material rather than just memorize it. Teaching turned out to be one of the most effective ways to learn and it gave me a sense of ownership over the subject.

Overall, Professor Smith’s class fundamentally changed the way I think about American history and the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. It also helped me grow in many important skills writing, collaboration, public speaking and critical thinking. Most importantly, it showed me how history connects to the present. The systems, stories and struggles we studied are not just part of the past, they continue to shape the world we live in today. This class reminded me how essential it is to pay attention to those who fought for change and to recognize the work that still needs to be done.

16th street Baptist church bombing

I´ve never really thought of myself as a history person but every now and then, something from the past stops me in my tracks. But then there are certain stories that grab hold of you and don’t let go. That’s exactly what happened to me with this one. That’s exactly how I felt when I learned about the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama. Even though it happened over sixty years ago, the story felt painfully relevant, almost like it was tugging on a thread that still hasn’t been fully repaired.

Birmingham: A City on Edge

Aftermath of the 16th
Street Baptist Church Bombing

Back in 1963, Birmingham was known as one of the most segregated and violent cities in America. The nickname “Bombingham” wasn’t an exaggeration it was a grim reflection of how often white supremacists used violence to try to stop progress. In the middle of all this stood the 16th Street Baptist Church. It wasn’t just a place where people gathered to worship; it was a heartbeat of the Civil Rights Movement.

Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference used it as a meeting place, a planning zone and a symbol of unity. I find something incredibly powerful in the idea that a church could serve both spiritual and political roles. It shows how intertwined faith and justice were for so many people fighting for their rights.

September 15, 1963: A Day That Changed Everything

The four young victims

But the morning of September 15, 1963, shattered that sense of hope in the most heartbreaking way. At 10:22 AM, a bomb planted by members of the Ku Klux Klan exploded outside the church. Four young girls Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley were killed as they prepared for the Youth Day program. They were between eleven and fourteen years old.

I couldn’t stop thinking about that detail. They were just kids. They were doing what any other kids might do on a Sunday morning, getting ready, chatting, fixing their dresses. Their innocence makes the cruelty of the attack feel even heavier.

A Nation Forced to Pay Attention

No More Birminghams

What struck me even more was the country’s reaction. Instead of scaring people into silence, the bombing sparked outrage. Images of the shattered church and the faces of the four girls spread across newspapers worldwide.

Thousands attended their funerals. Dr. King called them “martyred heroines,” a phrase that has stayed with me. In a strange and tragic way, their deaths forced people who had been ignoring the Civil Rights Movement to finally see the brutality that Black Americans faced every day. Sometimes history moves because of big speeches or political strategies, but sometimes it moves because of heartbreak that simply cannot be ignored.

The Man Behind the Bombing
 Robert Chambliss

Justice Delayed A Painful Reality

What frustrates me, though, is how long justice took. The FBI quickly identified several suspects, yet the first conviction didn’t happen until 1977 fourteen years later. The remaining two weren’t convicted until 2001 and 2002.

It’s infuriating to think that the people responsible for killing four children walked free for decades. That delay isn’t just a flaw in the justice system it’s a reminder of how deeply racism was woven into the institutions meant to protect citizens. To me, this part of the story hurts almost as much as the bombing itself.

The Legacy: Pain, Strength, and Change

Still, the bombing became a turning point. Many historians believe it played a major role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. And today, the 16th Street Baptist Church stands as a National Historic Landmark.

When I think about the church now, I don’t just think about tragedy I think about resilience. I think about a community that refused to let hatred silence them. I think about how the story of four girls continues to push people myself included to reflect, to question and to demand better from the world.

Why This Story Still Matters

Maybe that’s why this event feels so close, even decades later. It reminds me that history isn’t just something that happened. It’s something we carry with us and something we’re still responsible for shaping.

AI disclosure: Parts of this assignment were developed with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. I used the tool to turn my script for my presentation into a 550 word minimum blog post. I also used it to help with organising historical information, improving clarity and grammar, and finding credible sources. All ideas were reviewed, edited, and finalised by me to ensure accuracy and originality. I added my opinion to every section to make it more of a personal blog.