Looking at Racism for Maniac Magee

Introduction

Exploring the Jim Crow Laws

In order to fully grasp the attitudes of some of the characters in Maniac Magee and outlooks for African Americans in the early 1900's through the 1960's,  one must first possess an understanding of Jim Crow Laws and the culture it created.

Task

This web quest will take you through a series of activities that will allow you to further investigate the Jim Crow laws and the people who were affected by them. In your first activity you will be asked to research the history and examine the actual Jim Crow Laws, while making personal connections; second you will read personal narratives of African-Americans who were personally affected by the restrictions imposed on them by these laws and complete a 3-2-1 slide about your chosen person and complete the questions; your bonus task is to choose one of the listed articles and write a personal response allowing you to make an emotional connection to the problems still faced by African Americans and other People of Color today. Your goal is to uncover what it was really like to be African American during a time of extreme racism and segregation.  Without this understanding, the significance of Maniac Magee's friendships with those from the "wrong side of the tracks" will be much harder to comprehend.

Process

Activity 1

The Jim Crow Law era was a particularly difficult and heinous time for those restricted by these laws.  Please visit the Jim Crow Museum to find out more about the history and facts about this time in American history.

Activity Steps:

1.   Visit The Jim Crow Museum. and skim through the article.

2.   After reading through all of the laws, pick four (4) Jim Crow laws that you find interesting or especially mean or ridiculous. 

3.   Put the 4 laws in the first box on the Activity 1 Slide and answer the question given below in the second box on the 4 Laws slide

4. QUESTION: Do you think that if you lived under these rigid and unjust laws it would affect how you perceive yourself and the world around you? Would it affect how you deal with conflict? Explain. 

 

Activity 2

Find out what it was really like to live during the Jim Crow era by reading some of these first hand personal narratives from the survivors of this segregated era.

Activity Steps: 

1.You will read one of the following narratives of people telling their own stories of living under Jim Crow(please click on ONE of the names below):

            1. T.R. Davidson

            2. R.C. Hickman

            3. Joseph Holloway

            4. Nobuo Honda

   

2. After you have finished reading your chosen personal narrative complete the  Activity 2   3-2-1 slide

 

Activity 3

BONUS: Jim Crow laws and segregation still exist today but they are not as obvious. Research and react to some ways in which these injustices are still practiced.

Activity Steps: 

1.   Choose one of these articles to read.

What school segregation looks like in the US today

Worsening, unchecked segregation in K-12 public schools

Racism declared public health issue...

Redlining prevents  minority families from becoming homeowners

Racist housing policies....

 

2.   After you have read your chosen article, you should take a minute or two to record your personal responses on the BONUS slide. Use the following questions if you need help framing your answer.



               A. How did you feel while reading the article? 

               B. What effect did learning these things still exist have on you? 

               C. Which part of the article had the most impact on you? Why?

               D. How does knowing this information allow you to connect with the story? Explain. 

Your Response Must be:

100+ words

Spell Checked

A clear thought out response with at least 2 pieces of text evidence

Evaluation

Activity #1:

Must have 4 laws and response to the question on slide 2

 

Activity #2:

Must complete the 3-2-1 chart

 

Activity #3: BONUS

Must type a 1 paragraph response to your chosen article.

Conclusion

EXIT Ticket-slide 5

How has learning about the Jim Crow laws changed your perspective about the importance of Maniac and Amanda’s friendship?

Credits