This discussion board will be another one in which you argue from a historical perspective. You will be divided into groups based on your last name, and each group will be assigned a historical persona. You will then express the point of view of your assigned persona, imagining that it is the 1950s-1970s.
Here are your groups:
A-F: You will be portraying the perspective of women’s rights activists.
G-L: You will be portraying the perspective of anti-war activists.
M-R: You will be portraying the perspective of gay/lesbian rights activists.
S-Z: You will be portraying the perspective of Civil Rights activists.
For example, I would be in the fourth group (W for Washburn).
Now that you have your perspective, explain why you believe your cause is the most important one. Write as if you are a Black Power or Chicano/a or Civil Rights activist, or a feminist, or a gay man or lesbian woman, or an anti-war protester. Describe your point of view (as that person), why it makes sense to you, and why you think you’re right. The point is to put yourself in the shoes of historical people! When you’ve given your perspective, comment on a classmate’s post, disagreeing and giving your side of things (again, as your assigned character).
The point here is to see that the issues at this time were multifaceted, and everyone had perspectives that made sense to them.
Remember: you and your classmates are portraying characters, in order to understand their perspectives and motivations. Just because you (or a classmate) give opinions in this assignment does not mean that they’re necessarily your own opinions! Stay in character. Also, don’t be nasty to each other; remember that you’re IN CHARACTER.
chapter 27
chapter 28 in The American Yawp,
Finally, watch one of the most important speeches in American History
