History Final

The First Amendment declares the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. We know from our work defining riots that riots are frequently aimed at a person who upsets the social order or they are aimed at the government/an authority that fails to adequately respond to stated grievances. Grievances often stem from rights that are denied to certain groups. We also know that there is a difference between something being legal and something being legitimate. For example, slavery was legal in the eighteenth century, but when we read about the Stono Rebellion it was clear the clas thought the illegal revolt was just and legitimate. Riots may be illegal, but what characteristics makes them legitimate? What would make a riot illegitimate? Do rights outweigh laws? Should Americans ever riot? 

Prompt B:

A quote on our syllabus from Martin Luther King Jr. declares And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? 

Focusing on events in the 20 ^th century, what does King mean by his statement? What is America failing to hear? Who is failing to hear? How can silenced Americans get their message across to those who are in power? For what reasons might Americans turn to violent action? Are violent actions ever acceptable?   

  

Protestors are often called un-American, lawless, and/or unpatriotic by people who disagree with the decision to protest. In the summer of 2020 I personally heard passersby tell protesters “shame on you for protesting” and “Fuck off.” Using examples from the class, discuss the stigma surrounding protestors from the eighteenth century to the present day. What reasons have your encountered that explain the motivations for non-protestors to denigrate protestors? Is protesting an American value? Is violent action to secure rights an American value? Can you be a patriot AND a protestor? Can you be a rioter AND a real American?