HISTORY 106
TERM PAPER
From the perspective of the 21st century, there is a tendency to view the Civil Rights Movement
through the lives of Martin Luther King, Jr. or Malcolm X. While not ignoring the obvious
importance of these men, such a focus does put the historical spotlight on the activities of men
while ignoring the army of women who worked for civil rights organizations. There are a few
exceptions (Rosa Parks most obviously), but generally the popular historical memory of the Civil
Rights Movement is told through the actions of charismatic men. This is not entirely the fault of
the 21st century’s inhabitants as many civil rights organizations downplayed the role of women in
the Movement. The famous March on Washington in 1963 had 14 male speakers; women
appearing on the stage were confined to singing and one all-encompassing “tribute to negro
women.” In 1964 when chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)
Stokely Carmichael was asked about the position of women within SNCC, he only half-jokingly
responded, “the only position for women in SNCC is prone” (seriously).
This focus on the top of the organization has led to some historical blindness towards what civil
rights organizations like SNCC actually did on the ground. When viewed from the “bottom-up”
it appears that the majority of the work conducted by SNCC was actually facilitated by women.
In fact, one civil rights leader remembered of SNCC: “it was no secret that young people and
women led organizationally.”1 Apparently, the position of women in SNCC was a bit more
complex than Carmichael claimed.
Hands on the Freedom Plow provides personal accounts from 55 women who worked within
SNCC. Their remembrances of the Civil Rights Movement remind us that for women this was a
struggle not only against racism but sexism as well. Their accounts offer new perspectives and
windows to understand the broader Freedom Movement of the 1960s. In an analytical essay,
select at least three accounts from the women of SNCC and explain how these accounts
reinforce or challenge the overview of the Freedom Movement put forward by Eric Foner
in Give Me Liberty! (chapters 24-25). Does the description of the Civil Rights Movement put
forward in the textbook adequately convey these women’s struggles? After reading these
accounts, would you recommend that Foner revise these chapters and, if so, how?
Remember, you will be producing an evidence-based historical argument based on an analysis of
the sources. There are many appropriate responses to this prompt (and there are many
inappropriate ways to answer this question). What your paper will be evaluated upon is the
strength of your argument and your use of evidence (the textbook, course readings, library
research, etc.) to support your argument. Additionally, grammar, mechanics, and writing style
will also shape your final grade. Finally, as an evidence-based paper you must cite your research
using a formal manual of style (Chicago, MLA, APA, etc.). Please use the style of your
1
Lawrence Guyot, quoted in Howell Raines, My Soul is Rested: Movement Days in the Deep South Remembered
(New York: Putnam, 1977), 241.
respective discipline. Citations must be used for direct quotations and when you paraphrase
information.
Since you need bibliographic information to properly cite a resource, be careful with Internet
research and be very skeptical of websites. Instead of Wikipedia, use Credo Reference, a
database of peer-reviewed encyclopedias available through Mercy College’s Library website
(and accessible off campus). Even the print publications are going to be indexed for easy access.
(Many students spend hours on Google to avoid a 30-minute perusal of a book index! As a rule,
try not to do more work to avoid doing less work). Remember that the heart of this
assignment is based upon the course texts (Foner and Hands on the Freedom Plow). You
can write an ‘A’ paper with only those two sources. Regardless of outside research, please
note that a failure to cite these two course texts will result in an automatic zero. Please
submit a 1500 word paper (double-spaced) using 12-point Times New Roman font with 1-inch
margins.
Good luck!
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