Tag: Model Answer

Assignment Prompt & Instructions

DISCUSSION 1

1. Reflect on Anthony and Kierra post and their perspective on the historical nature of Black witnessing. Is there any further historical context to expand on regarding the example of Black witnessing your peer discussed in their post?
2. Can you expand on Anthony and Kierra discussion of the demonstrated agency and resiliency of Black people in different historical contexts? How do you see this agency and resiliency demonstrated in contemporary U.S. society?

ANTHONY POST

Looking at history through the lens of Black witnessing versus dominant narratives, it’s obvious that the truth has often been buried or twisted to fit a more comfortable version of events. The mainstream version of history tends to downplay or sanitize White-on-Black violence, making it seem like isolated incidents rather than patterns of systemic oppression. But firsthand accounts—raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal—tell a much different story.

Take Frederick Douglass’s speech, I Have Come to Tell You Something About Slavery. He doesn’t just describe slavery as an institution—he makes you feel it. He talks about the beatings, the hunger, the complete stripping of his humanity. At the time, many White Americans saw slavery as either a necessary evil or something that wasn’t really that bad. Douglass shattered that illusion by standing up and telling the truth. That alone was an act of power. He wasn’t just surviving; he was making sure that no one could ignore what slavery really was.

Fast forward to 1921, and you see the same fight for truth in Walter White’s report on the Tulsa Race Massacre. The Greenwood District, a thriving Black community, was burned to the ground by White mobs. Hundreds of people were killed, and for decades, the story was buried. White’s reporting made sure it was documented, refusing to let history erase what happened. Like Douglass, he used his voice as a weapon against silence.

What stands out to me is how Black people have always found ways to fight back—not just physically, but through storytelling, journalism, and activism. The same kind of witnessing that Douglass and White did is happening today with Black Lives Matter. Social media has become a tool for truth-telling, capturing police brutality in real time and forcing people to confront it. The methods have changed, but the fight hasn’t. Black witnessing has always been about more than survival—it’s about refusing to be erased.

KIERRA POST

In examining the differences between dominant historical narratives and the historical narratives produced from Black witnessing, we gain insight into the way both power structures and individual experiences shape the portrayal of Black lives. The dominant historical narratives often reflect the perspectives of those in power, who have historically been white. In contrast, Black witnessing represents an attempt to speak truth to power, highlighting personal and collective experiences of injustice, resilience, and agency. In the context of _The Speeches of Frederick Douglass: A Critical Edition_, Douglass directly confronts the dominant historical narrative of the time—one that justified slavery and its associated brutality as a natural or necessary part of American society. His speeches are a form of Black witnessing, a direct challenge to the accepted historical narrative. Similarly, the modern movement for racial justice, as discussed in _Black Lives Matter: From a Moment to a Movement_, highlights how social media has become a powerful tool for contemporary Black witnessing. Social media platforms allow for the widespread sharing of Black voices and experiences that were previously marginalized or silenced in mainstream media. The video recordings of police brutality and the viral hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter have challenged the dominant narratives around race and policing, exposing the systemic violence faced by Black individuals and communities.  When comparing these two readings from different historical periods, we see a transformation in the methods of witnessing and activism but a continuity in the struggle for justice and equality. Douglass’s speeches were delivered in person, through direct engagement with his audience, while today’s Black witnesses utilize the digital space to reach a global audience instantaneously. Black agency in both contexts is evident—whether through Douglass’s calls for the abolition of slavery or through the collective action of Black Lives Matter activists challenging police violence. Both examples underscore the importance of truth-telling and the documentation of social injustice as central to the ongoing fight for equality. Black people have demonstrated resiliency and agency as powerful actors in their own right by consistently asserting their humanity, challenging systemic oppression, and fighting for their freedom, justice, and equality.  In _The Speeches of Frederick Douglass: A Critical Edition_, Douglass exemplifies agency by using his personal experience as a formerly enslaved person to speak truth to power. His speeches, such as “I Have Come to Tell You Something About Slavery,” are powerful examples of how Black people took control of their narrative and challenged the dominant pro-slavery discourse. His words and actions provided a blueprint for others to follow in the pursuit of justice and equality. The _Black Lives Matter: From a Moment to a Movement_ article highlights how contemporary Black people, particularly through the use of social media, have demonstrated collective agency in response to systemic violence and racial injustice. The Black Lives Matter movement was ignited by the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and many others, but it grew into a powerful, global movement that mobilized millions to act. This collective action is an example of how Black people continue to demonstrate agency in the fight for justice, influencing public opinion and demanding policy changes that address systemic racism. In both historical and modern contexts, Black agency is demonstrated through the act of challenging the status quo, asserting power, and taking control over one's own destiny. These actions serve as powerful reminders of the strength, determination, and agency of Black people in shaping their own lives and the broader social and political landscape.

ASSIGNMENT

COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT UPLOADED BELOW

## Directions

You will create a collection of sources to support your work on the final project. You must choose a minimum of one primary source and two secondary sources related to your chosen topic. ( **The War on Drugs and Mass Incarceration (1980 to the Present)** )

Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:

1. **Summarize**the source.

1. Provide a full citation of the source. Create an APA-style citation that would appear in a reference list.
2. What is the main idea?
3. What are two or three key points?
2. Evaluate the **credibility** of the source.

1. What is the purpose of the source?
2. If a secondary source, is the source peer reviewed?
3. Describe **biases** in the source.

1. What specific biases are present?
4. Explain the **relevance** to the topic.

1. How does the source relate to the historical event you have chosen?
2. How does the source provide evidence for inclusion in the time capsule?

## What to Submit

[HIS 217 Module Three Collection of Sources Template](https://learn.snhu.edu/content/enforced/1862768-HIS-217-11591.202516-1/course_documents/HIS%20217%20Module%20Three%20Collection%20of%20Sources%20Template.docx?isCourseFile=true&ou=1862768) uploaded below

Use this template to create your document.

– [\
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HIS217ModuleThreeCollectionofSourcesTemplate1.docx](https://www.sweetstudy.com/files/his217modulethreecollectionofsourcestemplate1-docx "HIS217ModuleThreeCollectionofSourcesTemplate1.docx")

– 2 years ago