V4 - Literature lesson 6: Black Voices BEMM

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 4

Literature lesson 6: Black Voices

The American whites used education as a tool
to suppress black people. How are
literacy and freedom related?

Make sure you remember this part of the Reader!

"Especially the Southern states had tried to control slaves and free people of colour by denying them education. They knew the power of writing and reading and feared literate slaves could use these new means of communication that would make it easier to plan revolts and escapes. Also allowing people of colour to write and read would make it harder to ‘justify’ slavery or treating them as inferior, since one of the arguments to do so was that these people would be unable to write and read, because they were not smart enough. Finally, literacy gives way to expanding knowledge, spreading new ideas, taking part of society in which writing was essential with regard to recording a new-born or marriage, raising literate children with a brighter future, developing critical thinking and so much more. An important example of critical thinking is that black people got to read the bible themselves and found that it even opposes slavery ‘”From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth (…)” (Acts)  "

What do you know about Jim Crow Laws
& racial segregation in the US?

Strange Fruit

You will hear popular blues and jazz singer Billie Holiday sing the song Strange Fruit. It was based on a poem written by Abel Meeropol in the 1920s about a lynching. 

As the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, Billie's song became
THE protest song of the movement. 

As you listen, focus on what she is saying and note down which words
or parts of the song have an impact on you.

Which words or parts of the song
had an impact on you?

What does the writer of this poem want to share here?

Have you ever thought about the position of Black soldiers in the American Army? 

What do you think is the importance of the last line?

Extra reading:

For some extra background on what life was like for African-American soldiers, read the article: "Are We Not American Soldiers?’ When the U.S. Military Treated German POWs Better Than Black Troops"

https://time.com/5872361/wwii-german-pows-civil-rights/

But there is hope