Ashli's Blog

Klansville USA is a 2013 documentary film directed by Rory Kennedy. The film explores the history of the Ku Klux Klan in the United States during the 1960s, with a particular focus on the state of North Carolina. The Ku Klux Klan, also known as the KKK, is a white supremacist hate group that was founded in the southern United States in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Klan has a long history of violence and terrorism against African Americans, as well as other minority groups. In the 1960s, the Klan experienced a resurgence in North Carolina, partly as a response to the Civil Rights Movement and the desegregation of schools. The Klan adopted a more mainstream appearance, often holding public rallies and parades rather than conducting secret meetings. Klansville USA explores the Klan's activities in North Carolina during this time period, as well as the response of the state's government and local communities. The film features interviews with former Klan members, as well as ...

  Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark Supreme Court case that was decided in 1896. The case arose from a dispute over a Louisiana law that required racial segregation on railroads. Homer Plessy, who was of mixed race, refused to sit in the "colored" car on a train and was arrested for violating the law. Plessy argued that the law was unconstitutional because it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which states that no state shall "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The Supreme Court, however, ruled in favor of the state of Louisiana, arguing that the law did not violate the Equal Protection Clause because it applied equally to both white and black passengers. The Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson effectively upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws, known as "Jim Crow" laws, throughout the United States. The ruling established the "separate but equal" doctrine, ...

Before learning about The Supreme Court of the United States in class and then researching it more on my own I truthfully knew very little about one the world's most powerful courts. Following my research these were the most important details I learned: The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has the power of judicial review, the ability to declare laws or government actions unconstitutional. The Court is made up of nine justices: the Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices. The Supreme Court primarily hears cases on appeal from lower federal courts and state supreme courts. This means that the Court typically does not hear a case until it has been through the lower courts, and it only has the power to review the legal issues raised in the case, not to re-try the facts of the case. When the Court hears a case, the nine justices meet in a private conference to discuss the case and to vote o...

Harriet Tubman was an African American abolitionist, humanitarian, and an armed scout and spy for the United States Army during the American Civil War. Born into slavery in Maryland, Tubman escaped to Philadelphia in 1849 and successfully  made about thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy enslaved families and friends using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, she served as an armed scout and spy for the Union Army, becoming the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war. Tubman's remarkable life and achievements have made her a significant figure in American history and a symbol of courage and determination. She risked her own life countless times to rescue enslaved individuals, and her work as a scout and spy during the Civil War helped the Union Army to victory. In addition to her work as an abolitionist and military leader, Tubman was also a prominent advocate for women's suffrage an...

Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic historical romance film, adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel of the same name. The film was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming. Set in the American South against the backdrop of the Civil War and Reconstruction era, the film follows the story of Scarlett O'Hara, a strong-willed and determined young woman, and her romantic pursuit of the charming and roguish Rhett Butler. One of the most iconic and enduring films of all time, Gone with the Wind was a critical and commercial success upon its release, winning ten Academy Awards and becoming the highest-grossing film in history at the time. Its enduring popularity and cultural significance have cemented its place in film history as a true classic. The theme of Gone with the Wind is the enduring power of love and determination in the face of great adversity. Throughout the film, Scarlett O'Hara's love for Rhett Butler and her determination to surviv...

Hazel Scott was a talented and accomplished musician and actress who broke barriers in the entertainment industry. Born in 1920 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Scott moved to New York City with her family when she was a child. She began studying classical piano at a young age and quickly gained recognition for her musical talents. Scott attended the Juilliard School of Music and graduated in 1939. She went on to have a successful career as a jazz pianist, playing with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. She also performed on Broadway and in Hollywood, appearing in several films, including "The Flame of New Orleans" and "The Heat's On." Scott was a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, and her talent and determination helped pave the way for other black performers. She was one of the first black women to host her own television show, "The Hazel Scott Show," which aired on the DuMont Television N...

In The Heat of the Night is a 1967 film that tells the story of Virgil Tibbs, a black police detective who is visiting the small town of Sparta, Mississippi and gets drawn into a murder investigation. The film explores themes of racism, prejudice, and the ways in which people from different backgrounds can come together to solve a crime. As a black man living in the South during the 1960s, Tibbs faces significant challenges in his work as a detective. He is constantly confronted with prejudice and racism, both from the white community in Sparta and from some of his colleagues in the police department. Despite these challenges, however, Tibbs remains steadfast in his commitment to justice and his professionalism as a detective. One of the most powerful aspects of In The Heat of the Night is the way it portrays the relationship between Tibbs and the white police chief, Bill Gillespie. At first, Gillespie is highly suspicious of Tibbs and is unwilling to accept his help in solving the mur...