The Eyes On The Prize Sparknotes

The “Eyes on the Prize” civil rights film covers major events of the Civil Rights movement from 1954-1962. The film thoroughly explained how America’s environment was segregated socially and physically. Most black people before World War II were tenant farmers, laborers, domestics or servants. The war allowed black people to see their own power because they were able to exercise authority. The film does a good job explaining the major events and how these issues have been fought for. In class, we went over how civil rights shouldn't be proscribed and need to be protected. Historically, civil rights were denied to black people and other racial minorities but now also include gay individuals and women. On May 17, 1954, Brown vs Board of Education
The governor of Mississippi, Ross Barnett, influenced these college students because he spoke at a football halftime show saying “I love Mississippi. I love her people, too. Our customs. I love and respect our heritage.” The killing of 14 year old Emmit Till brought attention to racial violence. His open casket funeral gave a visual to people of how brutal his death was. I think it was important for the filmmakers to show his image. The two white men freely described how they killed Till. There were over 500 documented lynchings in Mississippi alone. Step by step, change begins. Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. This led to a one-day bus boycott the day Parks was tried in court. This was organized by the WBC (Women’s Political Council). It worked. White women began driving their black maids to their homes for housekeeping. This likely puts additional pressure on the city. The boycott was one strategy used to fight discrimination. Black people claimed bus segregation was unconstitutional and pushed even further towards a fully desegregated society. In 1956, the Supreme Court ruled bus segregation