Passport Exercise #1

How does the film, The Butler embody the historiographical narrative traditions reflected
in Steve Lawsons View from the Nation and Charles Paynes A view from the
Trenches?
The Butler does a great job at showing many different perspectives and views during the time of
the civil rights movement. The movie shows the view from the nation through the role of Ceisul
and his job working in the white house as a servant for the president. While working in the white
house he gets to see a little insight to some of the events happening around the world and
specifically in the south. From this view though he isnt get to see the actual tragedy and affect
that this movement is having on the people who are taking part in it like his own son. He is
constantly surrounded by white leaders of the country who are trying to prevent the civil rights
movement instead of helping it. Also along with his position he constantly hears about the things
going on in the nation but is not allowed to comment on his opinion to anyone in authority and is
usually forced to say anything that will make the leaders happy even if it means being racist
himself. The movie also does a great job of covering the view from the trenches through the role
of both the son and the wife. Through the son we are able to see the different actions and effects
that the civil rights movement is having on the everyday people. We also get to see both the view
from the north and the south by the son being in the south and the mom living back in the north.
Since the son has moved to the south and is taking part in different movements like the black
panther party and the freedom rides, the audience gets to see all of the tragedy and torture that is
thrust upon the people that are trying to make a change. A view from the trenches is not sugar
coated and is put on full display in hopes of intimidating others to not take part in the same
actions. We get to see exactly how these African Americans are treated and what they are having
to go through in order to try and make a change in society. The film shows a long view of the
civil rights movement by showing a longer time frame through 3 different generations of people.
The movie started in the 1920s with the death of the main characters father giving a background
to Ceisuls life and why he is who he is. The movie covers all of the main civil rights point and
then continues on until almost present day time and how our country has changed up until today.
The movie didnt just focus on the specific time frame of the civil rights movement but rather
how it began and what an effects and change it has caused in our country.

Passport exercise #2
What is a stereotype? In your view, what are the implications of stereotypes in American
society and culture? Do you think you have ever been subjected to a stereotype or complicit
in the perpetuation of a stereotype/ moreover, have you used stereotypes to define others?
A stereotype is a name given to someone or something based off of a difference or characteristic
about them. In the American society today we have too many different stereotypes to list. We
constantly use stereotypes as a way to label others and categorize people. Part of human nature is
judging others and these stereotypes just put a name and label on that judgment. I do believe that
I have been subjected to multiple stereotypes from ones about being religious, to being and
honors student, to my height or size, and even to being a Caucasian. I sadly have used
stereotypes to define other because like I said earlier it is just a human thing. We constantly
judge people off of things like what they look like, where they are from, what they believe in,
etc. I have used these different labels to categorize others around me and put a judgment on who
they are.

Passport Exercise #3
Is it important to preserve Jim Crow memorabilia, including signs, and what do such
visual and tangible objects tell you about Americas racial past and future? What role does
the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University play in the history
and memory of Jim Crow?
Yes, I believe it is important to preserve Jim Crow memorabilia because they provide tangible
evidence of the history behind the civil rights movement and what African Americans had to
endure. These different tangible objects show how America at one time characterized and
segregated African Americans almost in a dehumanizing manor. These objects show how white
people viewed the African Americans as lesser than themselves and how they put specific
stereotypes on the black community and used them for entertainment and advertising. They also
show how much effort was put into making sure that there was a complete separation between
the whites and the blacks in all areas from school, to the busses, and even the bathrooms. This
museum plays a huge role in showing people part of Americas history and how we came to be
the nation that we are today in terms of race. This museum provides a way for people to see and
possibly even feel the segregation and times that these people had to endure during the times of
the civil rights movement.

10/23/14
Passport Exercise 4:
Based on Charles Moores short documentary I Fight with My Camera and what youve
read thus far in Martin Bergers Seeing Through Race, what role do white photojournalists
play in shaping the narrative of the civil rights movement? Do you think they function as
participants (activists) or spectators of the movement?
I believe that most white photojournalists start as just spectators doing their job of capturing the
latest and most intriguing thing on camera. These men just wanted to do their job and make their
living without too much of an interest in the actual subject to begin with. As these
photojournalists moved around with the different movements and actions of the civil rights
movement they find themselves being intrigued and encompassed in the activities leaders and
activists actions. They began to use these photos to control the impact that the movement had on
society. The more real and uncomfortable the shot is, the more attention and realization it
brought to the movement. Capturing the different expressions and emotions of the people
involved in the civil rights movement was their key role in trying to make a difference. Being a
photojournalist allowed these white people the opportunity to witness and experience some of
the cruel actions that they otherwise may not have been notified of or involved in. Their role not
only provided themselves with knowledge of the movement but also with the audience of the
different newspapers and companies that they worked for because they were now able to see
some of the real scenes that these photojournalist had been able to capture. Their jobs put them
directly into the harsh riots and cruel conditions that came along with the movement. Their
cameras allowed them to act on the movement without physically fighting or using violence
against others. They could use their powerful and emotional pictures to change the view of the
bystanders so that they could understand the extremity of the situation at hand. Along with the
violence of the movement came triumph and success that these photojournalists were also
privileged to capture. They could share these with the world to show how it may take time and
sacrifice but with dedication comes success and accomplishment. They were able to play the role
as the messenger. They may not have been directly involved in the actions and cruelty but where
able to witness these and share it with the rest of the world. This impact kept the nation and the
world caught up with the movement and allowed the movement to progress and make a
difference even amongst the people that werent directly involved.

Passport #5
How does Berger define White Shame and White Empathy? Also, what does he mean
by perfect victims and imperfect tactics?
Berger clearly the states the problems in America during the clash in Birmingham. The city was
growing as one of the worst cities in the nation for racial outbreaks and violence. During this
clash in Birmingham whites were trying constantly fight against black students through fire
hoses and dogs. Many of these kids ended up in prison not just once but multiple times. Many
white photographers were able to capture pictures of these awful actions taking place. These
pictures were quickly spread around not only the nation but the world. Berger defines White
Shame as the reactions that officials of the nation like the president. Kennedy responded with
looks of dismay and horror. He couldnt believe the actions that were taken place under his rule
and for something as miniscule as race difference. The White Shame came from whites who
were supposedly shameful of their actions against. Whites saw the white-on-black violence in
civil rights photographs as an unfortunate reaction to biological difference. The white people
believed that what they were feeling was actual shame for their actions when they really just saw
the whole thing as an unfortunate event. When Berger describes White Empathy he discusses
how white people attempted to feel and understand what these African Americans where going
through. Berger made it clear that he believes the only way that these white Americans could
actually feel any real empathy towards these blacks was if they were actually put into their shoes.
He wanted whites to imagine the clash of Birmingham as if it was their own children being
sprayed by hoses and attacked by dogs. I think that Bergers saying perfect victims and
imperfect tactics refers to the black students as being perfect for persevering through all of the
violence and torture thrown at them. Their imperfect tactics come through their process of
repeatedly being put into jail and standing up against the whites until some kind of positive
action happened. The black students never really planned out the whole movement piece by
piece in a skillful manner. They all went out there and did what they had to do for as long as they
had to do it to make a change for the better of society.