Assignment:
1. The Nat Turner Rebellion Explained: US History Review
2. Freedom Riders (A Documentary on NonViolent Civil Right Movement in the US)
3.This link will take you to the article referenced in the prompt. Use it in drafting your paper.
https://www.rethinkchurch.org/articles/race-relations/why-black-lives-matter-a-spiritual-view
Background
For essay, you will be using the assigned book, The Confessions of Nat Turner. This book is a brief telling of the story of Nat Turner and his slave rebellion, as well as a collection of original sources.
In addition, you will be watching two videos :
1. The Nat Turner Rebellion Explained: US History Review. This is a brief video that outlines the rebellion and Turner's motivation, with good attention given to his religious motives.
2. Freedom Riders, a documentary about this dramatic and courageous moment in the Civil Rights Movement. This is a full length documentary, but it moves very quickly because of the dramatic footage, interviews, and insights into the Freedom Rider movement. Watch for the role of religion and non-violence within the movement.
3. Why Black Lives Matter: A Spiritual View. This essay is written by a black minister and focuses on the reasons people of faith, regardless of race, should embrace Black Lives Matter.
The Essay Question
Three themes continually emerge (and often intertwine) in American Civilization: religion, money, and race. All three converge in the struggle for civil rights, whether in the 19th, 20th or even the 21st century. In particular, Civil Rights in America is the struggle between those denied their full rights and freedoms of this democratic society, by practice if not by law, and those whose wealth and power enable that discrimination. How organized religion and personal spirituality motivates these protest movements is fascinating and worth giving some thought to.
Using the resources and the book, The Confessions of Nat Turner, draft a 5-7 page essay discussing the role of religion in Civil Rights protests. Be sure to consider the role of violence or non-violence in those movements. Support your point of view with specific examples from the sources provided.
Note that religion is and has been embraced by people of all social and economic classes. Keep that fact in mind as you consider each protest's message and goals. Can religious messages overcome the combination of money and power?