PEC Week 4

Through the three chapters, the most captivating part was in chapter 14 page 171. Were given the present time reality of how dangerous the whole situation is. There is a training workshop like event that Betty Jean attended. They had to train young black people how to maneuver in a riot. The idea itself shows the simmering tension. The whole concept sounds normal when you read 14 chapters in the book but to think you had to learn how to protect yourself from hoses, dogs and police officers are insane. It's even crazier to believe this happened not too long ago in the country that I live in. The luxury of tolerance that I have had in my lifetime.

As far as the Norman Rockwell painting I think it symbolically is potent more than the critical change that was happening in the time. The wall is colored in this decayed yellow hue that has the spray painting of a racial slur. There's a red plat mark from the tomatoes thrown at the target. The girl is wearing a clean white dress. The whole photo seems dirty except the girl. I'm not sure if this was intended by Norman but there just seems to be an ironic portrayal of the filth that is racism and the innocence and purity of children.

Sit-ins were so effective because it demonstrated peace. No resistance or violence is being displayed and somehow the officers still resorted to violence. I believe this was an excellent strategy to illustrate the reality that man blacks lived in.