Rosen 2

Left out of John Lewis's Walking with the Wind was a disclosure of exactly how women were treated within SNCC. Lewis did discuss sex, drugs, and briefly discussed women's roles but made little issue of it. Rosen's take on the sex was more articulate. According to Rosen sex within the organization was very layered. For some interracial sex occurred for the thrill, some were interested for just crossing the taboo grounds. Other times, northern white women were told to keep sex quite as it would ruin the reputations of the black men within SNCC. There were other women who were told to be successful organizers they needed to sleep with the men in SNCC to show their devotion. This was a very common sexual occurrence. Unlike men women had to validate themselves sexually to prove their loyalty to the organization. I wonder why this never made Lewis's book?

Rosen 1

Women during the 1950's had different sexual roles than men. Women were supposed to have the meeker role while men were the acceptable aggressor. There was a standard that women were supposed to follow. The order went from men giving the pen, to the class ring, to the Varsity jacket, to the fraternity letters, then engagement..or something like that. This signified the steps of the relationship. During these stages physical activity went from holding hands, to kissing , to necking, and ended with "heavy petting." Each physical stage correlated with each symbolic gift that was received by the female. All this was a supposed LIE, but nonetheless the standard in which women were held to. Thank God, times have changed I never made varsity, never had a class ring, and never considered a fraternity.

Lewis 4

A sad ending to a fantastic book. It was disappointing to find that Lewis left SNCC, or more so SNCC had no more use of him. A man who was there from the beginning at sit-ins in local coffee shops to signing contracts with Rosa Parks, Dr. MLK Jr., and President Johnson, became an inconvenience for the organization which he helped found. His legacy he leaves behind is that any one can start a revolution. At any time, or any place it merely takes a small group of individuals to unite and over come injustice and despite the size of the obstacle, there is no barrier to high. And, it can all start with one.

Lewis 3

The genuine nature of Lewis character becomes clouded as the chapters progress. Certainly, he is a man worthy of great respect and admiration, but as with notoriety and power, a certain of amount of ego takes hold of Lewis. The day of Lewis gives his speech in DC was a very momentous time for him. As he had been stating in previous chapters he was merely observing, remaining silent until his time to speak. He did speak, and gives a very empowering speech, the best speech of the day as he recalls. Dr. King follows. Lewis refers to King's speech that day as mediocre and only salvaged it by the "I have a Dream" portion which as Lewis was recalls not even one of his greatest speeches. He later states Malcolm X condemned the peaceful resisters and curtailing their actions and words for white society. Lewis claims X was referring to Lewis himself. There are many ways to look at all these events and many opinions that can be gathered; however as Lewis conveys he would like nothing for himself in return, after years of service at this point he maybe demanding more respect than what he has been getting, from more than just the white society.

Lewis 2

In response to Q#6
The protesters do not respond press charges against their attackers for the same reason they do not strike back. There is a broader message that is attempting to be conveyed, and responding to this force with force puts the movement on a personal level. As when Lewis is struck he viewed the blood from his lip was not from he himself, it was blood for the movement. Nor did Lewis put blame on the attacker, it was the system that was blame. Unless the authorities were willing to arrest the system, Lewis was content on continuing on his way spreading his message. The importance of the movement was to make the travesty of black suffrage known on a broad of scale as possible, and as peaceful as possible.

Lewis 1

Lewis' love and devotion towards his family is one of his most admirable characteristics. As a young adult Lewis was introduced to Dr. MLK Jr upon the desegregation of Troy State. King offered to assist Lewis in his protest along with the help of the NAACP. As proud of Lewis as his parents were, more so they were afraid. Like many blacks during this time, those who spoke out were often persecuted by vigilante justice. Lewis viewed this as a risk worth taking, but after much contemplation he could not feasibly place his family in such harms way.

**I really could not think of much to write about however, next to The Autobiography of Malcolm X, this has to be the best autobiography I've ever read and only 100 pages in.

Douglass 2

As a fugitive slave Douglass experiences a new life within the "freedom" of the north. Once in Baltimore Douglass attends a church service in New Bedford, Ma where he hopes to be united brother to brother with all man. Whether he is once again naive to the ways of the world or sets the reader up to believe he would be joined arm and arm with mankind in the north is uncertain. Nevertheless, he along with other "colored" men are ostracized within the church congregation, where he is treated as a subordinate creed under the eyes of God. Douglass leaves and vows not to return. Douglass learns here, that equality is far from a right of passage simply by escaping the chains of the plantation.