What I learned From classmates Videos

Lessons from My Classmates' Video Presentations

 Booker T. Washington

After watching my classmates' video presentations this week, it made me realize critical moments in African American history that shaped our nation. I learned about Booker T. Washington's life and his profound impact on Black education and empowerment during a time when opportunities were severely limited. His story of rising from slavery to become one of the most influential educators in American
history was truly inspiring.

One presentation explored Lincoln's assassination and its devastating aftermath for African Americans. I hadn't realized how much his death changed the course of Reconstruction and left formerly enslaved people vulnerable without their greatest political ally. The loss of Lincoln's leadership created a power vacuum that allowed more hostile forces to shape policy.

I was fascinated to learn about the rise of Black political participation during the Reconstruction era. The 14th and 15th Amendments opened doors to freedom and voting rights that had been previously unimaginable. Federal troops played a crucial role in protecting these newly won voting rights, and by 1868, Black voter participation reached extraordinary levels across the South.

However, my classmates also showed me the tragic reversal that followed. When Reconstruction ended in 1877, the progress began to unravel rapidly. By 1900, Black political participation was decreasing dramatically as Jim Crow laws and voter suppression tactics took hold.

The presentation on the Great Migration really struck me as transformative for American society. I learned that in 1900, ninety percent of Black Americans lived in the South, with most trapped in the brutal cycle of sharecropping. This system kept families in perpetual poverty and debt, barely different from the slavery their parents had escaped.

Understanding these connections between Reconstruction's promise, its failure, and the resulting Great Migration has helped me see how historical events create lasting consequences. My classmates did an excellent job bringing these pivotal moments to life and showing how they continue to influence American society today.

~AI disclosure: After taking notes while watching my classmates videos, I found the best source of AI to organize and provide a response (Claude.ai). I then edited the text and added photos/links.