An Assignment by Lincoln P.

Description of Image: I immediately recognized this image to be of a sit in protest because I had seen similar images when studying the Civil Rights movement in high school. The sit-in style protest, where protestors would enter a pla ce they weren’t welcome and stay, was popular during the Jim Crow era and Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s. Sit-ins were effective because it was illegal in many states for black people to eat at white restaurants such as the one in the image. The image captures the state of the country at the time: black people suffering and trying to be heard without being given a voice, and white people doing what their racist parents, ancestors, and government taught them. The image also shows the extreme racism and mob mentality among whites which was common at the time.

The image’s impact: The most impactful aspect of this picture to me is the amusement and lack of guilt on the faces of the white protestors. It is the most impactful for white Americans because it shows our history and what we are capable of. When looking at this image I see what American culture was like during most of the 20th century. I see what behavior was socially acceptable and expected during the 20th century. It is impactful for white people to acknowledge that our values, beliefs, and morals are mostly a result of our upbringing, and aren’t necessarily right. This acknowledgment is impactful because it makes one question their own values, beliefs, and morals.

Where am I in this image: I am a straight white male with no disabilities who was raised in an upper class family. Some of my ancestors have been in America since the colonies. Throughout my life I have almost always been surrounded by other white people. My lack of experience with black people makes me susceptive to biases and racism. If I were raised in the place and time this photo was taken I would have grown up in a much more racist community. This would have resulted in me being nurtured in a different way; and therefore, becoming a different, more racist person. I would most likely have been a bystander at a sit in and if not, maybe I would have been a harasser. It makes me uncomfortable to admit this and to know how much power society has over my beliefs and values. It makes me feel less confident in my values and beliefs to know that my values and beliefs are situational and could be very drastically different if I had been raised in a different time by different people.

Want to learn more about Sit Ins of the Civil Rights Movement, click here for more.

Students in an African American Studies course were tasked with analyzing a historical image, and putting themselves into the image as well. This 3 part assignment was a lot of processing work for students, this particular selection reflects the journey of one white male student grappling with his own historical and current positionality. He has graciously granted us permission to showcase an example of some of the work our students do individually.