Selection Review #1

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Selection Review #1

One More River to Cross “Crispus Attucks” 1. Explain how Crispus Attucks’ family background might give him a love of freedom. How did Attucks show this love as a young man? Crispus Attucks’ father was probably an African. He was probably free before he was a slave. He may have given his son a love of freedom. Attucks’ mother was an Indian woman. She was probably descended from John Attucks, a Christian Indian. In 1676, John Attucks fought on the side of the Indians against the colonists. He was put to death for this. Crispus Attucks’ mother may have also passed on to him a tradition of refusing unfair treatment. Attucks showed his love of freedom by running away from slavery in 1750. He probably lived as a sailor until his death twenty years later. 2. Why do you think there were so many fights between the citizens of Boston and the British soldiers? What happened in particular on the evening of March 5, 1770? The people of Boston were angry with the British already. They thought the taxes and laws the British government made them follow were unfair. In 1769 the king sent about 1,000 British soldiers to Boston to control the city. The people of Boston had to house and feed these soldiers. This made them even angrier. They expressed their anger by insulting the soldiers. They also threw things at them and had street fights with them. On March 5, 1770, a young apprentice insulted a British captain. A private hit him in the face. Then the boy ran through the streets shouting that he had been “killed.” An alarm was sounded and angry crowds filled the streets. 3. What good and bad qualities did Crispus Attucks show when this happened? When this happened, Crispus Attucks showed that he was a leader of men. He led the crowd to demon- strate where the soldiers were staying. Attucks was also brave. He challenged the British soldiers openly. However, this was also a rude, reckless thing to do. The soldiers answered the crowd by firing their guns. Attucks and four other men were killed. This incident was later called the “Boston Massacre.” 4. The Boston Massacre changed history. Tell how. What was important about Crispus Attucks’ role? The colonists were very angry with the British after the Boston Massacre. This helped lead to the Revolutionary War. In particular, African Americans in Massachusetts thought about Attucks’ death. It helped them take their need for freedom more seriously. They sent several petitions to the state legislature. They wanted to be freed from slavery. There were also several African-American minutemen. They fought against the British in the Revolutionary War.

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5. John Adams changed his mind about the Boston Massacre between 1770 and 1773. Explain how and why. In 1770 John Adams was the defense lawyer for some of the soldiers. They were accused of killing innocent people. At that time Adams was loyal to the British king. He said the Boston Massacre was mostly Crispus Attucks’ fault. He and the other people insulted and threatened the soldiers. Adams said the soldiers fired their guns to defend themselves. How- ever, three years later, Adams’ bias – his view of the situation – had changed. He no longer accepted the way the British were governing the colonies. At this time Adams thought the British governor was responsible for the Boston Massacre. He thought that the unfair conditions in Boston led to the fighting between the citizens and the British soldiers. 121

Selection Review #2

One More River to Cross “Madam C. J. Walker”

1. Responding to challenges: each of the graphic organizers below represents a problem that Sarah Breedlove faced. For each problem, tell how Sarah overcame the difficulty in the box following the upward arrow. In the box following the dotted downward arrow, tell what would have happened if she had done nothing. Some possible answers are given (see back of page). Problems Sarah’s response: ______husband brutally murdered Consequences if she had done nothing: ______

Sarah’s response: ______hair falling out

Consequences if she had done nothing: ______

Sarah’s response: ______white stores wouldn’t sell product Consequences if she had done nothing: ______

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2. Why was life more difficult for many slaves after they had been freed? After the Civil War, most blacks did not own land they could use to grow food, and it was difficult for them to find work. Many slaves continued to work for their former slave owners as sharecroppers. Also, white supremacy groups like the Ku Klux Klan terrorized them. 3. What qualities made Madam C. J. Walker successful? Many answers are possible. Some important qualities that Madam Walker possessed are self-confidence, willingness to work hard, decisiveness, toughness, persistence, intelligence, persuasive abilities, outspokenness, and hope. 4. How did Madam Walker take an idea and turn it a product that made her a millionaire? What steps did she take to accomplish this? The steps include: 1) She developed a product to stop hair loss from a vision she had; 2) She started to share the product with friends who used and liked the product; 3) She learned how to advertise her product successfully from her husband, C. J. Walker; 4) She developed more hair care products that were also successful; 5) she hired and trained employees to help her expand her business. Possible answers to Question #1: Problems Sarah’s response: moved away from the South

husband brutally murdered Consequences if she had done nothing: would have gone on living in fear and despair

Sarah’s response: tested and developed a product to solve the problem

hair falling out Consequences if she had done nothing: would have continued to suffer hair loss

Sarah’s response: advertised in newspapers and traveled to sell product through talks to black or- ganizations white stores wouldn’t sell product Consequences if she had done nothing: business would not have developed successfully 123

Selection Review #3

One More River to Cross “Matthew Henson”

1. Why was Matthew Henson unusual when compared to other African Americans of his time period? Matthew Henson received more education than the average African American of his day. He attend school more years than most. Later he was personally educated by Captain Childs. Because of his experience as a sailor and his travels with Robert Peary, he also saw much more of the world than was usual. 2. Robert Peary first noticed Matthew Henson when he was working as a stock boy. What qualities did Peary see that convinced him to take Henson on his trip to Nicaragua? What qualities in Henson made him important to Peary’s work? As Peary talked with Matthew Henson, he noticed Henson’s intelligence and willingness to work hard. Henson became important to Peary’s work because he was a skillful and dependable co-worker. He learned quickly, endured harsh living conditions without complaining or turning back, and performed well all the responsibilities he was given. 3. Why did scientists name Dr. Peary the discoverer of the North Pole instead of Dr. Cook? Peary was not honored at first when he returned from the arctic because Dr. Frederick Cook claimed to have discovered it before him. However, experts later hailed Peary as the true discoverer of the North Pole because his records proved it. Cook, on the other hand, had no evidence to support his claims. 4. Why wasn’t Matthew Henson honored as a co-discoverer of the North Pole along with Robert Peary? Robert Peary did not acknowledge Henson’s importance in the North Pole discovery because Henson was black. Peary feared the public would not approve of his having a black partner. 124

Selection Review #4

One More River to Cross “Marian Anderson”

1. Why was Marian Anderson’s Easter Sunday concert in 1939 unusual? How did this event change many Americans’ ideas about racial discrimination? Marian Anderson wanted to give the concert at a concert hall in Washington. However, the organization that owned the hall would not let her perform there because she was black. Many people were angry when they heard about this. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, President Franklin Roosevelt’s wife, decided to help. She arranged for Anderson to sing in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Anderson sang to a huge crowd, about 75,000 people. This situation helped many white Americans to see that racial discrimination did not make sense. They also saw that it was a serious problem that had to be solved. 2. What are some of the problems Anderson faced on her way to becoming a world-famous singer? Tell how she overcame these problems. People recognized Marian Anderson’s great talent as a singer even when she was a young girl. However, her parents did not have money for music lessons. One teacher gave her free lessons in high school. When Anderson decided to pursue a singing career, her church helped her pay for lessons with Mr. Boghetti. Anderson’s first big New York concert failed. She felt like giving up, but she decided to swallow her pride and go on. Anderson did not sing as well in foreign languages. For this reason, she saved her money to go to Europe and study. Respected concert halls in America were often closed to her because of race. There was less racial discrimination in Europe, so she developed her career there for several years. 3. What was ironic about Anderson’s popularity in Europe? It was ironic that for a long time white audiences in Anderson’s home country ignored her talent. However, white audiences in Europe loved her immediately. Becoming famous in Europe helped Anderson become famous in America too. 4. Who were some of the people who brought Marian Anderson to the attention of the American public? Sol Hurok, a famous American concert manager, offered to represent Anderson in the United States. He arranged for her to give concerts in respected concert halls where her gifts would be appreciated. President and Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt also thought highly of Marian Anderson. They invited her to sing at the White House.

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5. How did Anderson’s life change as she got older? How did she fight racial discrimination after she became famous? Anderson received many honors later in her life. In 1941 she received a $10,000 award from the city of Philadelphia. She used this money to create a scholarship fund for music students. In 1943 she married her childhood sweetheart, Orpheus Fisher. In 1955 Anderson began to sing operas. She was later a member of a U.S. delegation to the United Nations and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom. After she became famous, Anderson only sang at concert halls where black customers had the same privileges as whites. She refused to sing in segregated halls 126

Selection Review #5

One More River to Cross “Ralph Bunche”

1. How did Ralph Bunche’s family face the problems and heartbreaks they encountered during his childhood? How was Ralph rewarded for his own hard work in and out of school? Ralph Bunche’s family overcame hardships through hard work and helping one another. For example, when Ralph’s mother was in poor health, the whole family moved to New Mexico to find a better climate for her. When the family did not have enough money, eleven-year-old Ralph went to work at night. When Ralph’s parents died, his grandmother took care of him and his sister. Ralph worked so hard in high school that he was awarded a scholarship to attend college. His hard work in college earned him a fellowship to attend graduate school at Harvard. 2. List some of Ralph’s experiences with racial discrimination. How did these experiences help prepare him for his future career? Although Ralph grew up in mostly integrated neighbor- hoods and schools, he did experience racial discrimination on many occasions. When he and his mom went to the movies they were urged to sit in the balcony. His family was locked out of a house they had rented in a white neighborhood. Ralph had to sit out while white newsboys went swimming at a party. He was not invited to join the honor society even though he had the highest grades in his class. These experiences taught Bunche that it was important to make things fair and just for everyone, not just for some people. He also learned to listen to all sides of a story, and to keep working even in difficult situations. This was important when he became a diplomat working for peace. 3. How did Bunche prepare academically for his career? How did he pay for his studies and his living expenses at college? Bunche attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He maintained high grades and received a fellowship to do graduate study in government at Harvard. Bunche earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from Harvard. All the way through college, Bunche worked to earn money for living expenses. Also, his hard work on his studies helped him earn scholarships. 4. Tell about some of the places Ralph Bunche worked as a scholar and a diplomat. Explain what he did in each place. One of the first foreign countries Ralph Bunche visited was South Africa. He visited several African villages and studied relations between blacks and whites. Bunche also studied race relations when he visited the American South with a Swedish soci- ologist. Later, Bunche visited the Middle East as a diplomat. He helped work out a peace agreement between Israel and the Arab countries. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for his work in this situation. continued... 127

5. As Bunche worked hard for peace around the world, he expressed concern about his own country, the United States. What was this concern? Bunche was concerned because America was the champion of freedom around the world. However, at home in America, African Americans still did not have much freedom. Many still lived in very unfair conditions. Bunche supported the efforts of the NAACP and the civil rights movement to bring about liberty and justice for all Americans. 128

Selection Review #6

One More River to Cross “Charles Drew”

1. Tell about Charles Drew’s childhood. What kind of boy was he? Charles Drew was part of a large family living in a poor section of Washington, D.C. His father was a proud man who laid carpets for a living. His mother was a former teacher. Charles was very athletic boy. He earned letters in four different sports in high school. He also worked hard on his studies. In addition, Charles ran a newspaper delivery route. He developed it so well that he had six other boys working for him. 2. List two reasons Drew might have been tempted to give up on going to medical school. Why do you think he insisted on going? When Drew graduated from college, he had no money to attend medical school. He got a job as an athletic director for two years. He was so successful that he might have been tempted to give up on medical school. He could have had a good career as an athletic director and coach. Also, Drew’s application to Howard University Medical School was turned down. He could have become discouraged and given up. Instead, Drew went to medical school in Canada. Drew was not a person to be turned aside from his goals by either success or setbacks. 3. Describe Charles Drew’s research. Why was this important? Why was it especially important during World War II? Charles Drew was trying to find a way to store blood so it could be used for emergencies. This was important because sometimes people need blood transfusions in a hurry after an accident or during an operation. After many years of research, Drew learned to separate the plasma and dry it for storage. This was very helpful during World War II. Extra blood was needed to treat thousands of wounded soldiers. 4. Describe Charles Drew’s job in England. Why was he unable to do a similar job in America? Charles Drew’s job in England was to provide a lot of blood for wounded soldiers. He organized American volunteer donors. He set up a system to process the blood in America and then transport it to England. However, when Drew returned to America he had a problem. Some white people in America did not want to be treated with blood given by black people. These people put a lot of pressure on the Red Cross, the Army, and the Navy. They insisted on segregating the blood collection work on the basis of race. This did not make sense scientifically. It also made the blood collection work a lot harder. Charles Drew saw that this practice was foolish, so he resigned from his job organizing blood collections.

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5. List several ironies (contradictions) in Charles Drew’s medical career. One irony of Drew’s career is that he was refused admission as a student at Howard University’s medical school. Drew later became a highly respected teacher in that very same medical school. Another irony is that Drew developed a medical technique that saved thousands of lives of both black and white people. He developed this technique in the 1930s, at a time when medical treatment was segregated in many parts of America, and African Americans often received very poor medical treatment. Finally, it is ironic that some white Americans insisted on segregating blood supplies because they thought it would be “bad” to mix blood given by people of different races. Actually, it was really “bad” to segregate the blood supplies. This made the whole process complicated and inefficient. 130

Selection Review #7

One More River to Cross “Romare Bearden”

1. What was exciting about Romare Bearden’s childhood? Why did Bearden and his mother disagree on the subject of his career? Romare Bearden grew up in Harlem in the middle of the Harlem Renaissance. He met many great musicians, including J. Rosamond Johnson and Duke Ellington. Romare Bearden and his mother disagreed when Romare decided he wanted to become an artist. His mother thought that it would be hard for a black artist to make a living. She wanted Romare to become a doctor or to take a job with the government. 2. What were Bearden’s first steps toward becoming an artist? What was the hardest thing for him in the beginning? Bearden took his first step toward becoming an artist when he became involved in the Harlem Artists Guild. He also took art courses at the Art Students League downtown. After that he found a job in the Department of Welfare. Having a job gave Bearden a chance to rent a studio apartment of his own. This is where he began to paint. However, the hardest thing for him was to decide what to paint. Finally Bearden realized that he could paint subjects that he knew well from his own life and childhood. 3. What were some of the reasons that Bearden went through a time of great discouragement after he came home from the war? What helped him find happiness again? Bearden was very discouraged after the war for many reasons. Most of his old friends had moved away from Harlem. The people there were not as friendly as they had been before. Bearden was still upset from his mother’s death in 1943. He was also discouraged because he had not found the way to paint that was right for him. He went to Paris to learn more but he had to come home because his money ran out. He was not able to make much money selling paintings so he had to earn money in other ways. He was so discouraged that he thought he was physically sick, but the doctors could not find anything wrong with him. Finally Bearden fell in love with Nanette Rohan and they were married. His marriage helped him find happiness again. 4. Describe some of the different art techniques that Romare Bearden experimented with. After his marriage, Bearden experimented with many different ways of painting. He began to pay more attention to colors and shapes. He painted abstract paintings that did not look like real objects. He learned about Chinese painting and experimented with gluing rice paper on his canvases. Later, Bearden focused on making collages. He made many pictures by gluing cut pieces of colored paper or scraps from magazines and newspapers onto canvas or wooden boards. continued... 131

5. One writer said that art critics who spoke of Romare Bearden as a “black artist” were putting him in an “artistic ghetto.” Explain this metaphor. In this metaphor, the writer is talking about Bearden’s situation as an artist. He compares this situation to a ghetto, a part of town where a minority group is forced to live separated from other people. This writer believes that always calling Bearden a “black artist” suggests that his work would not be interesting for people who are not black. This writer would probably agree with Bearden that art is just art, not “black art” and “white art.” 6. How did Bearden try to help other African-American artists get past discrimination in the art world? Bearden created a gallery so that other African-American artists’ work would receive the attention it deserved. He always liked to talk with young artists to encourage them. 132

Selection Review #8

One More River to Cross “Fannie Lou Hamer”

1. Describe Fannie Lou Hamer’s childhood and her early married life. What did she learn from the hardships she endured? Fannie Lou’s parents were poor sharecroppers. She began working in the cotton fields at the age of six. She did not go to school very much because she did not have nice clothes. Also, she often had to help her parents in the fields. Fannie Lou married a man who was also a sharecropper. She had two children, and then a white doctor decided she should not have any more. He operated on her, without her permission, to prevent her from having more children. The Hamers lived in an old house with a bathroom that needed fixing. The plantation owner would not fix it. Fannie Lou had learned from her mother to stand up for herself. She did not accept this unfair treatment. She had also learned to work hard. She was willing to suffer to reach her goals. 2. Why was it important for blacks in Mississippi to register to vote? Why was it so hard for Mrs. Hamer and other blacks to register? There were many blacks living in Mississippi. However, very few were allowed to vote before 1960. Blacks had to register so they could help choose government officials. Mississippi laws and courts did not treat blacks fairly, and fair-minded people in government were needed to change this situation. Also, only registered voters could serve on juries. Since blacks were not registered, they could not serve on juries either. All-white juries often did not treat blacks fairly. White officials made Mrs. Hamer and other blacks take hard, unfair tests on the State Constitution before allowing them to vote. Mrs. Hamer’s landowner also threw her out of her home. Nightriders fired shots into the house where she stayed. Threats and attacks like these were used to discourage people from registering to vote. 3. Fannie Lou Hamer and other SNCC workers were unfairly arrested and beaten in 1963. Why weren’t their attackers punished? Fannie Lou Hamer and other SNCC workers tried to encourage blacks to vote. When they were arrested and beaten, many Southern white people thought they “got what they deserved.” The all-white jury in the case found the attackers not guilty.

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4. Why did Hamer and other SNCC leaders create the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP)? Why did the MFDP challenge the official Mississippi delegation at the Democratic National Convention in 1964? The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party was created because blacks were not allowed to take an active part in the “official” Mississippi Democratic Party. The MFDP group went to the Democratic National Convention. They said that the official delegation did not really represent all the people of Mississippi. They told the delegates and the world about the unfair ways that blacks were excluded from politics in Mississippi. 5. How was the voting rights problem solved? How did peoples’ view of Mrs. Hamer change after this? The voting rights problem was solved by the Voting Rights Act passed by Congress in 1965. This law allowed federal officials to register black voters in the South. Local white officials could no longer make up rules to prevent African Americans from registering to vote. After this, many people began to see Mrs. Hamer as a hero. She was named a “Woman of Influence” for 1965 by Mississippi magazine. Her hometown declared “Fannie Lou Hamer Day” a few years later. White politicians asked her to give them her support. 134

Selection Review #9

One More River to Cross “Eddie Robinson”

1. Explain what place hard work had in Eddie Robinson’s life and career. Also explain how his commitment to hard work changed the school where he worked and the place of black athletes in America. Eddie Robinson’s grandfather told him that hard work could get him what he wanted in life. He started working for pay when he was a child. His hard work and accomplishments in college won him the task of starting the athletic department at Grambling State University. He had few resources to work with and his black players at that time had no hope of entering professional football. However, he trained them to compete with the best teams in the nation. He also groomed them to present themselves well as professionals in the national spotlight. This attitude and dedication to hard work set Grambling football players apart from many others. It also, with time, helped open the door for black players to enter professional football. 2. Explain how racial discrimination affected Eddie Robinson’s work at Grambling. Racial discrimination kept white schools segregated from black schools. Blacks could only play blacks. Black players had no chance to show their talents and receive credit in a white-dominated sport. Black colleges were poorer, and Grambling players had to practice on a dirt field. As the team traveled through the South, they also faced discrimination at restaurants and gas stations. This certainly affected their state of mind and their athletic performance. 3. How was Grambling’s football program affected by desegregation? What did Eddie Robinson do to help Grambling adjust to the changing times? When desegregation occurred, white colleges offered scholarship money and opportunities to black players. Grambling had to compete harder to attract black athletes. First, Eddie Robinson made his team even more competitive by developing more game tactics to make it more flexible. He made innovations such as allowing players to drink water during the game. Secondly, he put his team in the national spotlight by inviting college teams from around the country to meet Gambling in exhibition games. Thirdly, he improved the working conditions of the athletes through better facilities. He improved the entertainment value of the game with a new stadium and a marching band. 4. What does Eddie Robinson consider more important accomplishments than his winning football record? Robinson has been married to only one wife and remained at only one school throughout his football career. He considers these facts more important than his record as the “winningest” college football coach in history. He also considers the fact that he accomplished so much in spite of segregation to be another more important record. 135

Selection Review #10

One More River to Cross “Shirley Chisholm”

1. List several ways that Shirley Chisholm’s childhood foreshadowed her future career in politics. There are many hints in Shirley Chisholm’s childhood about her later political career. As a child Shirley was bossy and quick to speak her mind. She even tried to boss older children. Later, as a politician, “Ms. Chisholm” was not afraid to express her opinion. She even challenged older, more experienced politicians. Shirley loved to talk with her father about politics. Later, politics became her passion. In school Shirley felt more discrimination because of her sex than because of her race. In her political career she also felt discrimination because of her sex from both black and white men. As a young girl Shirley cared for her little sisters while their mother was at work. Later, as a politician, she felt a special concern for working mothers and their children. 2. Explain how Shirley Chisholm tried to help the poor as a member of the New York State Assembly. Chisholm suggested bills in the State Assembly that would help poor people. For example, one bill offered unemployment insurance to domestic workers. Most domestic workers did not earn much money. They needed some help if they were fired or laid off. Other bills provided money for day care and public education. Day care was important to working mothers, who were often poor. Poor people also needed good public education because they could not afford to send children to private schools. Another bill set up the SEEK program. This program gave college scholarships to black and Hispanic young people who were academically ready for college. 3. What problems did Chisholm have when she ran for President of the United States in 1972? Why did she feel that her campaign was a good experience even though she lost the nomination? When Chisholm ran for President in 1972, two kinds of groups supported her. Black political groups supported her, and so did women’s groups. However, these two groups often disagreed about how to run the campaign. Also, most black male politicians did not support Chisholm’s campaign. Despite this, Chisholm felt that her campaign was a good experience. She called attention to the concerns of many people in America who did not have much political power. She also opened the door for other blacks and women to be candidates. These included Geraldine Ferraro, who later ran for Vice President, and Jesse Jackson, who ran for President twice. continued... 136

4. What did Chisholm find frustrating when she returned to her work in Congress? What important role did she later play? When Chisholm returned to her work in Congress, she continued to fight for the causes she believed in. However, these causes were often unsuccessful. Sometimes there were not enough supporting votes in Congress. Other times, the President vetoed a bill that had passed in Congress. However, Chisholm continued to fight. In 1976 she was the secretary for the Democratic caucus. She was the first black and the first woman to be part of the leadership of the House of Representatives. 5. Described Chisholm’s life after she left Congress. Chisholm left Congress to be with her husband, who had suffered a serious auto accident. She became a teacher at Mount Holyoke College. She was also the chairwoman of the National Political Caucus of Black Women. 137

Selection Review #11

One More River to Cross “Malcolm X”

1. During the course of his lifetime, Malcolm X changed in many ways. In the first box of the chart below, write three words or phrases that describe Malcolm X’s character and per- sonality before he entered prison. In the second box, write down three things or people that influenced him to change. In the last box, list three words or phrases that describe Malcolm X’s beliefs and behavior at the time of his death. Some possible answers are given on reverse.

Malcolm X before Why Malcolm X Malcolm X at the time prison changed of his death ______

2. What was the Nation of Islam, and why did Malcolm X decide to join it? The Nation of Islam, part of the world religion of Islam, was founded by W.D. Fard. The leader, Elijah Muhammad, said that the one true God, Allah, told him that white people were the devil. He said that blacks were a lost people who had been found and who would rule the world. Malcolm X chose to join the Nation of Islam because the religious aspects of it gave him a sense of peace. Also, he believed in the group’s anti-white views. 3. What was Malcolm X working toward at the time of his death? Why did so many people hate him? Malcolm X was trying to get whites and blacks to work together to create economic and political independence for blacks. He was opposed by both blacks and whites who did not want the two races to work together. continued... 138

4. Why is Malcolm X an important figure in American history? What do you admire most about him? Malcolm X is an important person in American history because in many ways he represented the anger of many black people. They were filled with frustration and hatred because their social conditions were terrible and they could not bring about change. Malcolm X was changed from an irresponsible criminal into a religious and political leader of great influence. He was killed before many of the changes he worked hard for occurred. However, his burning desire for social equality and black economic independence, and later for racial unity, still inspires many people today.

Answers for Graphic Organizer (Question #1):

Malcolm X before Why Malcolm X Malcolm X at the prison changed time of his death uneducated began following a leader teachings of the Nation of Islam an excellent a criminal speaker improved his hated whites education wanted blacks took a pilgrimage and whites to to Mecca work together 139

Selection Review #12

One More River to Cross “Ronald McNair”

1. What disadvantages did Ronald McNair have growing up that could have discouraged him? McNair was born in a poor part of the South where segregation was still strong. The poor black schools he attended did not prepare him for graduate school as well as the wealthier white schools would have. 2. Why was Ronald McNair a good candidate for becoming an astronaut? Ronald McNair had been an accomplished student of physics and had scientific skills that could be useful in space exploration. He also applied to become an astronaut at a time when NASA wanted to recruit minorities for the space program. 3. Why did NASA develop the space shuttle? How did the space shuttle differ from the rockets previously sent into space? NASA developed the space shuttle because it needed a reusable spacecraft that could perform work that would earn money for the space program. It differed from the rockets used earlier in that it could be reused, carry payloads into space, carry more personnel, and perform work in space. 4. In what ways is Ronald McNair’s life an inspiration to young people? Answers will vary. McNair is an inspiration because he is an example of how one can overcome social disadvantages and succeed with a positive attitude and a commitment to hard work. He is also an inspiration because he was one of the first blacks chosen to fly in space. 5. Describe the tragedy that occurred with the January 1986 Challenger space flight. This flight will always be remembered because the Challenger exploded into a ball of fire shortly after take-off. All seven people on board, including McNair, died. 140 Name:

Literature Test #1

One More River to Cross “Crispus Attucks”

1. Tell about Crispus Attucks’ family background and his life as a young man.

2. Give examples of Crispus Attucks’ good and bad qualities as seen in the events of March 5, 1770. What happened?

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3. Tell about the historical importance of the Boston Massacre, both for the American Revolu- tion and for African-Americans of that time.

4. What is bias? How did John Adams’ bias about the Boston Massacre change between 1770 and 1773? 142 Name:

Literature Test #2

One More River to Cross “Madam C. J. Walker”

1. Why was life difficult for blacks in the South even after they became free?

2. Explain why Madam C. J. Walker first developed the product that would make her wealthy. Describe the problem she had to overcome in selling her product and what she did to sell it successfully.

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3. How was Madam C. J. Walker an inspiration to both women and black people who lived in her time period? How is she an inspiration to you?

4. Name three qualities that Madam C. J. Walker had that you think contributed most to her success. Tell why you think these qualities are important. 144

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Literature Test #3

One More River to Cross “Matthew Henson”

1. Why did Robert Peary choose Henson to work with him? How did Henson prove to be a valuable worker?

2. Explain how Matthew Henson’s life was different from that of most African Americans of his day.

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3. Why wasn’t Henson at first honored along with Peary as a co-discoverer of the North Pole?

4. Which of Henson’s qualities do you find most inspiring? Why? 146

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Literature Test #4

One More River to Cross “Marian Anderson”

1. How did Marian Anderson’s Easter Sunday concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial help the cause of racial justice?

2. One of Marian Anderson’s main qualities was her perseverance or determination to pursue her goals despite the obstacles she encountered. List at least three problems she faced and tell how she overcame each of them.

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3. Why was it easier for Anderson to achieve fame and success in Europe than in America? How did she finally gain recognition in her home country?

4. Tell one way Marian Anderson helped those less fortunate than herself after she became famous. 148

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Literature Test #5

One More River to Cross “Ralph Bunche”

1. Name two values that helped Ralph Bunche’s family face and overcome hardships.

2. Describe Ralph Bunche’s education after high school. Why was it hard for him to go to college? How did he handle this problem?

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3. Explain why Bunche received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950.

4. What irony (contradictory situation) did Bunche criticize in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s? 150

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Literature Test #6

One More River to Cross “Charles Drew”

1. Although various circumstances might have tempted Drew to give up on medical school, he never lost sight of his goal. List two reasons Drew might have considered giving up.

2. Tell about the discovery that made Charles Drew famous. Explain why it was especially important in wartime.

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3. Why did Charles Drew criticize the blood collection policy in America?

4. Describe one of the ironies of Drew’s career. 152 Name:

Literature Test #7

One More River to Cross “Romare Bearden”

1. Why was Harlem an exciting place for Romare Bearden to grow up?

2. List three different problems that added to Bearden’s discouragement when he returned from World War II.

continued... 153

3. Describe one new artistic style that Bearden experimented with after he was married.

4. Why did Bearden complain about being called a “black artist”? How did he fight against discrimination in the art world? 154 Name:

Literature Test #8

One More River to Cross “Fannie Lou Hamer”

1. Describe several hardships of Fannie Hamer’s early life. Tell one lesson she learned from her experiences.

2. List two reasons why Hamer and other SNCC workers felt it was important for blacks in the South to register to vote.

continued... 155

3. Why did the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) send a delegation to the Demo- cratic National Convention in 1964? What did Fannie Lou Hamer, as head of the delegation, complain about to the Convention?

4. How did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 improve the situation of Southern blacks? Name one honor that Fannie Lou Hamer received after the Voting Rights Act was passed. 156

Name:

Literature Test #9

One More River to Cross “Eddie Robinson”

1. Explain why Grambling’s football teams were so successful, even though they had little money and resources available to them.

2. Summarize Eddie Robinson’s accomplishments as a football coach at Grambling. Describe the obstacles he had to overcome to accomplish these things.

continued... 157

3. Explain why desegregation of colleges in the South was a good thing for blacks but a difficult challenge for Eddie Robinson’s football program.

4. For what will history remember Eddie Robinson? How would Eddie Robinson like to be remembered? 158

Name:

Literature Test #10

One More River to Cross “Shirley Chisholm”

1. Shirley Chisholm’s childhood foreshadowed her later career in many ways. List at least two of them.

2. Tell about one way that Chisholm tried to help the poor when she was a member of the New York State Assembly.

continued... 159

3. Chisholm felt good about her 1972 Presidential campaign even though it was unsuccessful. Why? What did she feel her campaign had accomplished?

4. What did Chisholm find frustrating in her later years in Congress? What did she do after she left Congress? 160

Name:

Literature Test #11

One More River to Cross “Malcolm X”

1. How did Malcolm X’s life change while he was in prison?

2. How was Malcolm X’s new organization, Muslim Mosque, Inc., different from the Nation of Islam, which he left? How was it similar?

continued... 161

3. Why did Malcolm X start inviting white people to join his organization after his pilgrimage to Mecca?

4. Why did many people hate Malcolm X at the time of his death? Why was he, at the same time, an inspiration to many others? 162

Name:

Literature Test #12

One More River to Cross “Ronald McNair”

1. Explain why Ronald McNair had to work especially hard to succeed. Tell why he did succeed in spite of these disadvantages.

2. What advantages did the space shuttle have over the manned space rocket?

continued... 163

3. What message did Ronald McNair like to give students when he spoke at schools?

4. Why will the January 1986 Challenger flight always be remembered? 164 Name:

Vocabulary Test #1

One More River to Cross

“Crispus Attucks”