Essay 2 Options

Option 1: Tim Tyson's Radio Free Dixie, in particular, reveals the symbiotic relationship between the politics of the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. The use that civil rights activists made of the Cold War hinged upon the manner in which the Jim Crow-era South resembled a totalitarian state for African Americans. In your essay, make a broad survey of the various sources we have used in the course since the first essay and describe the manner in which the Jim Crow South represented a totalitarian society for all southerners.

Option 2: Our sources in this section pay a great deal of attention to black masculinity and femininity in the context of the segregated South. Using these sources, explore the contours and expressions of A) black masculinity B) black femininity or C) the interplay between black and white women in defining gender roles within the confines of segregation. Consider this question broadly, but feel free to focus on a specific aspect of the topic. For instance, you might narrow it down to exploring the role of violence directed at and employed by black men as a vehicle for demonstrating self worth in the segregated South. You might consider the role music, both the blues and gospel, in creating an environment of personal dignity and protest for black men and women. Be creative. But also be sure to email me with your idea - that is, how you plan to approach and define your essay question.

The directions and length requirements for this essay are the same as for Essay 1, and I ask that you consult that post in the blog archive for details.

NOTE: you will ONLY use these sources for your essay:

Pete Daniel, "Not Predestination"
"Feel Like Goin' Home" (Blues Documentary)
Cobb, "The Blues is a Low Down Shakin' Chill"
The Color Purple
Radio Free Dixie
Away Down South, Chapters 5 and 6

LASTLY: this assignment has a new due date: by 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 9. Submit either via Google Documents or in my mailbox in Bishop Hall.