# data[].attributes.body
Prior to reading the essay, I had heard in passing of Flossie Hardman, but I certainly would not have been able to immediately recall her story. I had not heard of the others, barring, naturally, Rosa Parks. I think that the histories of those women and of the main leaders of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts have been excluded from what I have been taught in part because the first time I can recall learning about Rosa Parks was the first year that I entered the public school system, in third grade, at which time I was six. Nobody wants to teach a six year old about rape, and nobody wants their six year olds taught about rape. Their stories would be incomplete, I feel without mentioning that aspect, and so it was excluded. Another potential reason is that especially for the area I live in, where high schools designed for integration were opened in 1985 and 2000, race relations has historically been a charged topic receiving little focus in schools, especially for the younger grades, and so what is taught is mostly limited to tremendously famous names like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

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I can combat personal passivity, ignorance, and discomfort by seeking to learn as much about a given movement as I can. I would say that personal passivity is a large problem for me in terms of activism, and so I would suppose that my actions don't really serve anybody. I see hypocrisy in my own actions in that I believe that everybody should stand up for women's rights but I personally do nothing to really advance that goal. To make a difference, I can try to inspire others to use their votes in a way that enhances the lives of all Americans, and do the same with my own once I am old enough.

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I think that while it is not necessarily fair to immediately make victims of racial violence martyrs, it is near inevitable for those killed under any circumstances and for a number of movements incredibly useful. We can honor and respect victims of racial violence the same way we might honor and respect victims of any other kind of violence: do right by their memory as best we can, and respect the wishes of their families and friends, listening to them and their stories. We can honor their memory and legacy even after the focus moves away by continuing to do what is mentioned above: doing right by their memory and respecting their families, listening when they choose to speak.

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While I'm not a hundred percent certain that I understand the intent of and context behind this question, I would say that we tend to need hundreds of survivors of trauma to show their evidence and etc. in order to prove that they are worthy of care in part because one person and their story does not impact a whole community, and certainly not a whole region. The larger the problem is, the more humans are inclined to help and seek solutions, especially as there are so very many tremendous problems in our modern world which require attention. Generally, for action, it takes a few incredibly determined people and a number of very emotionally impacting stories to inspire others to empathize with the issue and hopefully join to seek a solution.

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I had never heard of these women before in regards to the bus boycotts, and I think that is predominantly due to the graphic and shameful nature of the treatment these women endured. History and textbooks are often altered, or rather parts are excluded, because it is viewed as graphic and uncomfortable. However, without the discussion and spotlight placed upon these issues, they will never be solved because they will never be believed or addressed.
Mayli

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Given that they are fights that are still being passionately considered by people all over the country each day, I would say that the small fights are important for the larger pursuit of racial justice. For individual communities, they often represent a larger symbol of growth, and the wave of change across a nation can lead to other, deeper, institutional changes.

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In order to combat my own passivity, ignorance and discomfort with activism would be to educate and enlighten myself with current and past issues and identify where I stand in relation to these issues. This bgs class alone helps educate myself and forces me to acknowledge what I must work on in terms of actually participating in activism. I think, like most people, my actions typically serve myself and tend to have selfish background as, figuratively speaking, I must put my oxygen mask on first before I can help those around me. I see hypocrisy in my own actions as I advocate verbally for social change but have not participated directly in change which is something I can strive for to make a difference.
Mayli

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I believe it is fair to use victims of racial violence as examples to spark change but not as martyrs because typically these victims are not killed because of their beliefs but because of simply what they look like and what they represent because of their physical appearance. Victims of racial violence can be honored and respected through allowing proper grief in their families peacefully, telling their stories, and through creating change in order for their history to not be repeated on another individual. Their memory and legacy can be honored even after attention and focus passes through instilling sustainable change that can stand the test of time in order to move toward a more perfect society.
Mayli

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It takes so many survivors of trauma to prove they are worthy of care because as a society the first instinct is to discredit and not believe because if people were to find that they were wrong in not believing then their entire rationale and beliefs of trustworthy information are untrue and usually most people find that to be too uncomfortable to deal with so they prefer to live in comfortable ignorance until undeniable amounts of evidence are gathered. To finally achieve action it takes a majority populace supporting change and concrete, overwhelming evidence of injustices occurring.
Mayli

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The removal of and changing of injustices on small scales are steps toward a more united, inclusive future. Change cannot occur with just a single law passed or a single mindset altered however, these aspects add, over time, to the contribution of a changed society and world for the better.
Mayli

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The history of racism is long and brutal. I believe that we have made history more 'palatable,' not only by making the institution of history seem more tame- as Smith noted in How the Word is Passed some believed that those who held slaves were capable of being kind to them, or that those who were enslaved enjoyed their circumstance. I had heard of the story of Rosa Parks, but I was reminded that her face being the spark of the boycott movement was very strategic- she had a 'perfect image,' once again highlighting the extra work it took, and still takes, for people of color to make their voices heard.

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Before reading, More Than a Seat on The Bus, I was only familiar with Rosa Peaks, however, the story regarding Gertrude Perkins was never brought up or discussed in any of my past history classes nor textbooks. It saddens me to read about the unnoticed lives of many African Americans. I believe the true nature and leaders of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts were excluded because nobody wants to reveal the true horror behind the situation. Nobody wants to teach a child about an African American Women being raped and held at gunshot. Yet, regardless their stories deserved to be heard and remembered.

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I can personally combat passivity, ignorance, and discomfort with activism by learning more about advocating and fighting for others to be heard. My actions serve my entire community. What I do, say, and think, impacts everyone around me. I see hypocrisy in my actions because I often have strong beliefs and believe every person has a right to their own beliefs, however, I do not personally do anything about it or speak up. I can make a difference by joining groups in my community and speaking up, using my voices.

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I think in some cases it is fair to use victims of racial violence as martyrs for progress. This is unfortunately one of the ways as to which we can improve the social injustice in the world and open the eyes of many. Therefore, there is no way for people to run away from the truth. We can respect and honor the victims of racial violence by discussing with their families prior and putting the effort into listening to them and what they have to say.

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We need hundreds of survivors of trauma to show their evidence and relive their trauma because it could potentially prevent history from repeating itself. Though their stories are heartbreaking, they could be beneficial towards the future. However, we need to show them that we are here to listen and provide support. Many people are quick to say they are liars and ignore them. We need people to come together to fight to take action in order for us to make progress.

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The removal of the Confederate flag from official buildings, the renaming of schools, or the removal of statues in the larger movement for racial justice are some of the little battles we have conquered that have pointed us in the right direction. I believe that the smaller battles are the most achievable in regards to this topic because many people are close-minded and could careless about change.

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Prior to the reading, I had never heard of any of the women before besides Rosa Parks, which is something that shocks me as they were clearly vital to the movement as a whole. The histories of these women were most likely excluded due to the harsh nature of their situations. If anything, the people that are setting educational standards's main desire is to make history more palatable, especially history that concerns America's past. They do not want to deal with existing issues, or go deeper and further explain systemic issues of racism that have been built into the foundation of our country because they themselves may not want to come to terms with it or may not want to "villainize" any of America's past leaders or states of government. This is a major issue however, because then we are not taught the full story about our own country's history, and are simply being fed a watered-down version. If we better understand our nation's own history, then we would be able to have a deeper and more educated understanding of how we arrived at its current state. It is clear that not much has changed in terms of police brutality and injustice against black people, specifically black women as was referenced in the reading, and I feel that if more people understood just how ongoing these issues have been for years and years, then maybe they would be more understanding of just how necessary progress is, if nothing else. It is also important to hear the names of those that have been working so tirelessly in the name of their and their fellow people's rights, and it is only right to say their names and give them the recognition that they deserve.

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Combatting personal passivity, ignorance, and discomfort is something that is very important to take on, and we all need to make the push to do so. Personally, I know that I need to work on these, specifically in passivity, as it is so easy to see major systemic issues as not being your issue to fight on if you are not being affected. Justice and equality should not be something sought out for personal gain, but should be something that we strive for as a collective and to serve the collective with equity. To combat those problems, I would say that it is important to first understand where I am lacking in terms of passivity, ignorance, and discomfort, and then listen to others and learn as much as I can about these issues. Educating oneself can also be a form of activism, and should be something that we seek out first before going out and speaking our minds, in order to get a better understanding of the issues at hand and at what can be done. My actions currently do not serve many, except maybe myself, but truthfully it is my inaction which is the biggest issue. I should be working to ensure that my actions serve all, specifically those that are marginalized. I see hypocrisy in my own actions because I hold a great desire to help and to go out and advocate for the rights of many, such as the black and latino community, as well as for women, but in actuality I do not find myself going out of my way to make such a significant difference. The most that I am currently doing is listening to individuals that I am friends with about their experiences and helping to nurture a safe space within our relationships as well as with supporting and volunteering for events within my own community. Those things can make personal and individual differences to those that I interact with, however, in order to make a more widespread difference, I could reach out to programs or groups within our community to either learn more or to assist in their efforts as well as engage with lawmakers and government representatives and push for legal change.

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I think we should not use victims as racial violence as martyrs for progress, but rather carry on and tell their stories with value. They should not be turned into symbols and lose their humanity by way of being martyrs, but their stories should be told and their lives should be heard of and noticed. If the racial violence set against them sparks more talk for progress, that is fair and that spark should not be shot down, but it is important to treat the victims with honor and respect. In order to do so, it is important not just to look upon their stories but to listen to the victim's families and see if they are okay with such widespread talk about their family. First and foremost, the humanity of each victim must be realized and respected, and that is not through Instagram activism but rather the education of ourselves as well as working with others to fight the injustice that incites these acts of racial violence. To honor their memory and legacy even after the focus moves away can be done with something as simple as remembering their names and remembering their stories, and never forgetting.

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We should not need hundreds of survivors of trauma to show their evidence and relive their trauma to prove that they are worthy of support or care. That is not how it should be in this world, but due to the fact that so many attempt to discredit single individual's experiences or discount them as one-off problems, the need has been created. People do not want to believe difficult truths or harsh stories even when they are true, which causes so much stigma for those who simply want to be honest about their experiences and seek out justice. The need honestly comes out of a lack of empathy and compassion for those who speak out, as well as a fierce and polarizing view where people do not want to see them be right or see people that they support be revealed as being capable of racist or violent actions. People do not want to have to deal with the discomfort that comes with being honest either. For action, it takes voices. Voices to speak out, and prominent voices in the current societal context are extremely important as well. Staying silent is something which can be highly damaging in our current day and age, so speaking out against the atrocities that occur against these victims and showing your support for those who have survived significant trauma are highly important.

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Incremental changes are significant, no matter how small. They are small victories which show that more change can occur, and simply speaking about smaller changes and getting them to be finalized means that conversations are being opened up in legal settings, which gives more hope to further changes. These fights, such as taking the Confederate flag down, renaming schools, and the removal of statues have all been ongoing for years. The fact that we have gotten to the point where we can say that those smaller fights have been won, speaks to the possibilities of more for our future. They also symbolize the shift from idolization of racist white figures of our history to a more centered narrative that focuses on equality and equity. We have not arrived at that narrative fully, but it is something that we are reaching and working towards with each of these smaller victories. Each change is a ripple, and hopefully those ripples will make great waves, especially as once one change is made, it opens doors for more changes, not just in a single city but across the country. I do not think that we can win purely by way of small fights, as small fights sometimes can just be won in order to appease what is more essential to wining the bigger fight of racial inequity and injustice, but that should not take away their value. Greater change does need to occur, but small changes are significant and we should support them as best as we can.

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Prior to reading this chapter, I have not ever hard of these women before. I knew who Rosa Parks was, as her story / history had been addressed in my elementary school history classes. I think the histories of these women and the true nature and leaders of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts were excluded from the overall narrative that was taught to me was because, if we have delved into that history more as was just addressed in the chapter, we would have had to go into the unfortunately graphic topics that these women endured. While it is important for us to understand what truly happened now at our age, relaying the situation in full detail to elementary school aged children could have been incredibly overwhelming.

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I can combat personal passivity, ignorance, and discomfort by taking the time to educate myself fully on the matters at hand in private. Sometimes, I find that being in a public space when delving into these societal problems can be overwhelming- not because I am afraid of them- but more because I wish to understand it myself before hearing what everyone else has to say about it. As I am still coming of age, so to speak, I have never gotten to directly participate in activism, but that has certainly been a goal of mine as there are many issues that must be handled. I suppose that is the hypocrisy of my own actions- wanting to participate but holding out for later (I want to be sure I know where I stand before I do anything). To actually make a difference, I believe that educating myself and listening to what others have to say is a good start.

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It is definitely not fair to use victims of racial violence as martyrs for progress, but in order to achieve change, there are definitely movements who utilize this method to bring people towards their cause. We can honor and respects the victims of racial violence just as we would do so with anyone else. We keep their memory alive and learn. When the focus inevitably moves away to the next thing, it is important to remember how all actions have consequences and that we must strive to better ourselves as a result.

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There must be some many survivors of trauma to show their evidence to prove that they are worthy of care, making them relive that trauma, because society does not wish to address its negative sides. In better words, people do not wish to understand other people's trauma unless it is more widespread. To finally take action, there must be a steady, widespread following, advocating for the care these survivors require, bringing it to the attention of many as a result to further the efforts of bringing change.

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Incremental changes are incredibly important, because they are displays of the world taking steps forward from its past. Now, before I continue, I must say: HISTORY CAN NOT NOR SHOULD NOT EVER BE FORGOTTEN. There is, however, a difference between preserving history and relishing history. Preserving history is what we see in our textbooks- how we review the past and analyze it to learn from the mistakes made. Relishing history is the purposeful upkeep of symbols or figures such as the Confederate Flag and statues of those involved. That kind of history must not remain because it is only tainting the efforts to move onwards in the world. As such, the fight to get these terrible symbols taken down is incredibly important. We should not be relishing these figures or symbols anymore. That time is gone and it is our (the new generations) turn to ensure our future looks much different than their views of it. Small fights can certainly win in the end, so long as they are consistent and meant with good purpose.

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Although I had of course been educated on Rosa Parks and the actions which she took in 1955, I not once heard the names of either Gertrude Perkins or Recy Taylor. While reading the selection, their stories absolutely shocked me, both in the brutality of the white men and the boldness these women had to stand against these crimes. I believe narratives such as these are often excluded from high school curriculum because of how disturbing and uncomfortable it may be to hear these stories of rape and abuse. However, they must be told so that we may recognize the figures which stood against oppression even in the face of death.

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In order to fight against developing passivity regarding activism, we must develop a true consciousness and desire to understand the history and implications of racial injustice. We must seek out stories such as those of Perkins and Taylor and understand that in reality our world is not far past the one in which these atrocities were committed. In fact, based off of recent tragedies such as the 2015 Mother Emmanuel shooting and the murder of Trayvon Martin, we may not be past it at all. I see hypocrisy in myself often because I pride myself on being educated and informed, but I sometimes shy away from looking into the difficult stories. To make a difference I must lean into this discomfort and educate others to do the same.

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Although I believe that using victims of racial violence as martyrs evokes a certain sense of sympathy, I believe it is also of utmost importance to honor their lives in doing so. President Obama does a great job in his speech of doing both, as he shows reverence in eulogizing Rev. Pinckney. To honor and respect victims of racial violence we must not only mourn them and recognize the crimes which they suffered, but also take action against the racial violence and racist ideologies as a whole. Finally, as these movements may move away from focusing on these "martyrs," we honor them by continuing to remember the atrocities they endured and ensure that such crimes may never happen again.

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Although survivors of trauma especially in instances of racial violence should not have to show evidence and relive their trauma in order to validate their stories, unfortunately the system in which we live is bent against these stories ever reaching the public. In an ideal world we should listen to these victims and first provide them aid before demanding proof or an explanation of the violence which they endured, yet we still find ourselves waiting to see video tapes before believing the words of a victim. It takes not only evidence to inspire action, but it also requires a certain level of empathy to understand the horrible violence which has been endured for centuries. We must reshape our culture to aid the victims and listen to their stories first before joining with them to take action on a greater scale.

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Victories which may seem small in the broad scope of racial injustice are still essential in keeping the movement on its feet. Although in a physical sense actions such as taking down the Confederate flag from the State House and moving the statue of John C. Calhoun out of downtown Charleston may seem minuscule, they represent change and growth in our society. These small victories stack up in ensuring that the history of these objects is not praised and desired to be relived. One victory at a time, we must continue to push to rewrite the narrative.

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I have heard the name Gertrude Perkins, but only from outside resources that found it necessary to focus on aspects of the bus boycotts that were viewed as uncomfortable to talk about. I went to Catholic school for 12 years, so not only did we experience a lack of education on black history in general, sexual violence was never a topic of conversation until high school. I first learned about Rosa Parks through the "Who was" books at the library in 3rd grade as well as a brief history conversation in one of the grade years. Alls to say is I was educated more though my fellow POC friends and peers than the school system, and that was mainly due to no one being brave enough to mention the disgusting actions of white men targeting black women throughout history. While it can be uncomfortable to discuss, these events affected real people and they fought to make change so it's only respectful to support their experiences by educating others. That's the whole point of teaching history, especially the ugly parts, so it's not repeated or thought of as acceptable.

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So I had heard of this before, however I couldn't remember where from or the specific details. Maybe from the list of APUSH terms? Anyways, I think that in history, women, specifically black women's stories are not viewed as as important and are often not included in the overview of history. Their contributions are not viewed in the same way other peoples are and they lack the recognition they deserve.

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I had not heard of these women before and I think that that's mostly because the story of Rosa Parks is a far more simple and/or palatable one than the stories of how these women were horrifically mistreated. I think that much of the true story of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts has been erased due to white guilt and not wanting to truly portray the struggle of black Americans during the Civil Rights Movement.

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I think that the fairness of being a martyr is quite complex. I often think of a martyr as a person who died for a cause voluntarily but, the victims of the Mother Emmanuel Church shooting did not die voluntarily or in support of a cause, they were killed for simply existing. Becoming a martyr isn't "fair" because what happened to these people wasn't "fair". I think the best way to remember victims of racial violence is to remember them for more than just the way that they died, remember their actions and the things that they chose.

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I think that the best way for me to confront my own passivity, ignorance, and/or discomfort with activism is to better understand the causes that are being advocated for. To do this I will research, and interact with those in need to better empathize and therefore better understand why the problem needs to be fixed. The question of who my actions serve I think varies depending on the situation, but far too often they serve me. I think that I see the hypocrisy in that many of my actions are self-serving, as I often expect the opposite from others. I think that the best way for me to make a difference would be to educate myself and to actively not be ignorant.

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I think that there is a combination of reasons why we need such a wealth of evidence of trauma to believe it happened. Partially, I think people need to be "smacked in the face" to believe that such horrors actually happened. If I am being cynical I think that it's partially because people don't take action unless many people are suffering. I think that what it finally takes for people to take action is for people to be made uncomfortable and forced to see what is truly going on.

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I think that the small fights are equally, if not more important than the more broad goals. This is because the sweeping, large goals cannot be accomplished without the small incremental changes.

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I had only ever heard of Rosa parks and what I was told was a much milder story than what is described. The stories of the other women were likely excluded because it is easier to tell a simple story than a graphic one to children as a teacher. The whole story should be taught but at an older age like in high school.

# data[].attributes.subject
I had only ever heard of Rosa parks and what I was told was a much milder story than what is described. The stories of the other women were likely excluded because it is easier to tell a simple story than a graphic one to children as a teacher. The whole story should be taught but at an older age like in high school.

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The best way to combat ignorance and discomfort about activism is to learn more about it. If people take the time to learn the entire story through reputable sources, then they will be better educated and more comfortable with activist topics. I see my own hypocrisy in the fact that I believe everyone should stand up for their own rights and opinions but I rarely stand up for these things myself. I believe that volunteering with the community and participating in protests can truly make a difference.

# data[].attributes.subject
The best way to combat ignorance and discomfort about activism is to learn more about it. If people take the time to learn the entire story through reputable sources, then they will be better educated and more comfortable with activist topics. I see my own hypocrisy in the fact that I believe everyone should stand up for their own rights and opinions but I rarely stand up for these things myself. I believe that volunteering with the community and participating in protests can truly make a difference.

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I think that it is hard to say whether it is fair to use victims of racial violence as martyrs because they are the only ones who can say that. However, the best way to respect them is to remember their lives rather than their deaths. The families of the victims should have a major say in how the victims' names are used.

# data[].attributes.subject
I think that it is hard to say whether it is fair to use victims of racial violence as martyrs because they are the only ones who can say that. However, the best way to respect them is to remember their lives rather than their deaths. The families of the victims should have a major say in how the victims' names are used.

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It is important for survivors of trauma to show their evidence because it grows support from the public. The pain these survivors feel helps to bring people together who might have been suspicious of their stories. The support of the public and politicians is the only way to make a change through action.

# data[].attributes.subject
It is important for survivors of trauma to show their evidence because it grows support from the public. The pain these survivors feel helps to bring people together who might have been suspicious of their stories. The support of the public and politicians is the only way to make a change through action.

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I think that the entirety of history should be remembered but only in a respectful way. Confederate statues and flags should be put away in museums and not put up in front of our state house or on a pedestal. These are symbols of systematic hatred and discrimination which still resides in our country today so displaying them publicly is an affront to the subjugated people. Taking these things down helps to change the views of the public and show victory of the discrimination.

# data[].attributes.subject
I think that the entirety of history should be remembered but only in a respectful way. Confederate statues and flags should be put away in museums and not put up in front of our state house or on a pedestal. These are symbols of systematic hatred and discrimination which still resides in our country today so displaying them publicly is an affront to the subjugated people. Taking these things down helps to change the views of the public and show victory of the discrimination.