The Shooting - Benson2 by Ben Leonard

Summary

2014-08-28 14:44:24 UTC

The Birmingham economy flourished in WWll but resources like cotton, wood, corn and wheat were scare. In addition to all of this, so was menswear. Thousands of returning vets had to trade their clothes for civilian wear. But, the stores couldn't get their hands on enough. "If returning white soldiers had a hard time finding clothes, then the difficulty was compounded for black veterans". At the time, segregation was kept in place because of fear of crossing the color line, white people would be shammed and lose dignity, and black people would be arrested and/or shot. Then, she goes on to talk about the shooting. It was brought up at a family funeral, where someone was "blabbering on about it". At first Michele's mother dismissed it and didn't believe it, and Michele wanted to hear more but was quiet. Then she started asking around, but it was really hard for her to find info from her family. Then she called Julia, asking if she knew anything of the incident. But she didn't know anything. Then Michele asked her how was life in Birmingham, and she told a story of when her family was walking home from church in all white and white teens threw tomatoes at them and ruined the suits. At the end of the conversation, Julia told Michele to get a hold of Morris B, and he described the shooting. John Beaton, Belvin Norris and Woody had gone to a small get together at a local park, and were then headed to a party at the Beaux Arts Temple in downtown. As they were about to get on the elevator, a cop put him arm and baton in their war. Belvin then hit his arm out of the way and got on. Then a scuffle ensued and another police officer reached for his holster. Belvin tried to stop the officer from reaching his gun, but he managed to get it out of his holster. Then, he pointed the gun at Belvins chest. Then, Woody tried to swat the gun out of the police officers hand. Then, the three were struggling for the gun, and a shot managed to be fired, just grazing Belvin's leg. From there they were arrested and sent to jail. Once news reached Avenue G, Grandma Frannie called a lawyer and got them released. As soon as they got out, the first thing they wanted to do was to go north.

Outside Soucre

2014-08-28 14:59:14 UTC

Of the black males who are shot, 48% of them are under 30.

Quote

2014-08-28 14:59:37 UTC

"This anger and mistrust, the absolute distain for members of another race, the hatred: these were the very sentiments that civil rights marchers in 1963 had tried to overcome". -Norris, pg 105.

We thought it would be important to include this quote because it demonstrates that black people were very justified in hating whites and not forgiving them. But, the civil rights marchers chose to instead of letting their hate prevent them from doing anything, to nonviolently protested in= to try and move society forward.

Quote

2014-08-28 15:03:56 UTC

"It's better to be forgotten then to talk about it. Maybe telling people would give them more reason to have whites, which Belvin didn't want"-Norris, pg 95.

We included this quote because it pertains to the title of the book, by staying silent on this indecent the families children can move on from what happened to their parents .

Outside Source

2014-08-28 15:18:38 UTC

Go to the third incident.

2014-08-29 15:06:44 UTC

go to toronto

Our Takeaway

2014-08-29 15:17:17 UTC

It is better the wait until the right time

to tell someone something that is very

sensitive, then to hide it for the rest of

your life.