Pursuing Justice

I really enjoyed Dan Kryder's presentation and the discussion on Wednesday, particularly since I use some of the same audio with my students. He mentioned that his students always laugh at Barnett, as my students do, and it was interesting that he did not allow them to continue to do it. I think his point is a good one. Laughing at Barnett makes it easy to underestimate him and influences how the conversations are perceived. I started using audio recordings with transcripts when teaching Watergate. They are such a great resource. The Miller Center (http://millercenter.org/academic/presidentialrecordings/index) has many great audio recordings going back to FDR, with highlited transcripts that can be easily followed as you listen. JFK's dictabelt recording reflecting regretfully on the Diem coup, which features JFK Jr., gives some insight into JFK as a person.  

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Jay Barry
High School History
Arlington

Listening to the interaction between JFK and Barnett was an experience.  I didn’t  grow up in the period when JFK was president.  Therefore, I can’t say I’ve heard him speaking live or on TV to the nation.  I have heard former speeches from our  35^th  president via videos and recording and his tone was very different from those on the audio tapes of his conversation with Barnett.  The JFK I listened to prior to this audio recording was assertive and passionate.  Clearly, there’s a disconnect from typical JFK in this recording.  The conversation was monopolized by Barnett.  He was confident and wanted to appear righteous when in fact, he had no intention of helping the president.  It’s too bad what actually ended up happening.  Two people lost their lives due to Barnett’s racism.  Had JFK been more firm and forceful, things may have been different.

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Julie Ngoc Duong McManuis
Wilson Middle School
US History & English

I found myself thinking about tone of voice a lot while listening to the tapes -how the absence of it allows us to interpret intent and meaning (and how the presence of it does the same, I guess, if in a different way) -The first exchange in particular just seemed so tentative and unprepared -I started thinking about the rumors of Joe buying his son the presidency, and the myth? (was it?) about how Kennedy claimed he could end segregation with the use of his pen, and how people started sending him pens (because clearly, his wasn't working...)  Who was this guy?

I spend time in class trying to convince students that exalted leaders are human -that this fact makes them even more heroic. I've never quite shared the hero worship of Kennedy of some, but rather have believed him thoughtful.  He doesn't sound that way with Barnett.  I wonder what was going on in his head.   And I did so enjoy trying to figure it out -I haven't used these sort of tapes before in class, and like the idea of students listening and interpreting.

On another note (probably related) -I was delighted to hear more of Rosa Parks -I knew her story wasn't that simple -that at least she wasn't the first (and enjoyed hearing about King's reluctant involvement) as well as her intent -"Critical Dynamic" is still stunning to me.  It never occured to me that these acts were meant to provoke supremacists to act, and therefore allow for federal involvement (I guess I skipped that step) -I recognized these acts as dangerous. I didn't realize the extent. I so appreciate the new information and new ways of thinking this whole institute has given.

 

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Emma Blydenburgh
Middle School History
Groton Dunstable Regional Middle School

I loved the use of the Kennedy tapes. I have to confess to laughing briefly at Barnett, but I was suprised by the degree to which Kennedy seemed unable establish personal authority over Barnett. The two seem to struggle over the pace of the conversation, and I wondered if Barnett weren't deliberately speaking at a slower pace than Kennedy, and interpreting Kennedy's rapid-shot approach as a sign of weakness.

I'm inclined to agree with Kryder that, in principle, there is no evidence that the Kennedys had social justice in mind during any of the conversations, but Barnett's side of the conversation is equally content-free. He's seems to be stalling so he can say he resisted--to fend off the inevitable criticism he'll face from racist constituents.

All Barnett seems to care about is that his behavior toward Kennedy be ambiguous and confusing. The point that Kennedy didn't have a ready, easily deployable force informs the conversations significantly, I think. Barnett can simply muddle along, let the violence happen and plead to Kennedy later that neither of them could have controlled it. After all, they could claim, it was just another example of why integration shouldn't happen.

The Monty Pritchett story, and it's effect on MLK's decision-making, seems like a good clear example of cause and effect in a clash of political strategies. The notion of acheiving a form of mass arrest through little more than well-placed encouragement is striking.

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Chris Miller
English and Journalism Teacher
Winchester High School