We begin by examining the words that brought a nation to its feet during the American civil rights era.  Sometimes these words made us feel good, sometimes ashamed.  At times these words made us take action, often violent,  at times they made us speechless.  In all cases, they were powerful words.  They can teach us not only about our past, but also about the power of our words, and the power to impact the future.

It is the 1960's.  You have been called upon to make a speech.  You will address both the white Americans and black Americans.  Your purpose is to avert more violence in a small town.  You must deliver this speech with a full understanding and sensitivity about the events that have already occurred, and might very well continue.  Make reference to those events and convince the audience that you understand why these events took place.  Good luck.  A nation awaits nervously.

Investigate the history of the violence of the civil rights era.  Use the resources below to build an understanding of these events.  Keep a journal of your journey and post it to our page at eBoard.  Then prepare your practice speech. Then, based on the feedback from class, you will give your prepared speech on a topic that in some way includes the concept of civil rights.

Your focus on content is civil rights.
Your focus on delivery is inventio.