Book 2 - The Struggle of a Community
Title: The Struggle of a Community
Authors: Jessi Nelson, Kelly Schumacher, Hannah Gore, Amber Krause, Tess Botsford, Brenna Smith
Page 1:
Feyikemi: Wow! This Juneteenth celebration is super fun! I really enjoyed the dancing.
Simon: I still can’t believe that we’ve gone from the Fur Trade, to black community members founding Chilton and Freedom, and all the people who made contributions to our community! Black people have come a long way!
Grandma: We’ve come this far, but nothing can ever make up for all of the suffering our kinfolk had to go through.
Page 2a:
Simon I remember grandpa telling me something about a group of people called the KKK. Who were they?
Grandpa: The KKK, or the Ku Klux Klan, was a group of people who encouraged segregation by killing black people and targeting Catholic people.
Kid 2: But what does segregation mean?
Grandpa: Segregation is separating people based on their skin color. Many white businesses didn’t serve black people, and there were even different bubblers and bathrooms. The KKK was a group of white people who didn’t like anyone different than them.
Page 2b:
Feyikemi: If the KKK was hurting so many people, why did everyone stay?
Grandma: Actually, many people left! During this time, a lot of the black community that was here left the area for their own safety.
Page 3a:
Simon: But if everyone left, why are we here?
Grandpa: There were a few very brave black people who stayed to make a living. But it wasn’t easy for them! They had to deal with the constant fear of being hurt by the Ku Klux Klan and their followers.
Page 3b:
Grandma: Those who stayed also had to deal with the town being a sundown town.
Feyikemi: What’s a sundown town?
Grandma: Sundown towns were communities that required blacks to leave by sunset. If they didn't, the police could come arrest them.
Page 4a:
Simon: Was that really a law?!
Grandma: It wasn’t a law, but it was an unwritten rule that everyone followed. Many people found no problem with this because they feared the blacks in their community.
Feyikemi: Were all people as mean to blacks as the Ku Klux Klan and their supporters?
Grandma: No, not everyone was harsh to black people, there were those who supported black people and wanted to help. Lawrence College and area churches brought in important black people to talk about bringing equality to all people and build hope among the black community.
Page 4b:
Feyikemi: Any names I would know?
Grandma: Booker T. Washington was an black educator and advisor the U.S. Presidents. He came to the Fox Cities to give a speech at a church about black education. And musicians like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong played for the black community.
Page 5a:
Simon: So, how did this help bring hope to the black community?
Grandpa: Through sermons in the area churches and speakers talking against segregation, many white residents of the Fox Cities started to see how bad whites were treating blacks.
Page 5b:
Feyikemi: That’s pretty cool! Sounds like our people have done in the past! I can’t believe how easy things are for us now compared to what they used to be.
Page 6:
Mom: It’s been a very busy day for us celebrating Juneteenth. Everyone must be exhausted. What do you say, we all go home and get some sleep?
Grandma: I think thats a great idea. I can tell you another story before everyone goes to bed. Let’s head home!
Authors: Jessi Nelson, Kelly Schumacher, Hannah Gore, Amber Krause, Tess Botsford, Brenna Smith
Page 1:
Feyikemi: Wow! This Juneteenth celebration is super fun! I really enjoyed the dancing.
Simon: I still can’t believe that we’ve gone from the Fur Trade, to black community members founding Chilton and Freedom, and all the people who made contributions to our community! Black people have come a long way!
Grandma: We’ve come this far, but nothing can ever make up for all of the suffering our kinfolk had to go through.
Page 2a:
Simon I remember grandpa telling me something about a group of people called the KKK. Who were they?
Grandpa: The KKK, or the Ku Klux Klan, was a group of people who encouraged segregation by killing black people and targeting Catholic people.
Kid 2: But what does segregation mean?
Grandpa: Segregation is separating people based on their skin color. Many white businesses didn’t serve black people, and there were even different bubblers and bathrooms. The KKK was a group of white people who didn’t like anyone different than them.
Page 2b:
Feyikemi: If the KKK was hurting so many people, why did everyone stay?
Grandma: Actually, many people left! During this time, a lot of the black community that was here left the area for their own safety.
Page 3a:
Simon: But if everyone left, why are we here?
Grandpa: There were a few very brave black people who stayed to make a living. But it wasn’t easy for them! They had to deal with the constant fear of being hurt by the Ku Klux Klan and their followers.
Page 3b:
Grandma: Those who stayed also had to deal with the town being a sundown town.
Feyikemi: What’s a sundown town?
Grandma: Sundown towns were communities that required blacks to leave by sunset. If they didn't, the police could come arrest them.
Page 4a:
Simon: Was that really a law?!
Grandma: It wasn’t a law, but it was an unwritten rule that everyone followed. Many people found no problem with this because they feared the blacks in their community.
Feyikemi: Were all people as mean to blacks as the Ku Klux Klan and their supporters?
Grandma: No, not everyone was harsh to black people, there were those who supported black people and wanted to help. Lawrence College and area churches brought in important black people to talk about bringing equality to all people and build hope among the black community.
Page 4b:
Feyikemi: Any names I would know?
Grandma: Booker T. Washington was an black educator and advisor the U.S. Presidents. He came to the Fox Cities to give a speech at a church about black education. And musicians like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong played for the black community.
Page 5a:
Simon: So, how did this help bring hope to the black community?
Grandpa: Through sermons in the area churches and speakers talking against segregation, many white residents of the Fox Cities started to see how bad whites were treating blacks.
Page 5b:
Feyikemi: That’s pretty cool! Sounds like our people have done in the past! I can’t believe how easy things are for us now compared to what they used to be.
Page 6:
Mom: It’s been a very busy day for us celebrating Juneteenth. Everyone must be exhausted. What do you say, we all go home and get some sleep?
Grandma: I think thats a great idea. I can tell you another story before everyone goes to bed. Let’s head home!