What I learned from the EOTO

 What I Learned From the EOTO

Throughout the EOTO presentations, I learned a variety of different things. For example, as we were arguing for Brown in our mock trial, it was my understanding that all schools in Topeka, Kansas had not been integrated at any level. With the ruling in Brown V. Board, I thought that all schools would become desegregated. However, to my surprise, I learned that elementary schools in Topeka, Kansas had already been integrated and desegregated, making our case for Brown even stronger. Of course, there were also many other topics that were covered in the EOTO that I also learned a lot from. Before the EOTO, I had a vague idea of who Bull Connor was in my head, but I didn't know too much about him. During the presentation, I learned that it was very ironic that he was the commissioner of public safety when he released attack dogs on civil rights protestors and sprayed them with the crushing force of fire hoses. I also learned more about the murder of Emmet Till and how his death help propel the civil rights movement forward. I thought it was very surprising and interesting how his mother requested an open casket burial so that everyone, including news sources, could see how he was brutally murdered. It was also interesting to me that the prank he supposedly pulled in the convenience store never happened, making it look like it was just an angry, racist white man killing an innocent black child. This EOTO provided great insight and information to the negatives and positives of the Civil Rights Era.