In The Heat of the Night : Reflection

 In the Heat of the Night: Reflection

Introduction

Before we watched the film In the Heat of the Night, I thought it was going to be a drama that focused on racism while being made in the 1960s. I am heavily a fan of Sydney Poitier and have watched many of his films especially on TCM or MeTV. During the first 15 minutes I realized that this was going to be a crime mystery that would be heavily circulated around racism and societal issues at the time. But not only this I was captivated by how the characters must progress through the story through going against the systemic and societal barriers which were slowing the process of revealing the true perpetrator of the crime. Though even with this as one of the importances to the story it does not run out the importance of the characters especially through their relationships like Virgil and chief Gillespie.

Virgil Tibbs

The most predominant character of this amazing film is Virgil Tibbs which is casted by Sydney Poitier who's acting makes them come alive. Virgil Tibbs character shows how being great at what you do and that being of help can break boundaries that are put in place by society or hate. As he was in a town
during a murder in which he was accused of and then suddenly they realized he wasn't guilty. They saw that he was a high-ranking detective from up north but then suddenly needed his help for investigation. Virgil wasn't so compliant firstly because of their attitude towards him but later then helped them. Chief Gillespie started to see that Virgil was a good man who was brilliant at being a detective but wouldn't break through the racial barriers. Sydney Poitiers character goes through lots of racism while still trying to help out the department of the small town which shows his characters toughness and love for the law. By the end Virgil sees that his strength carried him through the discrimination which helped him get closer to Chief Gillespie in solving the case.

Chief Gillespie

Chief Gillespie is one of the main characters besides Virgil Tibbs that undergoes much character development by the end of the film. At first, I thought he was going to be the regular racist old Southern police man trope. But it seemed that his conflicts within him relied mostly on the societal values and culture of the town he belonged in. When he gets to know Virgil Tibbs, he quickly asks him for help and tries to investigate with him. When Virgil gets conformable especially at his house Gillespie quickly

shuts him down and stays close to his town's ideals. During the story he imprisoned the wrong people and was very quick to close the case and did not want to listen to Virgil Tibbs. At the climax of the story chief Gillespie sees that Virgil Tibbs is actually a great detective and would make a great friend and says goodbye to him.  This was shown that Gillespie was a man whose thoughts were influenced by those around him but really was a man who did believe in law and order.

Depiction of Woman

The Films depiction of Woman was shown through Mrs. Colbert and Ms. Purdy. Mrs. Colbert is seen as the wife of the man who was killed and wants justice of who killed him. Virgil Tibbs tells her in the beginning that the man they captured is not the murderer and Mrs. Purdy wants justice to the end. Ms.
Purdy is seen as a young independent woman who's flirting with Chief Gillespie and other characters is a characterization of the social norms of small southern towns. Both characters are depictions of woman in Southern towns especially through Mrs. Colbert who is seen as a rich Southern woman and Ms. Purdy as a poor young woman. 

Conclusion

This Film In the Heat of the Night made me see a broader depiction of the Southern Societal issues and cultural differences that lie in many of these towns. The main characters show the struggle of racism and the differences of gender that rely in culture that is deeply rooted in their lives. This film did not make men unconformable but reminded me of how many of these themes in the film are still apparent today in many lives North and South of the United States and even the world.

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Shadows of Reconstruction: Control, Resistance, and the Fight for Equality

The Black Codes: Freedom in Name

After the Civil War, Southern states passed Black Codes (1865–1866) to control the newly freed African Americans and maintain white supremacy. Although slavery had been abolished, these laws created a system designed to keep Black people bound by strict limitations on movement, employment, rights, and freedoms. The promise of true freedom was denied as these laws restricted nearly every aspect of daily life. The Northern public reacted with outrage, which led to the creation of the Freedmen’s Bureau (1865) and the Civil Rights Act of 1866. These efforts also helped pave the way for the 14th Amendment, granting citizenship and equal protection under the law. However, the spirit of the Black Codes lived on through later segregation laws, proving that legal freedom without equality was incomplete.

Carpetbaggers: Change and Controversy in the South

During Reconstruction (1865–1877), Carpetbaggers—Northern citizens who moved South after the war played a controversial role. Named after the cheap fabric of their luggage, they were often seen as opportunists seeking political or economic gain. Yet, their impact on Reconstruction was not entirely negative. Many helped to establish public school systems, modernize state constitutions, and promote infrastructure development. They also worked alongside freedmen and Southern Republicans to pass civil rights legislation. Despite these achievements, White Southerners viewed them with deep resentment, accusing them of corruption and exploitation. The hostility toward Carpetbaggers fueled violent groups like the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and contributed to the downfall of Reconstruction, eventually leading to the rise of Jim Crow laws.

The Ku Klux Klan: Fear as a Weapon

Racial Violence

Founded in 1865 in Tennessee by former Confederate soldiers, the Ku Klux Klan began as a secret social club but quickly transformed into a violent organization. Its main goal was to resist Reconstruction efforts and restore white supremacy across the South. The Klan used fear, intimidation, and brutal violence against African Americans and their supporters to suppress political participation
and civil rights. Their actions terrorized entire communities and undermined the progress made during Reconstruction, leaving a legacy of racial hatred and systemic inequality that persisted long after the era ended.

Lynching: Terror and the Struggle for Justice

In the decades following Reconstruction, lynching became one of the most horrifying tools of racial oppression. Between the 1880s and 1930s, over 4,000 documented Black victims were lynched across the South. These public acts of violence were used to enforce white supremacy and intimidate African Americans who sought justice, equality, or economic independence. Many of these lynchings involved community participation, and the perpetrators were rarely prosecuted. The trauma from this era left lasting scars and forced many Black families to flee the South in search of safety. Shockingly, a federal anti-lynching law wasn’t passed until 2022, marking how long justice was delayed.

Legacy of Reconstruction’s Dark Side

The Black Codes, Carpetbaggers, the KKK, and lynching all represent the harsh realities of the Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction era. While the nation promised freedom and equality, these systems and acts of violence worked to suppress progress and maintain racial hierarchy. Yet, each struggle also sparked resistance and reform, laying the groundwork for future civil rights movements. The legacy of Reconstruction reminds us that the fight for justice is not only about gaining freedom, it’s about protecting it.

AI Disclosure: Through looking over documents and posts over the the Reconstruction period, Jim Crow Laws, the Great Migration, slavery, violence, and sharecropping. I used Chat GPT to use all the notes I took of the presentations and information throughout class to make my Blogger post organized and accurate. I then reviewed all of the details and accuracy of the information that is put in this blogger post to be as accurate as possible.

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The Journey of Progress: African American Struggles and Triumphs After the Civil War

African American Family After the Civil War

Booker T. Washington: From Slavery to Leadership

Born in 1856, Booker T. Washington rose from the depths of slavery to become one of the most influential African American educators and leaders of his time. As a young boy, he worked in coal mines and taught himself how to read, showing early signs of determination and perseverance. At the age of sixteen, he traveled two miles to the Hampton Institute, where he worked as a janitor while pursuing his education. In 1885, Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute, an institution dedicated to providing African Americans with vocational and educational training. His 1895 Atlanta speech emphasized the importance of education and economic opportunity as the foundation for progress. Washington believed that self-improvement and education were the keys to uplifting African Americans. In 1901, he became the first Black leader to be invited to the White House by President Theodore Roosevelt. Although his views were challenged by W.E.B. Du Bois, who believed in directly confronting civil rights injustices, Washington’s life story continues to symbolize resilience and empowerment. He passed away in 1915, leaving behind a legacy of education and perseverance.

The Aftermath of Lincoln’s Assassination

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a moment that deeply changed the course of American history. Following Lincoln’s death, the Southern states enacted Black Codes—laws designed to maintain white supremacy and restrict the freedoms of newly freed African Americans. In response, Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts, which aimed to rebuild the South and protect the rights of former slaves. Lincoln’s 10% Plan had initially sought to reintegrate Southern states into the Union once 10% of their voters pledged loyalty. The 14th and 15th Amendments soon followed, granting citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, marking significant progress toward equality.

Sharecropping and Economic Struggles

After the Civil War, the system of sharecropping emerged as a way for freed slaves to work land owned by former slaveholders. Farmers, often African Americans, would rent plots of land and give a portion of their crops to landowners as payment. While this system seemed fair at first, it often trapped workers in cycles of debt and poverty. By 1850, only about thirty thousand Black Americans had managed to own land. Sharecropping became a tool to maintain economic control and reinforce white supremacy in the South, preventing many African Americans from achieving financial independence.

Black Political Participation During Reconstruction

Between 1865 and 1867, African Americans began to take on significant political roles during the Reconstruction Era. Many became lawmakers, sheriffs, and even members of Congress. The 15th Amendment declared that no citizen could be denied the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Black voters began to shape elections in the South, marking an era of political empowerment. However, Reconstruction ended in 1877, and with it came the rise of Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation and rolled back many of the rights African Americans had gained.

The Great Migration: A Journey to New Beginnings

From 1916 to 1970, millions of African Americans left the rural South in what became known as The Great Migration. Escaping racial violence, segregation, and limited economic opportunities, they moved to northern and western cities such as Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and even to California. This movement transformed the social and cultural landscape of America. By 1970, nearly half of all African Americans lived in northern cities, though they still faced segregation and discrimination in housing and employment. Despite these challenges, the Great Migration represented a powerful step toward building new lives and communities in search of freedom and opportunity.

AI Disclosure: Through taking notes to the presentations that were given by my classmates during class. I used ChatGPT to help construct this blogger post as accurately as possible to the information I was given and personally went over all the facts and events that took place.

Plessy v. Ferguson: Defending Segregation Through Southern Tradition and Law

Plessy v. Ferguson: Defending Segregation Through Southern Tradition and Law

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Introduction

In 1896, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, a landmark case that would shape the legal landscape of racial segregation for decades. At the heart of the case was Louisiana’s Separate Car Act of 1890, which mandated separate railway accommodations for white and Black passengers. Homer Plessy, a man of mixed race, deliberately violated this law to challenge its constitutionality. The Court, however, upheld the statute, establishing the doctrine of “separate but equal”—a principle that permitted racial segregation as long as facilities were deemed equal.

From the perspective of a lawyer defending the State of Louisiana, the justification for segregation rested not only on legal precedent but also on the deeply rooted history and traditions of the South. The Separate Car Act was not an arbitrary imposition; it reflected longstanding social customs and a desire to maintain public order. Southern society had evolved with distinct racial boundaries, shaped by centuries of cultural, religious, and economic factors. Segregation laws were seen as a means of preserving harmony between races, avoiding conflict in shared public spaces like trains, schools, and churches.

Before then

American Train Segregation

Historically, the post-Reconstruction South witnessed the rise of Jim Crow laws, which codified racial separation in nearly every aspect of public life. These laws were not merely expressions of prejudice but were viewed by many white Southerners as necessary for community stability. The Civil Rights Cases of 1883 had already limited federal oversight of private discrimination, reinforcing the idea that states had the authority to regulate social relations within their borders. In this context, Louisiana’s law was part of a broader effort to reflect the will of its citizens and uphold local customs.

Religion

Religion also played a significant role in shaping attitudes toward segregation. Many Southern churches were racially divided, and religious leaders often argued that worship should be conducted in racially homogeneous settings to avoid strife. The belief in Divine Providence was sometimes invoked to suggest that racial separation was part of a natural order, and that human laws should not compel unnatural mixing. This theological perspective lent moral weight to the legal arguments for segregation, reinforcing the notion that separation did not imply inferiority but rather respected cultural distinctions.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the defense of segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson was grounded in a complex web of legal precedent, social norms, and cultural beliefs. The Supreme Court’s ruling did not emerge in a vacuum—it reflected the prevailing attitudes of the time and the desire to maintain peace and order in a racially diverse society. While modern perspectives rightly challenge the morality and justice of such laws, understanding the historical context is essential for grasping how segregation was once defended as a legitimate exercise of state power.

AI Disclosure: Through using many sources and researching many topics regarding Plessy v. Ferguson and the societal standards of the time and place it was taking in. I used Claud AI to help construct this blogger post as accurately as possible to the information I was given and personally went over all the facts and events that took place.

Watching Gone With the Wind for the First Time

Review of Gone with the Wind

Artwork of Gone with the Wind

Introduction

For the first time I watched the 1939 film Gone with the Wind I was I have always heard about the movie and about how it won many awards for its groundbreaking storyline and characters. In many ways this movie is featured on Turner Classic Movies all the time and many older people have always considered it one of the best. I have never given it a watch due to me believing it would be boring or like most old movies have very complex storylines.

The Atlanta Bazaar

But when we watched it, I noticed at first the very broad depiction that it gave of Woman especially during its setting in the 1860s during the Civil War. Instead of showing the main character Scarlett O’ Hara foolishly in love it showed the emotions, feelings, and responsibility that a woman had to take during a war. Not only her but many other characters that were women in the movie that had a great depiction of their actions. The movie showed me that women's roles in society have always been overlooked or downplayed in their importance in society, especially as time went on and society changed. 

Scarlett O' Hara

Scarlett O'Hara

Scarlett O’ Hara's character was one that really showed how someone can be strong and have a change of character during the whole book. In the beginning she was shown as a rich, ungrateful, and arrogant Lady of a rich southern family. Especially through her actions towards other men and woman and in her words used a lot at the beginning. But in the middle of the story, she was shown to be courageous and able to stand up for herself and her family. Not only this but able to take a leading means as a woman in a time where that attitude was carried by men. This proved that she was not only a strong person but a strong woman regardless of her flaws and actions.

The Truth of War

The Film showed war as realistically and truthfully as it could be put. That for nothing comes from war except death, violence, and grieving. During the aftermath of the battle, there was a shot of soldiers
dead and much sadness. Not only this but families hearing that their loved ones

Aftermath of the Battle of Atlanta

didn't make it and were accepting grieving. To my realization I saw that not many films are able to capture the truth of war especially in less than the given time needed. The loss of Scarlett O’ Hara returning back to her home and trying to get her loved ones out of Atlanta.

Cultural Issues

Mammy the maid

    The Movie depicted American Society very well especially for a 1930s movie set in the 1860s. Through the scene of women and especially African Americans. Especially seen through Mammy who is excellent portrayal of a strong black woman whose occupation is a maid which shows the abilities of getting a job as an African American during her time. Also, the Southern ideologies that are portrayed much differently than the North especially its culture and beliefs.

Conclusion

    In conclusion, the film Gone with the Wind is a very amazing story that is a great depiction of woman and society. The brilliant use of removing the blanket off the truth of society and the roles people play that have been ignored since the beginning of time. Also, how the movies the realness of war and that the story perceives itself as serious as possible which is the reason why its point comes across very well.

Henry Winter Davis, Maryland Abolitionist

Henry Winter Davis: The Radical Abolitionist Who Transformed Maryland

Maryland Flag

From Slaveholder to Abolitionist: A Remarkable Transformation

Henry Winter Davis

Henry Winter Davis stood before his Maryland constituents as a man transformed by war and conscience. The congressman who once dismissed abolitionists as "ignorant fanatics" had become the driving force behind slavery's destruction in his home state. His journey from slaveholder to radical abolitionist represents one of the Civil War era's most dramatic political evolutions.

Born into a slaveholding family in 1817, Davis inherited the institution he would later work to destroy. His father, an Episcopal minister and college president, had planned to emancipate his slaves but never followed through. Young Henry attended Kenyon College where he associated with Southern students and developed strong anti-abolitionist views. This background makes his later transformation all the more remarkable.

The Civil War shattered Davis's illusions about slavery and the Union. By 1862, his convictions had become increasingly radical. He supported emancipation in Washington D.C., urged Congress to redistribute Confederate property among former slaves, and called on Lincoln to arm African-American soldiers. His most significant achievement came in 1864 when he became the driving force behind abolishing slavery in Maryland. When Maryland's new constitution took effect on November 1, 1864, it permanently prohibited slavery in the state.

The Wade-Davis Bill and Conflict with Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Davis believed that Congressional Reconstruction must be harsh and uncompromising. Alongside Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio, he authored the Wade-Davis Bill in February 1864. This legislation required that 50 percent of voters swear oaths of past loyalty before a state could be readmitted to the Union. The bill mandated complete slavery abolition and disenfranchised important Confederate officers.

President Lincoln's pocket veto of the Wade-Davis Bill on July 2, 1864, infuriated Davis. He and Senator Wade responded with a manifesto on August 4 denouncing Lincoln for overstepping executive authority. Davis declared that Lincoln's lenient "Ten Percent Plan" would leave slavery unimpaired in reconstructed states. He famously proclaimed that "when I came into Congress ten years ago this was a government of law. I have lived to see it a government of personal will."

Fighting for Complete Emancipation and Equal Rights

Abolitionist and the Slave

Despite his conflicts with Lincoln, Davis achieved a crucial victory on January 31, 1865, when he helped secure passage of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery throughout the country. He understood that constitutional amendment provided the only guarantee against slavery's restoration. By July 1865, Davis had publicly advocated for African-American suffrage, arguing that men who proved themselves equals on the battlefield deserved equality at the ballot box.

Davis believed former slaves must gain political power to protect their own freedom. He envisioned
freedmen forming the nucleus of a southern Republican Party with voting rights, property rights, and legal protections. True emancipation required more than simply ending bondage—it demanded full citizenship.

Henry Winter Davis died of pneumonia on December 30, 1865, at age 48. He never saw his vision of racial equality realized. But his uncompromising fight to destroy slavery and his insistence that Reconstruction serve justice rather than political expediency established him as one of the Civil War's most consequential Radical Republicans. Maryland's transformation from slave state to free state stands as his enduring legacy.

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The Legacy and Struggles of Slavery

The Legacy and Struggles of Slavery

Slaves cutting sugar cane

John C. Calhoun

John C. Calhoun, a leading Southern politician, built much of his reputation on defending slavery. He called it a “necessary institution” and argued that the Constitution protected states’ rights to keep it. While Calhoun’s words left a lasting political legacy, today his defense of slavery is remembered with deep criticism, showing how leaders once justified injustice in the name of law.

Day to Day life of Slaves

The day-to-day life of enslaved people showed the harsh reality behind those defenses. Most slaves began working before sunrise and continued late into the night. Their labor was endless, leaving little time for family or personal rest. Homes were rough, often with dirt floors and leaks. A few slaves received small privileges if they worked in households or as overseers, but for most, life was filled with hardship and exhaustion.

The Antebellum Slave Market

Slave markets in the antebellum South were places of cruelty and heartbreak. Families were torn apart as men, women, and children were sold on platforms to the highest bidder. Personal connections meant nothing to buyers. These separations left lasting scars on communities, but they also revealed the resilience of those who endured.

Escaped Slaves and the Consequences

Despite the dangers, many enslaved people tried to escape. Guided by the stars, they risked everything for freedom. Bounty hunters with dogs tracked them, but some strangers offered food, shelter, and directions. Each attempt showed that hope was stronger than fear, even when the law stood against them.

Slavery in England

Slavery was not unique to America. In Britain, the fight for abolition took hold in the late 1700s. James Somerset’s case in 1772 challenged slavery’s legality, and William Wilberforce pushed Parliament to act. In 1807, the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed, a major step toward ending slavery in the empire.

From Calhoun’s defense to the bravery of escapees and the fight in Britain, slavery’s legacy still shapes our history.

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