Lakeside 212- Communications
All Research presented in this session had a theme of Civil Rights. All students were enrolled in Dr. Frances Ward-Johnson’s class, IDS 224: Disarming Injustice: Nonviolence and the Civil Rights Movement, and she served as their research mentors.
A Cross Cultural Comparison of Ethnic Narratives from the Civil Rights Movement
Olivia Hobbs, Bennet Driscoll, Gabrielle Vance and Nicole Balas
Going beyond just black and white, students conducted qualitative research on the varying narratives of different minorities during the Civil Rights Movement.
“Our goal was so examine the ethnic experiences and see how they were different or evolved over that time,” said sophomore researcher Olivia Hobbs.
The students interviewed six individuals form various ethnicities who grew up during the movement and analyzed the underlying commonalities and/or differences within each narrative.
The study found that it was often difficult for the individuals to reflect on their actions and experiences, though “all of them faced or saw prejudice” said Nicole Balas. Furthermore, all participants were “deeply saddened” by the lack of progression made in the civil rights movement within their time.
A Comparison and Contrast of Civil Rights Knowledge among elementary school students and college students
Janaé Williams, Shannon Rush
The educational information gap was analyzed between elementary and college age students on their knowledge of civil rights issues.
Students in grades four and five in the Alamance Burlington School System along with students in varying class years at Elon University were assessed of their knowledge through questions like, “What does that NAACP stand for?” They were then scored on a 5-point scale.
Based on the research and findings, elementary school students scored higher on their level of knowledge regarding the subject. The researchers found that there is a lack of civil rights education on a college level, and encouraged implementing solutions like more courses that address black and civil rights.
Beyoncé, The Superbowl and the Black Panther Party: A Content Analysis of the controversy surrounding the half-time salute to the militant group
Audrey Zullinger, Nathan Callem
Looking at the recurring words, symbols, and themes found in social media tweets during and after Beyoncé’s controversial Super bowl performance, students looked at the ways the pop musician paid tribute to the civil rights militant group the Black Panthers and civil rights leader Malcolm X.
By looking at the actual dance, the costumes, and the public’s reaction, the students concluded that the performance was a clear tribute to the influential leaders of the movement. They concluded that Beyoncé’s star power and prominence had a major impact on public perception of the issue, and raised both criticism and commencement.