Transcript
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JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): This year there was many times where I thought about dropping the class. And I remember we had to like, sell like, bake sale stuff to like, get money. And, like, this Black girl was there and she was like, thank you for doing this because, like, you make me want to do this. And like, I am about to cry but, like, I just really think that, like, I’m glad I stayed because, like, me doing this will help encourage other people like to do it.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: What role does the media play in shaping the narrative concerning civil disobedience?
JOURNEYLOVE: The media plays a crucial role in determining the narrative for this. In the civil rights movement the Children’s March on Birmingham was televised, and this showed the chaos that the police were inciting on the protesters and caused J.F.K. to start the initiative to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): Being one of two black people in the class is just like crazy.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: A law which we eventually decide is a bad law?
JOURNEYLOVE: A protester must be willing to accept the consequences of their actions.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): Because I feel like Tosa West is a very diverse school, but, like in programs like this and sadly AP programs, like, I don’t know why there’s just a lack of representation.
CHAD MATESKE: That was that was amazing. That was awesome. That was phenomenal. It was all the compliments that you heard them say.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): Because, like, two is flipping insane. Like, actually, like it’s insane.
COACH: I got nothing to say, you guys absolutely crushed it.
COACH: Well done everybody.
COACH: You absolutely crushed it.
COACH: I’m so proud.
BEN: I’m not crying, you’re crying.
VERONICA TAYLOR (JOURNEYLOVE’S MOTHER): But like he said, y’all know all these amendments in this constitution, you all have to use this. You have to. This is just, this is beyond a semester of school.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): And like, that really is my motivation, especially to get into politics, because, like, really, like I want to make a difference and like, I really, like this cannot be America. Like, we got to lock in and like, seriously have a difference in our world.
(END)
Citizen Nation: How the Media Shaped the Narrative of Civil Rights and Disobedience
Journeylove Taylor reflects on the power of representation as she prepares for and competes in the national We the People finals.
Taylor argues that the media had a significant impact on the modern Civil Rights Movement by broadcasting images for the country to see. Taylor knows that representation can be powerful, particularly when she’s told, “You make me want to do this,” by a Black classmate who sees her participating in the We the People program.
This is an excerpt from ‘Citizen Nation,’ a four-part coming-of-age story that follows teenagers from across the U.S. with diverse personal and political backgrounds as they come together to compete in the nation’s premier civics competition, We the People. Watch the full hour or watch the series.
The resources were funded in part by the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics Award from the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
The We the People program is conducted by the Center for Civic Education.
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- Series Creator: Bret Sigler
- Director: Singeli Agnew
- Supervising Producer: Veronika Adaskova
- Series and Episode Lead Editor: Benji Kast
- Field Producer: Emily Orr
- Field Producer: Wesley Harris
- Associate Producer: Cole Cahill
- Post Production Supervisor: Cullen Golden
Grades
6-12
1 Lesson Plan
