Week #4 Plessy vs Ferguson

In 1896 there was a case that involved Homer Plessy versus the Supreme Court judge Ferguson.  This case was about the “separate but equal” law.  Plessy was arrested for sitting on a white only area where blacks were not allowed to sit down, and was thrown off the train and booked to jail.  He later fought his case, but he failed to defend his case.  “The American Negro demands equality- political equality, industrial equality, and social equality; and he is never going to rest satisfied with anything less.” (p.41)  According to W.E.B. DuBois this relates closely to “Plessy vs. Ferguson” because what Plessy wanted was to be treated equal.  He knew what was going to happen to him if he sat in a white only area, but he believe he had equal amount of rights as the white man to sit anywhere he please because he paid to be there.  So he was not satisfied given the fact that he was removed from his spot, and later on arrested.  He fought for his civil rights.

Metacognitive Reflection

            Brayan Alvarado

            So some of the reading habits I have created for myself is when I am in my room, I must shut off every electronic.  I get distracted so easily, so easy that if someone text messages me; I forget what I previously read.  I can’t focus if there is noise or notifications ringing on my phone.  I must completely isolate myself from everything and everyone in order to fully focus.  Even while I am reading I must read the same line two or three times in order to full understand it.  I learned how important it is to highlight certain materials of the text in order to remember what I have read.  But once I am finished reading I could always look back on my notes and see what I previously read or wrote down that has importance.  I believe that the best time for me to fully be concentrated, to read is late at night when I lay in bed because I could easily grab a book and read it without any distractions.

Owl Creek Bridge

            Brayan Alvarado

            “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” is a short story about a southern man by the name of Peyton Farquhar.  This story takes place during the civil war.  Mr. Farquhar was a slave owner, and was devoted to the southern cause, and would help the confederates anyway he could to defeat the union.  But during scene III the author changes the verb tense and makes the scene very interesting.  So in the following blog I will be describing why the author wrote the scene, what the purpose is, and how the scene contributes to the meaning of the story.

            First, the reason the author wrote this scene is because he wanted to show the audience the point of view of a southern confederate.  Many people know the union’s point of view was to preserve the union and keep the states united.  But many didn’t know what it is like to be a confederate southerner.  So the scene describes what Peyton Farquhar last thoughts were before he was going to die and shows his emotion and surrounding moments before his death.

            Secondly, the purpose of this scene was to create the environment and scene in which a man’s final thoughts are, right before his death.  “At last he found a road which led him in what he knew to be the right direction.” (p.38)  A description in which the author uses, a shift of story where the reader believes it’s a dream.  The purpose is to make the audience use their mind to determine whether he is dreaming or still alive, or awake.

            Thirdly, the way this scene contributes to the meaning of the story, because the author reveals that his whole struggle of escaping was just an idea of what he had moments before his death.   The author uses present tense to make the ready visualize the emotion and surroundings Farquhar felt during his last moments.  “As he is about to clasps her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck; a blinding white light blazes all about him with a sound like the shock of a cannon, then all is darkness and silence!” (p.39)  An example of the present tense the author uses as Farquhar is about to grab his wife, death was upon him and just dies.

            In conclusion, “owl creek” is a short story that educates us about the civil war and what a southerner’s point of view is.  Not only does it teach us about the civil war, but also on how we are all humans and think alike regardless what side we are on.  So I have just described why the author wrote the scene, what the purpose is, and how the scene contributed to the meaning of the story.

Plessy Vs Ferguson

Christopher Gibson

Josh Overton

Gabriel Moreno

Brayan Alvarado

Plessy Vs. Ferguson

            The aftermath of the US Supreme Court ruling favoring Ferguson over Plessy in 1896 upheld the constitutionality of state laws, like Jim Crow Laws, under the doctrine “separate but equal” (Divine, Robert A, Pg 223). For what has been manipulated since their adoption during the 1860’s, the said Amendments were once again misinterpreted to regulate civil rights of colored citizens and promote mental self preservation amongst white men of that time. The firm understanding and support provided by Associate Justice John Marshall Harlan (The lone dissenting opinion) confirmed that the “court ignored the obvious purpose of the Separate Car Act” (Encyclopedia Britannica) passed by Louisiana in 1890. The “act imposed a badge of servitude” upon African Americans based on enforcing segregated cars on trains which are equal in assembly, but “presuppose the inferiority of African Americans” (Encyclopedia Britannica). Adolph Plessy should not have been denied access or give up rights based on the existing constitution. This argues that the Louisiana act directly violated the 13^th Amendment by enforcing second tier classes among citizens based on color, thus “imposing a badge of servitude” and verifying its unconstitutionality.

            Among the many view points and strategies used to bring light to the court was the 14^th Amendment.  Adolph Plessy argued the state violated the “Equal Protection Clause” that should have overturned Louisiana’s ruling and abolished the segregation act in place. As stated in “America Past and Present” section 1 “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” also “nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (Divine, Robert A, A-12). This suggests that all American born individuals are citizens of the United States; therefore, are protected by the constitution which is not prejudice. John Harlan believed the “constitution is color-blind and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law” (Encyclopedia Britannica). Based on the expressed mind set, John Harlan seemed to be a man well ahead of his time through logic and interpretation of the constitution. The constitution should not be manipulated leisurely to comfort the political majority of any generation, but instead acknowledged and practiced as guidelines for equality amongst all citizens no matter their color.

Works Cited:

Divine, Robert A. "Appendix" America Past and Present. Upper Saddle River, NJ:

Pearson Education/Longman, 2011. A-12.

Divine, Robert A. "Page 223" America Past and Present. Upper Saddle River, NJ:

Pearson Education/Longman, 2011. A-12.

“Plessy V. Ferguson.”  Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online,

                Encyclopedia Britannica Inc, 2012. Web.