Question

analyze a mural about civil rights
directions
read the instructions for this self-checked activity. submit your response to each question, and check your answers. at the end of the activity, complete the final item to connect and reflect on your work.
activity
you have learned the historical background for a mural in birmingham, alabama, and learned how to analyze visual material.
now, you will upload an artwork of your own about the civil rights movement of the 1970s. it can be a drawing, a piece of writing, or a collage.
think about your own examples of symbolism. if you were to create artwork representing the civil rights movement of the 1970s, what would it be? what kind of artwork would you create? be sure to explain the symbolism in the artwork.
use the box below to type up your response.

Explanation:

I will create a mixed-media collage centered on 1970s Civil Rights. Key symbols include:

1. A faded 1970s "VOTE" button: Represents the push for voting rights protections like the 1970 Voting Rights Act amendments, which expanded access for marginalized groups.
2. A cracked but still standing oak tree: Symbolizes the resilience of the movement, as activists faced backlash but continued fighting for equality after earlier 1960s gains.
3. A stack of books including The Autobiography of Malcolm X and works by Angela Davis: Highlights the intellectual and ideological evolution of the movement in the 1970s, focusing on Black power and intersectional justice.
4. A pair of work boots next to a college diploma: Represents the fight for economic equity and educational access, core priorities of 1970s civil rights organizing.
5. A faint outline of a multiracial crowd: Signals the growing coalition-building across diverse groups in the movement.

Answer:

I would create a mixed-media collage.

• Core symbols and their meaning:

1. Faded 1970s "VOTE" button: Stands for expanded voting rights efforts via 1970 Voting Rights Act amendments.
2. Cracked but upright oak tree: Symbolizes the movement's resilience amid ongoing backlash.
3. Books by Malcolm X and Angela Davis: Represents the 1970s shift toward Black power and intersectional justice ideologies.
4. Work boots + college diploma: Highlights fights for economic equity and educational access.
5. Multiracial crowd outline: Signals cross-group coalition-building in the era's movement.