Assignment One

C.P. Ellis
Ellis had grown up poor, and had been sucked into the cycle of poverty, much as his father had. Ellis was frustrated because no matter how hard he worked, he could never make enough money. Intrestingly, he found that it was easy to put the blame on African Americans, like the klan had. He ended up joining the klan, because in the klan, he was able to advance in society, unlike his life outside of the klan, as he became the president of his klan chapter. The most remarkable thing about Ellis however, was his open mindedness. It is easy to assume that since Ellis was a klan member, that he lacked empathy and wasn't open to new ideas. However, Ellis rose up to the challenge of reforming segregation in the schools, and with an African American as his partner, he began to see African Americans as equal. He used his newfound ideals to inspire change in the world, by becoming a civil rights activist, and a trade union organizer.
Ellis was an empathetic man, but because of his life's circumstances, had joined the klan not out of racism, but out of a need for acceptance. To me he is an example of change in South,  as people grew more accepting of African Americans. People judged out of hate, and ignorance, but as Ellis had shown, that it takes courage. To learn and accept something that one had preconcieved notions about, is a symbol of courage and hope, and one that he wanted other Southerners to embelish.

Andy Johnson
Johnson was an immigrant who had came to America. He was fired for speaking his mind and calling for a fair working system. He was then barred from all mining companies, making it impossible for him to find work.
Johnson talked about the American Dream, and how he thought it was possible, but not at the rate that the country was heading 1906. He said "If we continue at the current trend we're gonna go straight to hell...It's up to the people" (42). He stated how the gap in wealth between people made life wonderful for some, while miserable for others. What Johnsonwanted was for people to all have the same opportunities for success, so that everybody could live a great life, not just those who profited off those who didn't have an opportunity. Johnson emodies the feelings of hope for change in America, as he knows that we have the ability to be great, we just needed to do something about it otherwise we're heading for disaster. As Johnson said " I see a wonderful future for humanity, or the end of it." (42)