EOTO & Mock Trial Reax II

It was nice to be on the side of the journalist for the first time during one of our class presentations. I got to hear some great points of view and learn a lot about the traumatizing and important case of Plessy v Ferguson. The side defending Ferguson obviously would have lost if this trial took place in today's world but if you put your mind to 1896 it would be a very even match. Although Plessy's side brought up very good points I think that they lost the trial. 

Plessy's side brought up some great points and they seemed to use the constitution a lot in their arguments. Although it makes sense to bring up a document that clearly states we are equal but that was not the case. I learned that there was actually a train car law in the state of Louisiana called The separate car act of 1890. Since Homer Plessy was even the slightest black (1/8th) he could not sit in the "whites only" train car.  

I was fascinated to hear one of my classmates say that if it is okay for a mammy to raise and nurture a master's child then how can both races not sit next to each other on a train. I did not know that a mammy was a real thing and that it was very common for a black female slave to basically raise a slaveowner's child.

Since I was on the EOTO side this time I had the chance to dive deep into the anti-black riots of the south after The Civil War. I mostly touched on the Memphis Massacre and I was in awe because of some of the gruesome stuff I learned about it. 

To sum it up I think both sides made some very challenging and thoughtful arguments to the case and I am always impressed to hear a fact that I did not know about. the history of the U.S never fails to shock me in good and bad ways but mostly bad.