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Many Rivers to Cross
African-American history has played an integral role in the shaping of politics, economics, and culture in the United States. Growing up, how did you learn about the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans? Were you in a classroom? Reading a book? Talking with relatives or friends? How has your understanding or knowledge of African-American history changed and/or developed over time? What do you think is the most effective way to pass along this rich and growing history to future generations?

Haskell Anderson

Dear Mr Henry Louis Gates Jr.,
I think that your film, Many Rivers to Cross, will change my life forever. Before I saw your film, I thought that racisim meant two separate water fountains, or two separate schools. But now that I’ve watched your film, I think of parents killing their own children because slavery was so bad. I think of grown men squeezing into closets that only babies could fit into, because they had to get away from the south. I think of lynchings. I think of assasinations. I think of police brutality. I think of bravery and peace. And I always think that we have more work to do.
If everybody sees this film, I think it would change some peoples views. Those people would also help us march peacfully, like Martin Luther King Jr. did. He would have wanted us to mkarch peacfully once again. I think he knew it wouldent stop. And he would have wanted us to use his strategy, peace. His stradegy is the most efficient. Whites wouldent be able to attack the blacks in a march, because the blacks never touched someone, or harmed someone.
Eric garner wopuld have wanted us to march. Michael Brown would have wanted us to march. Ida b Wells would have wanted us to march. Billie Holliday would have wanted us to march. Jacob Lawrence would have wanted us to march. Everybody who was killed, or assainated, or lynched, would have wanted us to march. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have wanted us to march. That’s why this documentary is so important. If every body sees it, then they will wnt to march too.
Whoever said that blacks and whites are separate but equal, was proved wrong. He was proved wrong by everybody who marched. Everybody who fought proved him wrong. Everybody who got killed proved him wrong. We are all proud that we proved this racist man wrong.
I always wish that Dr. Martin Luther Jr. was here with us today. He would have marched with us untill the day he died. He would’ve helped us with are struggles. But no. He was assasinated by a crazy man who dissagreed with him. Oh the world that we live in. We should all have enough common sense to know not to kill someone. Oh the world that we live in.

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