by Wilfredo

Martin Luther King Jr. was a black person who was fighting for freedom. He was born on January 15, 1929. He had the same name as his father except his father was Martin Luther King Sr. Martin Luther King Sr. was a minister. Martin Luther King Jr. thought his dad’s speeches were great. He wanted to be just like his father and became a minister too.

Martin Luther King Jr. as a minister, was trying to make a difference by helping black people get treated fairly and like white people. White people could do basically whatever they wanted to do. Black people, however, went to different schools and water fountains.

One day in 1962, Martin Luther King Jr.’s home was bombed by a group of white people. His home was broken and smashed, so he could not live in it. He had no home.

In the year of 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot during a speech. It was his last speech ever in history.

Questions Wilfredo would ask Martin Luther King

Labels: king, peace-freedom-justice, wilfredo

by Dantoine

In 1922, Gandhi was in prison for 2 years. He was there from 1922 to 1924. Once, Gandhi got kicked off of a train by a white man because he was supposed to sit in third class and he was in first class. He refused to move and got kicked off.

When Gandhi was 13 he was married to Kasturbai. When Gandhi died his ashes were mixed with rose petals. I wrote about Gandhi because he was a peaceful man and he really tried to help people.

Questions Dantoine would ask Gandhi

Labels: dantoine, gandhi, peace-freedom-justice

by Bridget

Mary knew many things, one of those things was teaching. Yes, that is only one of her amazing talents.

In 1875, she was born in Maysville. After a couple years, she was taken to a school, which was against the law back then. Mary McLeod wanted to read because she had a book and she wanted to read it. She knew that other children wanted to read too.

All of her teachers liked her and gave her money and scholarships. She also made things and that made money. Soon she made enough money to buy a school. Then she taught at her own school when she was an adult.

She started putting up posters. Later 5 girls came. They looked very eager to learn. She taught her students to sing. Then she met a rich man that gave her enough money to make a singing hall called Nathaniel Hall. Her students sang there every day. Soon they made a second Nathaniel Hall across the street from the old Nathaniel Hall that was fireproof.

Another school liked what she taught her students so much that they asked if she would teach at their school and she did. She taught them many things.

Mary McLeod was also a very important person because:

1. She stood up to the Ku Klux Klan

2. She had many adventures.

3. She taught a black school.

4. She made many important speeches.

If you would like to learn more about this hero read about her in the book, Mary McLeod. She wanted to read.

Questions Bridget would ask Mary McLeod Bethune

Labels: bethune, bridget, education, peace-freedom-justice

by Bridget

• Why were you so peaceful?

• When did you make the school for black children?

• How would you describe yourself?

• Why did you want to make a school for black children?

• Why were you so interested in your friend's doll?

Labels: ask-a-hero, bethune, bridget, education, peace-freedom-justice

by Cole

Frederick Douglass was a freedom fighter. He was born a slave in Maryland and the date was 1817. His dad died and his mom was out of sight so he lived with his grandparents. When his Grandma sent him to his Master’s plantation. The Master was very mean. For dinner the slaves only got a piece of cornbread. The Master was too mean and also didn’t let Frederick learn anything. His wife was very nice and tried to teach him to read and write.

Frederick fought with his Master to help all of the slaves get away. He fought with his fist against him. The Master used his whip. Fredrick Douglass believed in civil rights and helped people get out of slavery and gave freedom to all. When he was older he was a pastor and went to church. When he was a slave he could not go to church.

I had questions about Frederick Douglass while I read this book. What did he eat? Did he have a job? Did he break free? Did he see his mother again? Did he get to know his dad very well? Did he work? I can answer those questions. He ate one piece of corn bread a day. Yes, he did have a job. Yes, he did break free. He did see his mother again. He didn’t get to know his dad. Other facts I learned about Frederick Douglass are:

1. He was a freedom fighter.
2. He worked for civil rights.
3. He was a pastor.
4. He led people to the path of liberty.
5. He helped milk the cows.
6. Because he was a slave he was only given knee length shirts.
7. Slaves had to wake up before sunrise.
8. Once Fred had a surprise visitor…Mom his mom gave him a Ginger cake because he didn’t get anything not one crumb for dinner so that’s why he got the ginger cake.
9. From than on Fred knew that his mom loved him and was always thinking about him.
10. People were holding signs like freedom for slaves and abolish slavery and more like free slavery.

Labels: cole, douglass, peace-freedom-justice

by Cole

• How did you break free from slavery?

• Where did you travel?

• Where did you eat when you were running away

• How did you get directions North?

• Where did you work when you went North?

Labels: ask-a-hero, cole, douglass, peace-freedom-justice

by Dantoine

• What was your life like?

• Why were you so shy and afraid of things?

• What was it like getting kicked off the train?

• What was it like in prison?

• Was it hard to be peaceful and help others be peaceful too?

Labels: ask-a-hero, dantoine, gandhi, peace-freedom-justice

by Meredith

Jesse Jackson was born October 8, 1941. He was born in Greenville, South Carolina. He helped Martin Luther King Jr. change the world by making the white people treat black people the way they should be treated – nicely.

When Jesse Jackson was a kid he went to a water fountain to get a drink. A white man came by and said. “You can’t drink from there. This is only for the whites.” So that wasn’t fair for Jesse.

Jesse was important because he helped Martin Luther King Jr. change the world by making whites be fair and getting rid of the slums. Jesse got put into jail because he led a protest march down the main street of Greensboro. In 1965, Marin Luther King Jr. went to Selma, Alabama. He led a protest march there on June 30, 1968.

Jesse became a minister. He could now be called Reverend Jesse Jackson. He led many marches. One was a march against hunger. Jesse believed that all people should have food including poor people.

I enjoyed reading about Jesse Jackson. He was an interesting person to learn about.

What Meredith would ask Jesse Jackson

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Labels: jackson, meredith, peace-freedom-justice

by Meredith

• Did you like changing the world?

• Did you live in South Carolina?

• What day did you marry?

• When did your mother and father die?

Labels: ask-a-hero, jackson, meredith, peace-freedom-justice

by Wilfredo

• Did you feel like you were a good person?

• Were you related to Rosa Parks?

• What religion were you?

• Did you want to become famous and change the world?

• Do you think you made great speeches?

Labels: ask-a-hero, king, peace-freedom-justice, wilfredo

by David

Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to elementary, high school, and college in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a peacekeeper. He helped pepole. There were certain rules then like Whites rode in the front of the bus and blacks rode in the back. The rules weren't fair. This needed to change.

Martin was a Minister. He visited sick people to make them feel better. He worked at a church. In church, the rules didn’t matter. The color of people didn’t matter.

Martin Luther King Jr. died in 1968. He helped all kinds of people. Martin fought with words. Now some people get along. He was awesome!! He made a difference. The person who wrote this is a peacekeeper inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.

Questions David would ask Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Labels: david, king, peace-freedom-justice

by David

• How did you become a minister?

• When did you decide to be a peacekeeper?

• Were you nervous to speak in front of so many people?

• Were you a minister for a long time?

• How did you reach your goals?

Labels: ask-a-hero, david, king, peace-freedom-justice

by John F.

Jackie Robinson was one of the greatest baseball players ever. He proved that he would change the world so that black people got to play baseball.

When Jackie was little his mother made him a rag ball. Jackie liked it so much that sometimes he talked to it. Jackie named his rag ball “Rags.” After a little while, Jackie made believe he was a big league player. Jackie hit his ball with a stick, and the ball split apart. Bits and pieces of colored cloth exploded out of it and scattered everywhere.

This man named, Branch Rickey, told Jackie that he needed a player that had the courage to not fight back. Jackie knew that people would call him names. But he said “O.K.” They shook hands. Branch asked Jackie if he had a special friend. Jackie said. “ I sure do. She a great girl, and her name is Rachel.” Jackie then said they planned on getting married soon.

On Jackie’s first game, the other team put a black cat on the field and said “Hey Jackie, here’s your cousin. He’s black too.” Jackie got so mad, but he remembered what Branch said. “ I’m looking for a player with enough courage to not fight back.”

I chose Jackie Robinson because I am really interested in baseball. I am also interested in how he broke the color barrier. I am proud that he broke the color barrier. I know it was hard to for him.

Questions John F. would ask Jackie Robinson

Labels: johnf, peace-freedom-justice, robinson, sports

by John F.

• How did you feel when you broke the color barrier?

• How did you feel when people were calling you bad names?

• How did you manage not to fight back?

• Why did you choose baseball as your favorite sport?

• Did you play Little League when you were little?

Labels: ask-a-hero, johnf, peace-freedom-justice, robinson, sports