August 28, 1963: The Civil Rights March on the National Mall

Credit: National Archives (U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service.)
Who: Leaders of the Civil Rights March [from left to right: Mathew Ahmann, Executive Director of the National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice; Cleveland Robinson, Chairman of the Demonstration Committee; A. Philip Randolph, organizer of the demonstration, veteran labor leader who helped to found the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, American Federation of Labor (AFL), and a former vice president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO); Rabbi Joachim Prinz, President of the American Jewish Congress; Joseph Rauh, Jr, a Washington, DC attorney and civil rights, peace, and union activist; John Lewis, Chairman, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; and Floyd McKissick, National Chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality.]
What: Civil Rights March on the National Mall
Where: The Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
When: August 28, 1962

Credit: National Archives (U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service.)
Who: Civil Rights Marchers
What: The Civil Rights March on Washington, DC
Where: Washington, DC
When: August 28, 1963

Credit: National Archives (U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service.)
Who: Roy Wilkins, Executive Secretary of the NAACP
What: Speech at the Civil Rights March
Where: Washington, DC
When: August 28, 1963

Credit: National Archives (U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service.)
Who: Sydney Poitier, Harry Belafonte and Charleton Heston
What: Civil Rights March
Where: Washington, DC
When: August 28, 1963

Credit: National Archives (U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service.)
Who: Civil Rights Marchers
What: Civil Rights March
Where: Washington, DC
When: August 28, 1963

Four Web site Evaluations

The University of Virginia’s “Valley of the Shadow” Web site provides a resource for Civil War historians.  The introduction page is useful in that it explains “The Valley Project” and what it actually is.  The home page is structured interestingly, providing three portals labeled “The Eve of the War,” “The War Years” and “The Aftermath.”  If you are researching on a specific topic, like the causes of the war, then it is easy to access.  I like that the navigation is set up almost like a library directory.   There are three floors, and the sections are divided up among the floors, with the site map conveniently located at the bottom.  As far as content goes, there is almost too much.  I think this sight is designed for historians who are looking for specific information or are researching a specific topic; it is almost impossible to “casually browse” the Web site. 

The History Channel’s Web site, conversely, attracts the historians from novice to expert.  It clearly is provided ultimately to promote the channel’s programs, and attract viewers.  It is a resource for almost every history topic one could think of.  The home page provides a revolving flash of featured videos and upcoming television programs, with a “Today’s Video Picks” menu on the side, providing variety everyday.  There are two navigation menus, which seems a little confusing, but at a closer glance one can see that the two provide different information.  The side navigation menu divides the Web site into three sections: channels; topics; and resources.   These sections cover the majority of the Web site’s visitors: History Channel watchers; the general public; and historians.  The top navigation system divides the Web site up more extensively, providing resources for viewers, children, teachers, the general public, shoppers, etc.  All in all, HistoryChannel.com provides a general, expansive web of information, including everything from shopping for historical non-fiction and DVDs to learning about the origins of the Crimean War.

DoHistory.org is more of an interactive, teaching Web site, differing form the previous two Web sites.  It is established to enable visitors to “explore the process of piecing together the lives of ordinary people in the past.”  The Web site uses a case study (the book and film “A Midwife’s Tale) in order to explore the process of research.  In my opinion, the best elements about this Web site are the links to other resources.  The case study provides a great example.  However, the links to other Web sites provide the most useful information, such as the Step-by-Step Guide to Oral History.  Additionally, it provides many other links to “How-to” guides.  Ultimately, it is a good starting place that is well-researched.  It provides links to accurate and comprehensive guidelines for historiographies and allows historians the tools to study history in a more creative, digital way.

The National Museums of American History’s Web site shows history in an entirely different light.  At first glance, it is obvious that artifacts and tangible items are the center stage of its historical exploration.  The Web site offers descriptions of in-house exhibitions, as well as actual on-line exhibitions, which makes the Web site more exclusive.  While promoting the museum is its primary function, the Web site also provides useful resources and plenty of historical information regarding past, current and future exhibitions.

AmericanRhetoric.com — An Evaluation

Upon opening up my browser to http://www.americanrhetoric.com, I automatically can tell it is far from a company/corporate-owned Web site.  The banner is professional, however the layout and overall “feel” to the Web site seems to me to be a bit amateur.  Certain colors (like “Top 100 Speeches” in flourescent colors) and certain fonts (like “Rhetorical Figures in Sounds” in Comic Sans) are dead give-aways. 

 Don’t get me wrong, the Web site has a plethora of information and references.  The Site navigation bar on the side pretty much covers everything and anything a scholar/historian/student would want to know about American orations throughout history.  Some navigation tools include “Top 100 Speeches,” “Speeches of 9/11,” and even a section for historians, including definitions of rhetoric, rhetoric as seen from a philosophical standpoint, and other resources one may go to learn more.

At the top, included are sections for “Top Requested Speeches” and “Speech of the Day.”  That is a great choice because I would guess that most people go to this Web site to look for a specific, probably famous, speech.  With one click, you have the text of the speech, and sometimes even a video from the event itself.   Also, the “Speech of the Day” gives the visitor a chance to “shop around” and possibly find something that they originally weren’t looking for. 

Overall, I think American Rhetoric is an efficient, resourceful Web site.  It may look a bit amateur, but it includes more than enough information needed regarding the topic.  It provides the visitor with many options.  It can be easily used by either an historian looking for a specific speech on audio, or just a curious scholar, wanting to browse and find something thay have not seen before.