The confidence to speak up

The power that the members or the A&T Four had was courage. Their unwavering courage to do something other people around them could not, to identify a problem and tackle it together as a tightknit group. Each individual was different and supported each other in the ideals of peacefulness. They had the power of a young heart, their actions proved a lesson to all people that even young people ages 18 had a impact in the world, and they were the catalyst to a better future.

I think that the power I have right now as an individual is my confidence to speak up. I may not have a group of friends willing to go as far into the depths of the unknown, but in this day and age, social media and networking will help spread information online, I may not be able to do much, but I am willing to do in the powers I have as a high school student to make a change with different perspectives.

Although not related, I dream to become a radiologist and study into the development of new ways of fighting cancer and medical technology. I want to make one day medicine to cure cancer available for free cost.

Hoa Nguyen

Power of Faith and Persistence

The A&T four had the power of faith and persistence. By sitting in, they were able to show the power of peaceful protest, something that can often get overlooked to the more aggressive, violent approach. The idea of speaking up is something that is always hard for me to find my stance on. I hate being the person to call out a group of fellow peers for talking in class, or disrespecting others around them. The A&T four was able to recognize the power they wielded by speaking up. They led by example, and made sure to do so peacefully. Like the A&T four, I think I possess the nervousness around speaking up and going against the grain. I think I can lose hold of the larger unlike how they did. I am so impressed by how unreactive they were to the intense amount of scrutiny and harassment they felt. I lack the ability to be unreactive because I have not quite mastered the ability to separate my emotions from my logical brain in a situation where I feel attacked. Some issues in the world I’m willing to challenge using my strengths/power/privilege is access to education, secure food resources, and accessible housing. I’ve been fortunate enough to go through an adoring education system yet I see others who have not been able to experience the same things I have. I want to make the education system in Baltimore one where no matter one’s zip code or socioeconomic status they are able to receive the same high level of education that will empower them into higher education, if they choose to do so. That’s why I want to do my senior project with B.E.S.T., an organization that focusing on creating accessibility to private schools for students from all walks of life.

Mollie Post

Courage and Bravery

The A and T Four possessed courage and bravery. This was a hard time especially for African Americans. They went against injustice and peacefully demanded change. I personally possess courage and bravery because whenever I feel something is not right, I address it and speak up. I am willing to challenge ignorance because ignorance is the act of not knowing. Once you are taught some thing and see the other side, you gain sympathy and understanding.

Eva Ojekwe

Freedom of Speech and Education

Some strengths that the A&T four had were team work before they decided anything individually they made sure it was okay with the rest of the group. A privilege that they did have was freedom of speech and the privilege of being in college and getting an education. The power that they had were being a minority 4 African American men taking a stand for something they believed so powerfully in they got tired of hearing the words “we don’t serve colored people”. I have their strength and power for standing up for something that I believe in I do it almost every day if I find something not right and I know that I can change it I will try my best to do so. I do lack team work because my ideas and power of my voice tend to get shut down when working with others. The issue I would be willing to challenge is equality and not only in race but in gender, as well, to let people know that men and women are equal and can do anything the other can do .

Jewel Howard
CNHS

The power to spark something in people

Some strengths, privileges, and power the boys had was that they had great confidence, good drive, the power to spark something in people, and the privilege of the police not arresting them. I say this because the boys knew what they were getting themselves into and they still went on with the plan. They have good drive because even though this didn’t happen instantly they stayed persistent and eventually it was desegregated. They even inspired people around them to do the same thing till eventually there wasn’t much room for whites. One of the biggest helps to the situation was that the police didn’t find what they were doing worthy of an arrest. I share mainly all of the traits in common with the A&T four except the persistence part. I really don’t have that much patience so if it doesn’t happen really soon I’d give up that’s why I’m not that much alike with persistence. I am willing to challenge the stereotype or the belief that black people cannot be successful in America. I also want to change  the idea that this is a white man's world in the eyes of the white and black people. 

- Jenod Bailey

City Neighbors High School

Team Work

Day 1: The A&T Four 

The A&T four included Blair, McClain McNeil & Richmond. The strengths that they used were team work, as a team they all decided to take a stand and make a change in the United States. They acted upon an issue without violence. They stood up for themselves when something wasn’t fair or right. I feel like the strengths that I have similar to these four men is not responding to issues with violence. And I feel like I slack on team work, in order to make a change in society people have to work as a group. Some issues that I would like to act on is safety, security and well being. Being able to help the people live a better life. 

Jamie Hazard

A Strong Unit

The A&T Four had the advantage of being a strong unit of four people who shared many of the same convictions and had discussed their principles thoroughly over many months. I don’t have a group of friends quite like that, who are are so focused on one specific issue and committed to doing something about it. But I think I will find those people, as long as I put myself out there and have be open having my opinions/assumptions challenged. 

They were also all men, and were probably taken more seriously than women would have been. 

They all had access to a strong education, as have I. I should make sure I take full advantage of everything my school offers me so that I get the best education possible. 

One issue that matters to me is technology education. It’s not something that seems super urgent or pressing, perhaps. But there are a lot of articles about how tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook are going to shape communication and many other facets of society for the foreseeable future. I think it’s important that the makeup of these influential tech companies reflect the population, and that’s definitely not the case right now. I think the major factor in that imbalance is exposure to technology during middle and high school, as well as access to classes and mentors. 

Bella Palumbi