Charles M Payne The View From The Trenches

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In Charles M. Payne’s article “The view from the trenches” he discusses, the civil rights movement, specifically the amazing leaders that over time have become lesser known and swept under the rug. Payne enlightens the readers of the things black activist leaders had to go through during the civil rights movement. Payne also talks about the black community and how they were treated by police force, United States government and white supremacists. Payne supports those by saying, “All kinds of people are important to this history Appalachian whites, Black professionals from quite privileged backgrounds, quasi socialists, radical democrats, church-based activists, advocates of self-defense for Black people, advocates of racial separatism, people …show more content…

This was written from the perspective of Payne as well as Steven F. Lawson. During the civil rights black leaders were fighting for racial equality. Throughout the years most leaders such as Septima Clark, Harry T. Moore, and Charles Hamilton Houston became lesser known and now when someone says “civil rights” those people do not come to mind. Payne makes a good point when saying, “Most Americans have been raised on a whitewashed version of movement history is more than a bad pun”(124). Payne’s thesis was to educate us about underrated black activists, Payne believed that in a way if we do not fully understand this time in history and the significant people then we are …show more content…

He used many different sources, as well as, had plenty of evidence to support and back up his thesis. When making claims like the ones Payne did if you do not have anything to validate what you are saying nobody will take your word. While what Payne says may be true if he did not have specific authentic detail, which resulted in a very credible essay, if he did not it would make what he said less plausible.One of the weaknesses is the hypocrisy, for someone who wants to stay away from the topic of well known people Payne sure did talk about Dr. Martin Luther King a lot. You would think he would have mentioned him once or twice but Payne actually spent a good amount of time discussing King's impact. Same thing with Rosa parks she was brought up more than I would have expected considering the fact that Payne’s whole purpose was to enlighten people about the leaders who were underappreciated and given less value. Another thing that could be considered a weakness is how lengthy the entire essay is, I personally feel like a vast majority of the things Payne said could have been summarized but he tends to prolong and overextend his

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