American Government

Violence has been (and continues) to be an enduring feature of American life and politics. McGuire’s book
traces the terrible legacies of racism and sexism in the US from the 1940s to the 1970s. However, she also
offers historical accounts of progress and showcases average Americans’ heroic efforts to dismantle racist
institutions and ideology. In other words, there were good people who were trying to make a difference in
improving their communities. Consider the following “little people”:
Viola Luizzo, a murdered white Detroit housewife and an activist for civil rights
Joan Little, a black woman who killed her jailer with an ice pick in self defense
The above individuals were not interested in gaining political attention or even being documented figures in
American history. They were forced into the “political limelight” due to the culture of the era, and they made a
difference.
Choose two to three figures from McGuire’s chapter 7, chapter 8, and the epilogue who made a difference in
the US. (You may select the ones listed above.) Then, choose two or three additional figures from history or
from today who also made a difference (even a small one) in improving the political and social conditions in the
US.
With these chosen individuals, answer the following question: To what extent did your chosen figures improve
American society by making politicians more accountable to the people? In other words, how did your chosen
figures, or “the little people”, make a difference?