Hello everyone and welcome back to another blog post. Before I start this, I want to a few things out of the way:
- Buccee’s is a cult
- I hate mac and cheese
- There is nothing for vegetarians to eat in the Deep South of America
Now that we have that out of the way, this project was super interesting.
Driving question: How can stories of social activism and change from the past inspire us to create a positive impact in our communities today?
Answer: Keeping stories of social activism alive show us that one person can make a difference, no matter how big or small. The stories are a reminder that working together can lead to changes of systems. By learning from the past, we can find ways to identify struggles in our communities and find better ways to fix them.
Inquiry question: How can keeping Wells story relevant spark change in todays world?
Answer: Ida B. Wells transformed the system by exposing the racism within women’s suffrage movements. I have kept her story alive and relevant by retelling it through a mini documentary. This is a crucial piece of history to keep alive because it not only shows the complexities women of colour had to overcome, but also shows the impact of their activism in today’s world.
Group Question: How can platforms be used to create positive change?
Answer: Ida B. Wells used her writing to speak out against racism and violence, inspiring others to join her fight for justice. Her story shows that sharing your voices can spark change and bring people. Today, we can use social media and other platforms to share important messages, connect with others, and take action in our own communities.
This spring, I took part in a civil rights field study that challenged me to change my perspective. The project was built around Challenge Based Learning (CBL), where each of us chose a person who changed systems. I chose Ida B. Wells, an investigative journalist, suffragist, and activist who took enormous personal risks to expose the horrors of lynching in America.
Our learning began well before we set foot in the South. Through lectures, we explored the deep roots of racial injustice in America. From the legacy of slavery to the murder of Emmett Till, and through documentaries like Soundtrack for a Revolution and Klansville, U.S.A., I began to understand how historical events are not distant. While watching these documentaries, I made in depth notes to be able to look back and make connections with whoever I chose as my focus. Something that stood out to me during this part of building knowledge for this project is how picture and photos shown during the civil rights movement are often in black and white. This is to make society feel like we’re farther away from the events that took place then we actually are. You can check out my notes below ⬇️
Next up, it was time to start my challenge chart, I outlined the core themes I wanted to look at in my video. I wasn’t interested in just retelling Ida’s story, I wanted to make sure that my video essay highlighted how her story and connect it to the present so that people my age could relate to it. I went in multiple times early in the morning to make sure that I got this most of the charts. This way, it could be somewhat of a North Star for my project. Filling out this chart was useful because it helped me organize my thoughts in a way that I could actually use. You can check out my challenge chart below ⬇️
Studying Ida B. Wells helped me see the world differently. I had always known that journalism could be powerful, but this project made me see truth telling as something that is actionable. Ida didn’t just write about injustice, she investigated it, exposed it, and demanded accountability at a time when doing so put her life at risk. Her story helped me realize how easy it is to take truth for granted, and how much work it takes to protect it.
Before the trip, I built out a visual plan through a script, storyboard, and shot list. In past filming projects, I had a hard time keeping all of my documents straight. This time, I learned from my past mistakes and made me shot list part of my script. This helped me to visualize my story more and ultimately helped me attain more throughout shots. As well, I made a conscious effort to frame shots well and capture back ground noise so I could use it to blend audio better. This made editing feel less overwhelming and more creative. You can check out my storyboard and script/shot list below ⬇️
Story board:
Script/shot list:
Traveling through Mississippi and Tennessee made everything real. I filmed in powerful locations like the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the National Civil Rights Museum, and at the Loraine Motel. Even though not all of these were directly tied to Ida’s story, they had so many of the same themes, resistance, truth, and justice in the face of hate. Walking through those spaces made history feel present, alive, and urgent.
Here are some photos from the trip!
My final video focused on how Ida B. Wells used journalism to challenge deeply rooted racism. What struck me most was how she kept going, even after her press was burned down and her name was smeared. She refused to be quiet. That kind of grit changed how I think about activism. It’s not just about big crowds or speeche, sometimes it’s commitment to the truth.
My final video took me a long time to put together. Through rounds and rounds of feedback, I fixed audio mess ups, shaky transitions, and unmatched images. Yet through all the revisions, one thing remained: my call to action. If I were to do this again, I’d start with a clearer call to action. Looking back, I think having that focus from the beginning would have helped shape every decision I made – from which footage to prioritize, to how I used my voiceover. I’ve learned that strong storytelling isn’t just about informationm , it’s about direction, purpose, and asking your audience to step into the story with you. In the end, I’m still proud of my call to action and my video. You can check out both ⬇️
Call to action: Encourage people to stop being bystanders to causal discrimination even when no one else is speaking up.
Final product:
While I couldn’t attend the final Roundtable event, I completed all the preparation. Writing my presentation script gave me time to reflect not just on what I made, but why I made it. It helped me see my work not just as a project, but as a contribution to something much bigger. This project is my favourite project of all time because it has changed the way I see the world. I now notice whose stories get told and whose are left out. I’ve started questioning the systems behind the narratives we’re taught, and I feel more aware of my own responsibility to seek out and share truths that matter.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Best wishes,
Dana
P.S. Even though I couldn’t attend the round table, here are some photos from it!
