Process Paper
This year’s History Fair theme of Leadership and Legacy, immediately caused me to think of my grandfather, as he was a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement. Leadership to me involves inspiring a group of people to make a change. In this case my grandfather is a leader because of his contributions to the desegregation of the Bridgeville school system. Through sports he earned the trust of the students that played for him, which allowed for a smooth transition at a volatile time. Legacy to me is what someone leaves behind. My grandfather left behind a legacy of trust, acceptance, success, and community. He was recently inducted into both the Delaware Afro-American Hall of Fame and the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame as a result of his contributions.
My research focused on a variety of sources, specifically the Civil Rights Movement and Brown v. Board of Education. This introductory research consisted almost entirely of secondary sources. Several journals with pictures, newspapers clippings, original letters, and articles were provided by my grandfather. These resources were almost entirely primary sources, as they were directly from the time period or from participants. I interviewed my grandfather on January 1st about what sports meant to him and how sports helped him contribute to his community.
I chose a website because I thought it was a good way to display the wide variety of documents I have used. In addition to pictures and newspaper articles, I have a video of my grandfather’s induction speeches, as well as audio from our interview. A website brings all of these sources together in a way that is engaging and informative. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to create a lasting tribute to an everyday civil rights leader that I proudly call Pop-Pop.
My grandfather’s accomplishments relate to this year’s History Fair theme of Leadership and Legacy, because he seamlessly led the Bridgeville School District to overcome the racial issues common in that time period. His contributions to the community pulled together people of different backgrounds through athletics. The result of his efforts resulted in winning teams that became lifelong friends. Those friends valued his impact so much that they celebrated his legacy on at least four different occasions, both locally and state-wide. It’s this direct relationship between my grandfather’s leadership, and the resulting legacy, that makes it a perfect fit for this year’s History Fair theme.
My research focused on a variety of sources, specifically the Civil Rights Movement and Brown v. Board of Education. This introductory research consisted almost entirely of secondary sources. Several journals with pictures, newspapers clippings, original letters, and articles were provided by my grandfather. These resources were almost entirely primary sources, as they were directly from the time period or from participants. I interviewed my grandfather on January 1st about what sports meant to him and how sports helped him contribute to his community.
I chose a website because I thought it was a good way to display the wide variety of documents I have used. In addition to pictures and newspaper articles, I have a video of my grandfather’s induction speeches, as well as audio from our interview. A website brings all of these sources together in a way that is engaging and informative. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to create a lasting tribute to an everyday civil rights leader that I proudly call Pop-Pop.
My grandfather’s accomplishments relate to this year’s History Fair theme of Leadership and Legacy, because he seamlessly led the Bridgeville School District to overcome the racial issues common in that time period. His contributions to the community pulled together people of different backgrounds through athletics. The result of his efforts resulted in winning teams that became lifelong friends. Those friends valued his impact so much that they celebrated his legacy on at least four different occasions, both locally and state-wide. It’s this direct relationship between my grandfather’s leadership, and the resulting legacy, that makes it a perfect fit for this year’s History Fair theme.