Observation 5: Martin's Big Words

Visual Elements:
One visual element that I noticed throughout the book is that every picture looks like a collage. All of the people, stores, and backgrounds of the pictures are all made up of small pieces but come together as one picture. I think that this technique is used to portray the message of togetherness that Dr. King was trying to express. Collages also remind me somewhat of stained glass windows that are seen in church. Dr. King was a preacher and he got much of his hope and inspiration from God. I think that by making the pictures look as though they are stained glass windows from a church represents the hope and faith people had in Martin Luther King Jr. and his movement. Another visual element that I noticed was the page that showed a little girl standing alone in front of an American flag. While we discussed the appearance of the American flag on every page as being significant, I find this page to especially stand out. The American flag is made up of all sorts of colors which is similar to the way that American is made up of people from all different cultures and races. The little girl standing in front of the flag has a somber look on her face and the colors of the American flag are reflected in her. She looks as if she is one with the flag which makes me think that she is representing the future generation; she is the future. A final element I noticed was the cover of the book. While we discussed in class that the title was on the back because his face is a statement in itself, I noticed his actual facial expression. While many of the pictures in the book show him looking very serious, his smile on the cover sends a brighter, more hopeful message that people in America ultimately heard his words and because of him we live in one unified society today.

The Book vs. the Letter
The children's book has many similarities to King's letter in chapter 8. Some of the "big words" on each page are similar to phrases that he put in his actual letter. On one page his big words say, "Wait! For years I have heard the word 'Wait!' We have waited more than three hundred and forty years for our rights." In his letter to Birmingham, he talks about how he has heard the word "wait" for years and how it seems to mean "never". He also references in his letter past events that have occurred and people he has learned from as he mentions learning from Ghandi in the book. He mentions in his letter the unjustness of the colored only signs just as little Martin in the book points it out to his mother. In both texts he constantly references church and God and refers to whites and blacks as being brothers and sisters. The book does an excellent job in portraying the child's version of what his letter to Birmingham says; it is not exact but sends the same message.

The texts and today's audience
I think that the texts are still very relevant to today's audience. While race segregation is not as prominent or supported by the government, it is still alive today. This type of discrimination has spread from not only whites and blacks, but to all races, cultures, and religions. The texts still teach a valuable lesson about how we all need to come together and love one another for both our similarities and differences.

My thoughts:
While I was reading the letter, I found it to be at times confusing and sometimes lost the message King was trying to send out. I felt that the children's book was less informative than the letter, but still left a strong impact. The book made it easier and clearer with the pictures and text to understand King's reasoning behind his movement. I think that a kid would probably not notice the pictures as being anything more than illustration, however, when I look at them I see the messages that they send apart from the words that go with them. It made me think more in-depth about the sincerity of the issue and made me relate more about the battle African Americans fought for their rights. I think that the pictures did capture my attention more than the text because there are so many messages you can see within them while the text usually only sent one. The impression I received from the children's book left a little bit more of an impact on me because it is a book for kids. This book educating kids about the civil rights act made me realize how innocent kids. Kids cannot see hate in the world or differences in people because their childhood innocence prevents it. The impression the book left on me was that it was the way that kids needed to be educated about the hate in the world; they can only see it through pictures and brief summaries of what King actually stated. I think that both the letter and book were affective though, and the parallels between the two of them increased my understanding of Dr. King's journey.