Full Audio of Dr. King’s Acceptance Speech of the Pacem in Terris Award:

To read a transcript of the speech click here >> Dr. King CIC Acceptance Speech

 

Classroom Activities:

To stimulate discussion about topics covered in the website, use these discussion questions. Please feel free to add your own as well!:

Personal Life

  1. When he was 14, Charles Toney was told he could not swim in the public pool because of the color of his skin. How would you feel if someone told you that? What would you do?

Civil Rights

In Iowa:

  1. Charles and Ann were very involved in various groups promoting equality. Are there any groups you are in that do the same? If so, what groups? If not, are there any you would like to join?

2. Being an activist can be scary and hard – Charles had to take a waitress to court just to have the right to be served ice cream. Have you ever stood up for anything you believed in? What was it?

 In the U.S.:

  1. Why was the national Civil Rights Movement important? Who had the most influence on the national Movement?
  2. Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement were known to be nonviolent protestors. Do you think this is effective?

Affirmative Action

  1. In his time at John Deere, Charles Toney worked tirelessly on making sure the company was diverse and inclusive. Can you think of a time when you were left out of something you wanted to do? Did you find a way to become involved? If not, what do you think you could have done?
  2. What are steps you have taken to create a more inclusive community? What does inclusivity mean to you?

A PDF of these questions is available here >> Discussion Questions

 

To help students understand what Charles and Ann went through when they were denied service use this play script for a more inclusive experience. >> Toney v. Baxter Play Script

On the website, there is an image of a signed copy of the poem Freedom’s Plow by Langston Hughes, who was a prominent poet in the Harlem Renaissance. For a copy of that poem and some activity suggestions click here >> Activities for Freedom’s Plow