Rev. Dr. Vernon Johns Assignments:

Due Next Tuesday

PART 1:

After taking notes during the film, "The Vernon Johns Story: The Road to Freedom," please find a comparable person in the Zinn-Arnove book to compare with Rev. Dr. Vernon Johns. Write a paragraph about them that details their similarities (and a few differences) regarding any major aspects of their lives and/or work (primary mission). Some suggestions in the book include, David Walker, Ida Wells Barnett, Malcolm X., Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Assata Shakur and Abbey Lincoln. You may supplement your paragraph of about 12 to 15 sentences with Web research via
To learn more about the Vernon Johns film, please click on:
Another article about Johns can be found at:

PART 2:

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE DETAILED NOTES CONCERNING THE FILM BASED ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. WRITE THE QUESTION FIRST, THEN THE ANSWER IN AT LEAST SEVERAL SENTENCES:

NOTE-TAKING Questions:

1. How does Rev. Vernon Johns research the history of brutality in Montgomery, Alabama?

2. How would you describe the relationship between Johns and his daughter, Baby Dee? Give examples.

3. How would you describe the relationship between Johns and his wife? Provide examples.

4. Discuss the relationship between Johns and the deacons of the Dexter Ave. Baptist Church, mentioning how it specifically changed with respect to Deacon Hill.

5. Discuss and describe the discrimination and brutality in the film.

6. How would you describe Vernon Johns' personality?

7. Please provide at least two important quotes from his sermons and give a brief analysis.

8. Why was Vernon Johns so angry and was it justified?

9. Who is the hero or heroine of the film and why?

10. What's the moral or lesson of Vernon Johns' story?

Additional information about Rev. Johns can be found at: