This essay was written for a U.S. history class and focuses on how cars changed life for African Americans during the early to mid-1900s. I used the book Driving While Black by Gretchen Sorin to explore how the automobile gave Black Americans more freedom, privacy, and safety compared to public transportation, which was often segregated and dangerous. The paper also explains how tools like The Green Book helped Black travelers find safe places to stay, eat, and refuel while on the road. I wrote this essay after class discussions, assigned readings, and research on the Civil Rights Movement.
This piece shows that I can connect historical facts to bigger ideas about race, freedom, and social change. It helped me practice writing clearly, organizing my points, and using evidence from sources to support my ideas. I also learned how to take a focused topic and explain why it mattered on a larger scale. The essay reflects my ability to understand how everyday things, like owning a car, can have a huge impact on people's lives and the movements they are part of.
