ipl-logo

Bonnie Brown's Reflective Essay: The Jonestown Massacre

1433 Words6 Pages

When someone enters a library there are two things they can be sure to expect. The first being the fact that when they leave they will be taking with them more knowledge than the came in with. The second is that no matter what library they come across it is publicly known that you remain as quiet as possible. This was all true for Bonnie Brown as she spent time working in her high school library on December 6, 1978. One of the tasks she was entitled to complete was filing the new magazines onto the shelves, something she had done time and time again, but this time things were different. She came across something that she never would have expected to see in her library. What she had just picked up in her hand was a TIME Magazine article with a gruesomely detailed, and sickening picture …show more content…

“I may have actually heard of this event on the news before seeing the magazine, but it never really clicked until I saw the magazine in person”. The news of the Jonestown massacre was publicized and known by many, yet they didn’t really understand the immensity of this tragedy until they saw the pictures themselves. After initially seeing this magazine, Bonnie says the she felt genuinely sorry for all of the families that lost loved ones due to this unexplainable act. “The Jonestown Massacre was the 9/11 of my youth, and it’s an something I’ll never forget”.

On November 18, 1978 a cult of Americans known as the ‘Peoples Temple’ became a part of a mass suicide under the order of their leader Jim Jones (History.com Staff). Established in 1956 the ‘Peoples Temple’ was a racially integrated church that focused on helping people in need (Rosenberg). This tragedy occurred in Guyana, located in South America, and stole the lives of over 900 innocent people. The cause of death was unusual and something that isn’t often seen. Jones had somehow managed to convince, and

Show More
Related
1104 Words | 5 Pages

“Caution, Sir! I am eternally tired of hearing that word caution. It is nothing but the word of cowardice!” John Brown John Brown is a fervent abolitionist who seizes the arsenal at the Harpers Ferry, planning to start a slave revolt. On the night of October 16, 1859, he leads 21 men to the arsenal and does an act of violence.

Read More
873 Words | 4 Pages

Pow” “Pow” here comes Bonnie and Clyde running from the cops. Bonnie and Clyde are one of the most well known criminal couple in all history. They even have and oscar winning movie, and a Broadway musical. Bonnie and Clyde’s almost two-year crime spree spanned over several states, with a gang responsible for the murder of several people that included law enforcement officials.

Read More
96 Words | 1 Pages

After the massacre came to end it received publicity nationwide. This massacre gave light to an issue within the American economy. It was an example of real lives lost over the greed of the insanely rich. Not only did it ensure Colorado's employment laws be followed, but set precedent for the next strike. The Ludlow Massacre will always be a symbol of the struggle between the working class attempting to survive and provide for themselves and the ones they love and the large companies that attempt to exploit labor for as much gain as they can.

Read More
144 Words | 1 Pages

The Boston massacre Although many historian believe the the Boston Massacre was a murder it is clear that it is an act of self-defense. First, the situation was self-defense because Preston was trying to get the sentry to safety when they got surrounded by armed and drunken citizens. The soldiers were defending themselves because they were unable to escape with their backs against the custom house and faced an angry mob. Secondly, the solders’ fire was eight to six seconds between them. this shows that the solders fired on there own accord because usually they all fire at the same time when following orders.

Read More
198 Words | 1 Pages

During the civil war, there were two battles in Saltville, VA. The first battle took place on October 2, 1864, and it resulted in a confederate victory; the following day, the Saltville Massacre occurred. The second battle, the topic of this report, took place on December 20 and 21st. This was the second time Union troops actively attempted to capture the Saltworks. Days before the attack in Saltville, the Union troops fought in Marion and Wytheville.

Read More
2046 Words | 9 Pages

Emma is a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the Valentine's Day Massacre took place on February 14, 2018; she is now an activist, working hard for gun reform. Just like the heroes in the books, Emma is fighting against an immense sea of backlash in order to change her country for the better. Although fictional, these characters inspire us to be heroes in our own lives by demonstrating what it means to combat immoral practices and stand for what is right even in the face of

Read More
1012 Words | 5 Pages

West describes Mary Beth, observing that “even though she was quiet and a rule follower, Mary Beth was also moved by the carnage of the Vietnam War.” By using juxtaposition and a narrative tone, West incorporates the two sharply contrasted sides between silence and war of Mary Beth to indicate the spectrum of Beth’s perception. Mary Beth is the poster child for students lacking voice in West’s article, and showing the capabilities of a young student shows readers how age doesn’t minimize or make children’s voices any less important, for students are fully functioning human beings with their own set of morals and

Read More
940 Words | 4 Pages

She is reminded of the violence that torn not only communities apart but families as well. How the social norms of the day restricted people’s lives and held them in the balance of life and death. Her grandfathers past life, her grandmother cultural silence about the internment and husband’s affair, the police brutality that cause the death of 4 young black teenagers. Even her own inner conflicts with her sexuality and Japanese heritage. She starts to see the world around her with a different

Read More
762 Words | 4 Pages

Thesis The Kent State Massacre involved many university student protesters and Ohio National Guard troops on May 4, 1970. The outcome of the Kent State Massacre ended with four tragic death and nine permanently paralyzed university students. The conflict between the student protesters and the National Guards became an iconic eye-opening symbol for America. It led America to reflect and see how divided we were as a nation.

Read More
903 Words | 4 Pages

Title: The Sand Creek Massacre Research Question: What were the reasons behind the gold rush in Colorado in the 19th century and the war atrocities committed by United States Government towards the culmination of the Sand Creek Massacre? Though Colorado was not yet a state in the 1950s, the gold prospects within the territories which were still under Kansas at the time led to an influx of emigrants in a land that was originally occupied by Native Indians. The Colorado gold rush to this day is considered to have been the largest in the United States in the 19th century forming an intricate description of the country’s history in general. Following the discovery of gold in 1859 thousands of people descended towards the Rocky Mountains of Colorado,

Read More
124 Words | 1 Pages

Antislavery farmers from the mid-west moved to Kansas to keep slavery from spreading, while slaveholders from the neighboring state of Missouri took up settlements in Kansas to ensure the control of the territory for the South New England Emigrant Aid Company: Was set up by Northern abolitionists and Free-Soilers who paid for the transportation of antislavery settlers to Kansas Fighting soon broke out when each side made their own legislature(pro vs. anti) and proslavery forces attacked the free-soil town of Lawrence A couple days later, John Brown, a stern abolitionist, retaliated for the Lawrence incident by attacking a proslavery farm settlement, brutally killing five settlers. The government did nothing to stop this chaos and soon the

Read More
558 Words | 3 Pages

The Boston Massacre was a street fight that occurred on March 5, 1770, between a “patriot”. They were throwing sticks, snowballs, and trash at a group of British troops. The loyalists got very annoyed with the patriots so they shot into the mob killing five. The riot began when around 50 colonists attacked a British sentinel. A British officer called in for additional troops

Read More
1082 Words | 5 Pages

They reached Guyana and Jim Jones had stated that if they did end up leaving the church, it would be a betrayal to him. This should have been a huge red flag if nothing else had worked before this, but it was not. Everyone was just extremely miserable in their lives and wanted a sense of meaning but ended up dead in the jungle instead.” AQUINAS: “This is why faith and reason are inseparable.

Read More
354 Words | 2 Pages

What do you think, do you think technology is to you? In the story “Who can replace a man”, Written by Brian Aldiss, he talked about how our society relies so much on technology. The message that the author is trying to get across is humans are too attached to technology. I think that he is right and agree with the author's message, here's why.

Read More
1438 Words | 6 Pages

Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple Cult “Jim Jones of the Peoples’s Temple began as a sound, fairly mainstream Christian minister” (Sects, ‘Cults’ & Alternative Religions). Before all the madness Jones seemed like a caring person, that wanted to bring peace to a town he made, Jonestown. Instead it turned into something more horrific. Jim Jones was the manipulative mastermind behind the traumatic events that happened in Jonestown, Guyana, this essay will discuss interviews by people who are survivors of the mass suicide, and dive into the crazy conspiracies that have emerged, and finally conclude with the death of the Peoples Temple.

Read More

More about Bonnie Brown's Reflective Essay: The Jonestown Massacre

Related Topics

Open Document