HSL300: Historical Figures in Social Welfare and Policy 

You are a reporter for the Journal of Social Issues (Links to an external site.) and have been tasked with researching and writing an article concerning a historical figure in social welfare and policy. Your editor has provided you with a list of historical figures (provided toward the end of this assignment). Review the list and watch the corresponding videos to examine how each of the people listed has had an impact on our beliefs about social welfare and policy. Choose one of the historical figures that particularly interests you, and conduct your research using a minimum of four scholarly, peer reviewed, or other credible sources in addition to the text. Consider watching the Keywords are Critical (Links to an external site.) video in the Library for more information on productively searching the Ashford University Library databases. Your editor says that you must address the following elements in in a minimum of three to five double-spaced pages that will comprise your article:

• Describe your chosen figure’s major message.
• Explain how that message molded what we think about social welfare and policy.
• Examine whether the message is positive or simply provocative.
• Examine whether your chosen figure’s efforts changed our culture in regard to social policy.

The article must address a minimum of three of the following guiding questions:

• What area of social concern was your chosen historical figure involved in?
• What issues were important to him or her?
• How did the issues evolve?
• What was the historical figure’s vision for improving society?
• What were the major means used to enact the vision?
• What prepared the person for leadership?
• Has the person’s leadership been accepted by our larger culture? If not, who did the person influence to carry on the vision?
• Did the vison and activities bring about positive change?
• Was a new awareness developed by society in regard to the social issues?

Choose one of these historical figures to research for your article:

• Malcolm X (1925 – 1965): African-American leader and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X articulated concepts of race pride and black nationalism in the 1950s and ‘60s. (Suggested video segments: Malcolm X, a Controversial Leader(Links to an external site.), and Malcolm X, “Democracy is Hypocrisy” (Links to an external site.) )
• Betty Friedan (1921 – 2006): Friedan was an activist and writer, and she was one of the prominent figures in the feminist movement in America. Her best-selling book The Feminine Mystique, published in 1963, is believed to have brought resurgence in women’s rights movement. In 1966, Friedan co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) and served as its president for four years. (Suggested video segment: Putting Words to Hushed Feelings(Links to an external site.))
• George Wallace (1919 – 1998): In 1962, he won the election for governor of the state of Alabama on a platform of racial segregation and states’ rights. His inaugural speech ended with the now famous phrase, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”

In 1963, Wallace is remembered for another event that molded the public’s perception of the new Alabama governor: Wallace led a “stand in the schoolhouse door” in an attempt to prevent two black students from enrolling at the University of Alabama. The National Guard intervened, but he continued to oppose integration throughout his term. (Suggested video: George Wallace Attempts to Block Integration at the University of Alabama ca. 1963 (Links to an external site.))

• Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 – 1962): Roosevelt was First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She was also an advocate for human and civil rights. She was made a delegate to the UN General Assembly and played a key role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She also was a key figure in John F. Kennedy’s Presidential Commission on the status of women. (Suggested video segment: Eleanor Roosevelt on Human rights(Links to an external site.))
• Samuel Gompers (1950 – 1924): Gompers helped create the American Federation of Labor (A.F.L.) in the late 1880s. He led the organization for all but one year until his death in 1924. Gompers defined the purpose of the labor movement in America. He also established the method used to solve labor disputes. (Suggested video segment: Finally a Statesman(Links to an external site.))
• Cesar Chavez (1927 – 1993): Chavez was an American labor leader and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962. (Suggested video segment: Ceasar Chavez(Links to an external site.))
• Dorothy Day (1897 – 1980): Intrigued by the Catholic faith for years, Dorothy Day converted in 1927. In 1933, she co-founded The Catholic Worker, a newspaper promoting Catholic teachings, which became very successful and spawned the Catholic Worker Movement, which tackled issues of social justice. Day also helped establish special homes to help those in need. (Suggested video: Dorothy Day Documentary- Don’t Call Me a Saint [Closed Captioned](Links to an external site.))
• Harvey Milk (1930 – 1978): Milk became one of the first openly gay officials in the United States in 1977 when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Tragically, he was killed the following year. (Suggested video segment: Save Our Children(Links to an external site.))

The Historical Figures in Social Welfare and Policy Assignment

• Must address all required elements.
• Must address a minimum of three of the guiding questions.
• Must be three to five double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center(Links to an external site.).
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of paper
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Date submitted
• Must use at least four scholarly, peer reviewed, or other credible sources in addition to the course text.
  • The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources(Links to an external site.) table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
• Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.) for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.