Mississippi Burning Analysis

1. Why wouldn’t the Blacks in the South talkto the FBI agents about the missing Civil Rights activists? What tactics didthe KKK use to discourage this?..............

2. Why did the KKK burn a cross outside ofthe motel in which the FBI agents were staying and why did they shoot at themthrough the window?...............

3. How were the Blacks in the Southdiscriminated against in the movie?............

4. Give examples from the film of how Blacksin the South were segregated from the Whites..

5. Why did the FBI become involved in thismurder investigation?......................

6. Why does the judge’s suspension of thethree arsonists’ sentences spur a rampage of fires?

7. The sheriff claimed that theBlacks started the fires that burnt down many Black’s homes.  Do youbelieve this? What rationale would they give for this happening? ..

8. Who was the Black man thatinterrogated the mayor?  Why did the filmmaker have a Black man in thisrole? 

9. Why did the FBI go after themen for Civil Rights violations instead of murder? .....................................................................................................................

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10.Explain this statement madeby the FBI agent: “Anyone is guilty who watches this and does nothing.” .................................................................................

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11. What is significant about thegathering at the burnt down church in the final scene? ..........................................................................................................

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