Why is the name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge ironic Essays

Why is the name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge ironic? ( irony : a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what might be expected Scoring Guide: 95: Response correctly identifies the basis of the irony and explains in in clear and organized language. Question is restated, underlying facts are identified, ironic relationship is explained, conclusion offers closure. The name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge is so ironic because it was named after a man who was the head of the most notorious white terrorist group in Alabamathe Ku Klux Klan, and which is where part of the Civil Rights Movement took place. The Edmund Pettus Bridge is very important in U.S. history because it was where the Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, ended, representing a true iconic structure during the Civil Rights Movement era. Although, before it was created into an icon for racial equality, it was a representation of the white supremacist movementthe Ku Klux Klan. As John Giggie, a professor at the University of Alabama, explained, the bridge was named after the head of the most notorious white terrorist group in AlabamaEdmund Pettus. Therefore, even though this bridge was very important to the Civil Rights Era, it can also be seen as the icon for white supremacy. Hence, this is where the irony of the bridge can be seen. Norma Lawrence who lives near the br idge, stated that, the Edmund Pettus Bridge has been there for her whole life, explaining that that part of history is very important, since it preserves the racial and civil rights part of history of Selma, Alabama. As Norma Lawrence explained, this bridge is not just notorious, but also represents the Civil Rights Movement. It is where the Civil Rights Movement participants walked, even though they didn't know it was named after a notorious Ku Klux Klan leader. They did not know and the citizens of Selma did not know for all these years, which is the irony. In conclusion, these are the reasons that support the fact that the name of the Edmund Pettus Bridge is ironic.