The development of the World Wide Web has displayed, like most advances in technology, both positive and negative aspects. Much like radio or television, the Web has been used for cheap entertainment and self-gain but it has also been used to educate and inform on a myriad of topics. The review of two particular web sites devoted specifically to the Civil Rights Movement indicates that these two sites act as a microcosm of the entire Web in that they exhibit these aforementioned good and bad intentions and qualities.

     The first web site to be reviewed was created by personnel of the National Civil Rights Museum, which is located in Memphis, Tennessee. The URL address of this web site is http://www.mecca.org/~crights/. The information presented in this web site mainly consists of basic facts on the Civil Rights Movement and the museum itself. The information regarding the museum is frequently out of date. For example, the museum’s 1996 Conference on Freedom is featured and a list of events for the years 1996 and 1997 is included. All of this appears despite the fact that the site was supposedly updated on November 4, 1997. The most informative and valuable feature of this web site is the virtual museum tour. This tour consists of 16 "exhibits" that are featured in the actual National Civil Rights Museum. The site organizes the tour chronologically. Each of the sixteen groupings consists of a brief synopsis of the exhibit at the museum and is accompanied by a black and white sketch depicting some aspect of the specific topic. Unfortunately, each synopsis is cursory and merely acts as a shadow of the actual museum exhibit. The synopsis on the Montgomery Bus Boycott includes an extremely brief history of the boycotts and then states that a Montgomery bus restored to its 1955 appearance is featured at the museum. The web site makes no attempt to show pictures of this museum exhibit or even to describe the appearance of the bus. A redeeming quality of the virtual tour is that the information presented is clear and accurate and it spans many significant events in the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The creator of this site makes virtually no attempt to interpret the meaning of the information. The facts are straightforward and speak for themselves. The information presented concentrates on the African American figures of the time such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks and does not delve into the white personalities of the era who both hindered and helped the Civil Rights Movement.

     The purpose of this web site is to promote the National Civil Rights Museum. Much of the site is devoted to general information about the museum such as how to become a member, admission rates, museum hours, etc. Regrettably it seems that educating the public about the Civil Rights Movement is secondary to advertising the museum. As a result, the site suffers and is not as interesting as it could be. The information on the web site is organized into two main categories: Museum Information and Links of Interest. These two categories are then divided into sub-categories. The virtual tour is organized both chronologically and according to topic. All in all, the format is easy to follow.

     The design of this web site leaves much to be desired. No audio or video clips are used and even pictures are lacking. There are only photos of the exterior of the museum and the gift shop. Addition of clips, pictures, and creative graphics could improve the site considerably. The site does not differ a great deal from traditional media such as books because it does not make use of these available options. The site does have four links that are valuable and easy to use. These links, however, do not concentrate on the Civil Rights Movement. Instead, they are of broader scope and most are associated with large and current organizations such as the United Nations and Amnesty International. The links seem to deal more with on-going human rights issues.

     Overall, this site is average at best, and there is definite room for improvement. Fortunately, the guest book is quite detailed and seems intent on using visitors’ input to improve the web site. To improve, the site should contain more information on the actual Civil Rights Movement and should be updated more frequently. When a web site is not current it can reflect badly on the organization and can lead to questions about the accuracy of information that is presented. Despite its faults this particular site would be good for those people who desire a brief explanation of the Civil Rights Movement and/or people who are interested in museums dealing with this subject.

     The second web site to be reviewed was created by and for a conglomeration of groups including Time Warner Entertainment, HBO, and Lifetime Learning Systems. The URL address of this site is http://www.4littlegirls.com/. Much of the information presented either stems from or is related to Spike Lee’s documentary "4 Little Girls", which specifically examines the tragic church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama in September of 1963. A grand array of information on the Civil Rights Movement is included in this site, although much of it centers on the events surrounding the bombing of the church in which four African American girls were killed. A synopsis of Spike Lee’s documentary detailing actual interviews and footage involving the bombing is presented in this site. The category entitled "Civil Rights" displays an extremely detailed and informative timeline of the Civil Rights Movement that covers the years from 1600 to 1969. A mere click of the mouse on the desired dates and a series of corresponding descriptions of particular events pop up. Another very unique feature of this site is located under the heading "Teachers Resource". This area contains four interactive activities designed for high school students. In perusing the material, however, it seemed that it could also be used for elementary students as well. These activities involve (among other things) identifying key figures of the Civil Rights Movement in pictures, predicting personal reactions and feelings if involved in certain described incidents of the movement, and interviewing people who experienced the movement firsthand. Other information on the web site includes a listing of movies involving the Civil Rights Movement to be shown on HBO. The quality of information on the site is phenomenal and detailed. Everything is extremely up to date as well. The site does not so much interpret the information presented as challenge the visitors to form their own interpretations (this is especially evident in the teacher resource section).

     The main purpose of this web site is to promote the HBO showing of Spike Lee’s documentary. Educating the public on the Civil Rights Movement also seems to be a major goal. Unlike the first web site to be reviewed, this site harbors a more genuine and honest approach to providing information to visitors. Facts are divided into seven main groups: Documentary Clips, Civil Rights, Teachers Resource, Calendar of Events, Guest Book, Expression Contest, and Web Tools. These groups are further divided into sub-categories according to topic. The site as a whole is fairly easy to navigate.

     The design of this web site is its strongest quality. Powerful photos depicting unforgettable images of the Civil Rights Movement are scattered liberally throughout the site. Especially poignant are photographs of the four girls killed in the church bombing. Graphics and artwork are wonderful and add to the overall mood of the site. Audio and video clips from the documentary, a chat room, and other so-called web tools are all under construction. Once these features are up and running, the site will be even more interesting than it already is. This particular site, unlike the first, is able to present information in a way that traditional media cannot. It has a perfect blend of pictures, text, clips, and activities that makes the Civil Rights Movement almost come to life. This web site is perfect for teachers and students alike. It also would be extremely useful for those people interested in some of the details of the Civil Rights Movement. The timeline alone would undoubtedly prove invaluable to many.

     As demonstrated in this web site review, both positive and negative aspects abound in regards to the World Wide Web. Commercialism and advertising is omnipresent but much valuable information can be gleaned from the Web as well. Educational sites may be few and far between but the ones that do exist are remarkable in what they can achieve.