Students are Activists

Today, we drove to the Little Rock Central High National Historic Site. I was particularly excited for this trip because in 7th grade, I did a project about the integration of Little Rock Central High and on the Little Rock Nine/Ten. It was surreal to see the actual high school that I had spent many hours researching. We learned about all of the horrible things the Little Rock Nine had to endure. There were very few students, or even teachers, who would interact positively to them. My favorite story from the experience of the Little Rock Nine was one about Minnie Jean, the only member to be expelled during their time there. The story starts when Minnie went to the cafeteria to buy herself some chili. After getting her food, a group of white students threw chairs at Minnie and yelled egregious slurs at her. At this point Minnie was done with being bullied and and yelled at by racist white students. She took her chili and dropped it on top of the boys’ heads. Later, in the principal’s office, Minnie was asked what happened in the cafeteria. She responded with “I accidentally on purpose dropped my chili on both of those boys.” I like this story because Minnie stood up against abusers and bullies because she didn't believe she was being treated fairly. 

After learning about more of the history, we were able to take a tour of the high school. It was interesting to be in a ‘museum tour’ while kids are in classes. I had never been in a “museum/historical site” that is still being used for another purpose other than telling history. 

After the tour of the school, we were greeted by Dr. Sybil Jordan Hampton, the first black student to have attended 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. She told us about her experience continuing the integration of Little Rock Central High after the “Lost Year.” She told us that although she wasn't physically harmed to the extent that the Little Rock Nine was, she was definitely ostracized by the entire school; no one spoke to her for all of the three years she was there. But she did not let it get to her. She was incredibly strong and was able to stay focused and do extremely well in school. Reflecting on her strength back then, she told us to “not let people cause us to hate.”

Jack Kalvar, The Park School of Baltimore

Understand first before we judge

Our first stop was Little Rock Central High School. The school contains 2,500 students. We got to meet one of the first students who graduated from Central completing all three years of high school. I loved when she was told us to understand first before we judge. I think that is important, because people judged her, and later realized she is an amazing lady. It surprised me when she talked about how she was able to forgive them. I don't think I would be able to forgive them if that were me. Later we went to visit the motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. I was very emotional, because I don't know how I would feel if the only person who was giving me hope was killed. I would feel the loss of hope and there is no way any problems would get solved. 

-Rosa Medrano, Hope High School

Mississippi

Today I visited the house where Medgar Evers lived and was assassinated. We got to see the bullet that went through the kitchen wall. Later we took a trip down to Tougaloo college. I felt so much energy in the trees as I stood there to observe each one precisely. Toward the end of the day we got to spend some time with these students of Sunflower County. They made me learn to feel grateful, because they don't have much and they all strive for an education that we receive everyday. I loved their attitude towards life, and are very optimistic. I hope one day I can give something to their community that can help them.

-Rosa Medrano, Hope High School

When they go low we go high

Michelle Obama once said "when they go low we go high." Today I questioned how low can one go before they impart on someone a hellacious reality. Throughout the trip we've went to these landmarks and museums and asked ourselves questions about things like race, gender and class but we never asked how low can someone go? While walking through the Lorraine Motel I was angry, happy and inspired but I learned that we must try to reach as high as we can be cause they will go lower than the depths of hell. They will try to take our joy, right to an education, life, leaders and so much more but we need to know that it's not theirs to take it's ours and me must go higher and fight harder because they will fight harder and lower. I initially asked, "how low can one go before you impart in someone a hellacious reality" but I guess that doesn't matter to an extent because I know that my fight and joy has no limits. 

-Dominique White, Baltimore City College

Little Rock/ Memphis

Meeting Dr. Sybil Hampton today was definitely a pivotal moment on the trip for me. After hearing during the tour about how painful desegregation was for the Black students integrating Little Rock Central, it was amazing to see someone so hopeful and strong who came out of that traumatic experience. I feel like I understand better, now, what school integration really was. It used to feel very abstract and distant to me; now, I see how it came down to individual children choosing to sacrifice (but also to do that which Dr. Hampton implored us to do: loving themselves enough to know they deserved equality).

Anonymous 

an attitude of joy and hope

Hope is such an amazing and intriguing thing. When I walked into the Sunflower County Freedom Project I didn't see it as something out of the ordinary until I saw the kids. The honesty, tenacity and love that was in their eyes brought me to tears because they didn't have to be happy or hopeful but that's what they chose to be and it was beautiful. We thought we were suppose to go and teach them something but instead they taught me to do my best to choose joy and hope in times of struggle and despair. Children always seem to amaze me, they are so untainted by the world around them. they seem to walk through life with this level grit, unmerited hope and joy that has slipped through my fingers.  The children today showed me the attitude that I should always try to adopt no matter how hard life gets and that is an attitude of joy and hope. 

-Dominique White, Baltimore City College

Little Rock, Central High School

I enjoyed going to Little Rock, Central High School today. The way the school looks is amazing like I've never seen a high school look like that. It definitely reminded me of a castle! I loved the architecture, I like how there's the little pond that shows a reflection of the school when u look in it, and I liked how the front doors are huge and made out of wood . Another thing I like about the school is the little Greek gods they have over the top. I found that interesting because it was an all white school so I wonder why they chose to put Greek gods on it. One thing I don't like is how the kids that go there barely even know the history of their school. I feel like they should know it because there school is very good academically and they were the first school to integrate! Hopefully in the future the school stays popular and ranked high when it comes to academics and also I hope the students do try to learn about there school and embrace the history.

Kelley Sellers, Hope High School 

The Damaging Commercialization of History

I stood within a few feet of the spot where Martin Luther King was shot dead today. But the weight of what happened at the Lorraine Motel sunk in the most when I looked out of the window that was close to where James Earl Ray stood when he shot King. I could make out the outline of the balcony from across the street, and the raindrops slowly sliding down the window seemed to reflect my mood perfectly. 

And while being close to the assassination site was hugely impactful, something else from the visit stuck out to me even more. After I walked out of the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, I turned around to take another look at the spot where King's life was ended. This time when I looked I saw the store front of the museum's gift shop that was located around fifty feet away from the balcony spot. I had just walked around in that shop, and I remembered that the merchandise in that window was not even civil rights related. It was sports gear--shirts promoting the Memphis Grizzlies. To me it was unfitting for there to be an ordinary store front that you could see in a shopping mall, right next to MLK's hotel room and balcony. It seemed like the museum was glorifying and commercializing the spot where a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement last stood. 

This observation was built upon when I saw the protest outside of the museum--Jacqueline Smith camped out with signs imploring people to boycott the National Civil Rights Museum, claiming they were misusing public funds and misrepresenting Martin Luther King's legacy. Smith lived in the motel while working there as a housekeeper. She was evicted in1988 when the motel was closed and converted to a museum, and has sought for some sense of justice in the following years. Smith's experience speaks to the gentrification of the museum's surrounding community, as houses were demolished and replaced by expensive condos and businesses seeking to cater to tourists. Smith also said the museum did not represent King's legacy, and that he would not have wanted $27 million spent on a testament to him while the locals of the community were forced out. 

The commercialization and gentrification of the Lorraine Motel shows how even testaments to Civil Rights Leaders can be susceptible to economic and tourist driven motivations, in turn having damaging effects on the communities which those same leaders had built a legacy fighting for.  

-Pablo Richter, Baltimore City College

I felt heartbroken

Today we had went to where Martin Luther king was assassinated and I felt heartbroken. He made a change and people didn't want him alive so they took his life away. I'm glad I got to learn more about where he was killed and I'm glad that I got to experience it even though it's not a happy site but it was something to learn about.

Denisha Harper, City Neighbors High School

It finally hit me

Today was the most emotional day for me. We stood where it was never meant to be a memorial or a museum. I felt the most sadness at the Loraine's Motel than throughout the whole trip. I learned about Martin Luther King jr. all my life and heard his story so much I really knew it. So to stand where I have been reading about since I was young made me feel sad and hurt. It finally hit me, all that I have done on the trip and all that I learned. 

- Diavione Finney, City Neighbors High School

Guilty

Visiting Medgar Evers house was amazing. The house itself was beautiful for a black man at the time. Standing in the driveway where he was actually killed made me feel guilty. Guilty because I was able to stand and just stare when he was trying to make actual change. It made me want to do more as a person and activist. The house felt so warming yet so cold at the same time. 

- Diavione Finney, City Neighbors High School

what plans God has for me

The meeting with Roscoe Jones was the most inspiring to me Wednesday. Roscoe's story itself about how he could have been dead as well. I couldn't stop thinking about how close he was to death but it legit wasn't his time to go. It made me think about God and his plans for everyone. I wonder what plans God has for me. 

- Anonymous

not excited to say goodbye

Today, was a great last day! We left Super 8, and wrote post cards to our sponsors. (I wrote one to our high school principal.) We took off an headed to the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center and went into the high school itself. We got an overview of what happened there, like Elizabeth Eckford being the first to come to Little Rock Central High School in attempt to go to class and integrate, but was blocked by the National Guard. However, later on President Dwight Eisenhower hired federal troops to come and protect the Little Rock 9 so they could attend the school. One kid who lived in the neighborhood thought that the Russians had invaded. That's how much commotion there was.

   We took photos of the school and entered their auditorium, and heard more about the Little Rock 9 and how they were treated. We left the school, and came back to the Visitor Center and heard Dr. Sybil Hampton speak. She was so inspirational and intentional. She talked about her experience being ignored for 3 years at school, being spat on, and having no one to support her other than the vice principal and the school secretary. Her overall message was to hold on to hope, and know that even through difficult times, you should understand that you and your actions have a purpose, one that can help the future generation. It was also interesting how supportive her parents were about her attending the school, compared to what the parents of the other activists thought. This reminded me about Martin Luther King Jr. and the way he was raised. It seems that they were both successful because of the positive support. I found it to be pretty cool that Dr. Hampton mentioned Ta-Nehisi Coates and his book and how we came to the same conclusion that he was not hopeful about the future for black lives. 

   We left Little Rock Central High School got some pizza, socialized, and talked about underrated people in our society. Someone had thought a photographer was an underrated person, which I found pretty fascinating, since the photos seem to have more attention than the person who took them. We know famous photos but not photographers, which is a point that I think he also brought up. Coaches were also on the list, but I didn't agree with it because my coaches are valued at my school. However, at another school that might not be the case. We had discussions before about different schools, before we came to Little Rock Central High School, and it was cool how it all connected.

   We arrived at the National Civil Rights Museum. We took some photos outside of the Lorraine Motel. It was interesting how when we went in, the first exhibit related to people we underrate. We watched an intro video, who's projector screen slid over, revealing the museum. We didn't have a lot of time to look over everything, but there we read about Malcolm X and the Black Panthers, and other topics that we had gone over, like sit ins. After buying some gifts from the gift shop, we checked the other museum across, which focused on the shooting of Martin Luther King Jr.. The shooter was suspected of shooting a bullet through a bathroom window of a boarding house, which the second museum took place in. We left, seeing a lady boycotting the museum, and came back on the bus.

   

We dropped our stuff at the Quality Inn and went to Beale Street. We were free roaming the streets with friends and ended up at Blue City Café. I had some fried catfish and shared some gumbo fries. I am just so grateful for the friends I've made as well as the places I've seen. I really hope that I will stay in contact with them and see each other sometime. I am excited to come home and sleep in my bed, but definitely not excited to say goodbye, goodbye to the South and the great people I have met, kids, teachers, activists alike. I had a really great time, and I hope that most people agree with me on this.

   

Nina Feliciano, The Park School

I am black too

   Today was my breaking point. I broke down crying in the middle of the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel where, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Everything that I saw and heard on this trip like museums, exhibits, and activists got to me. Today, I also better understood my identity. In the National Civil Rights Museum today, I saw that blacks were from the Caribbean also. Since I'm also from the Dominican Republic, I realized that I am black too. We're all black. Our ancestors are black. I am very appreciative of this trip and I am going to take this experience with me for the rest of my life. Thank you.

Anonymous

Tougaloo College

When I first arrived to Tougaloo College it seemed like a ghost town. I saw a couple of students walking on campus but the vibe seemed so depressing. The trees looked so sad and distressed. Once we walked around, we saw students dancing with so much culture. This enlightened the mood of the university. Tougaloo University has so much history and I love how the students try to keep the history alive.

Deyreni Ferreras, Hope High School

All that they had to endure

These last two days of the trip have been good. We finally were a united group and got along. I enjoyed learning about The Little Rock Nine today and I had a lot of fun with the youth at the Sunflower Project yesterday. The youth from the Sunflower Project were really fun and smart and were quite willing to help out in their communities. I wish we would have had more time with them. Learning about The Little Rock Nine and all that they had to endure just to get a decent education was inspiring and made me grateful that I don't have to do what they did just to get an education.

-Anonymous

Education makes leaders

 January 19th 2017

My overall takeaway from today is the importance of education. We went to Little Rock Central High School that was one of the 1st school that was integrated in Arkansas. There's were people who fought for an  education with a diverse classroom and more options and we sometimes take that for granted. We had the honor to meet Dr. Sybil Hampton. She replaced one of the Little Rock Nine who got expelled for responding to her abusers who would spit in her face. The three rules that they have for the colored kids when being integrated; 

One is no extracurricular activities. Ms.Cybill expressed that at Dunbar (the black high school) she was able to be apart of a plethora of electives. 

The second one was that their parents were unable to take them to school so they had to find their own rides but the NAACP chairmen for Little Rock, the principal and her secretary were very protective and supportive of them all.

The third one was that they can't retaliate to their abusers. One thing that I had no clue about was the lost year in Little Rock public schools. Children had no school for a year.

  

Another big takeaway that I got was how any involvement of a big movement like that is appreciated. When we went to the National Civil Rights Museum we saw the room that Martin Luther King stayed in. We saw how the others had to help carry on the rest of the movement. We also noticed that the Black Lives Matter movement doesn't have anyone's face or name connected to it like the Civil Rights Movement did. The enslavement exhibit really hit me with the fact that we are the next leaders like King.

Victoria Able, City Neighbors High School

The home of Medgar Evers

The time that we have together is coming to a close and you can feel the group becoming a family. I did not think I would make so many new friends and branch out the way that I have been doing. On this day, we visited the home of Medgar Evers. I am a very visual person and in order for me to completely understand and internalize many of these events I have to imagine them. It was interesting to finally put a life to a name and get to know Medgar. It is amazing to think that his family had to live around his choice of occupation, like his children learned to play on the floor where it was safer. It is also amazing to know that Medgar knew that he was dying soon. He predicted it all in little gestures and that seems evident in all the deaths of major civil rights leaders. 

Anon Y. Mouse

Little Rock Nine

Today was amazing. Im feeling a mixture of emotions because its the last day but I think it was a good way to end. I really enjoyed the talk with Dr. Sybil Jordan Hampton. I thought the fun facts we learned about the Little Rock Nine were very interesting and I can't wait to share with everyone back home all that I've learned. 

Ayjah Maggett, The Park School

'twas interesting

When applying to come on this trip I didn't expect to learn so much about the movements AND myself. Today was the most interesting day of the trip because of all the quick intellectual and emotional turns that I took today both by myself and with the group. Today I was critical of an activist and the things that they said and I believe that it really helped me in being able to see that activist are just people that have flaws like everyone else. I also was able to do a lot of self reflection which I feel will definitely help me to grow.

Tobias Gilliam, Baltimore City College

I've learned to be grateful

Sunflower County hit my feelings hard. It's amazing how I have things that I take for granted. The freedom project kids are really insightful and intelligent. They are aware of what is going on in their community and wishes that things could change. There was one I talked to who asked me about the life in Baltimore City. I told him how it was then I asked him how life was in sunflower county. He explained to me that he lived down the street from the freedom project building and he noticed that the area had a big littering problem. He told me the story about how everyday, he and his mom pick up the litter. He told me he felt defeated because every time he picked up litter there was more than before. He also told me how he wished he had more better looking books than he has. He comes from a family of seven and always get the ripped up books. His story had me thinking about it him the whole way home. I want to donate books to his family and the freedom project. It was nice to hear ideas, problems, and solutions from students my age and a bit younger. When it came time for us to go, I didn't want to leave. I felt a little at home there. I wish there was a way I could help them in their community. I wish I didn't take the things I have for granted so much. Out of this trip, I've learned to be grateful for what I have. I've learned that there are people who have it much worse than I have. 

Kaijah Dawson 

City Neighbors High School

Being able to put a face to the name

Today was the perfect for me. Everything that has happened was fine but the thing that made it perfect for me was meeting freedom School co-chair of Meridian, Mississippi, Roscoe Jones. Meeting Mr.Jones means so much to me because as a student who attended freedom School, meeting a co-chair of one of the first schools ever, and hearing about how it was back then, and comparing it to how it is now, the curriculum is the same. Focusing on teaching kids how to read past their reading level, math, learning necessary life skills, and future occupation skills. I feel as though our curriculum is a little different today but not by a lot. By me knowing the history of how freedom schools were prior to meeting Roscoe Jones and finally being able to put a face to the name was more than exciting.

Kaijah Dawson 

City Neighbors High School

I already want to make changes in my community.

Today was the last day of our trip and It was a great day. We went to Little Rock and Lorraine Motel and I was brought to tears and in the museums I think everything came together at that time, seeing the place where the sniper who killed Dr. King was. This is the first time I'd cried on this trip, I think this has been a hugely impactful trip and I think I need a lot more time to reflect. I feel like I already want to make changes in my community.

Dakotah J, Park School

Exhausted but I'm sad that our trip is coming to a close

Day 5 felt quite different from past days. I was definitely the most of any day so far, but we did a lot of interesting things. My personal highlights were seeing the house where Medgar Evers was assassinated and learning some new freedom songs from CRM vets. We also had an amazing time singing (ok, screaming) and dancing to music on the trip to Little Rock. I'm sad that our trip is coming to a close, but I'm excited for the next legs of our trip. 

Paige McDonald, The Park School

A continuation of mixed emotions

Today was a continuation of mixed emotions. We started off with the resumed discussion of "feelings" and trying to please everyone's needed comfort. Then, we stopped at Medgar Ever's house to look at the historical content within it. Viewing the house made me envision the actual murder as we also had time to stand in/observe the driveway. I felt like an investigator, looking around for clues and angles that the shooter used in order to commit the tragic homicide of Medgar Evers. 

Jamilah Johnson, City Neighbors High School

Day 5: Mississippi

Today was a very LONG day! I am exhausted & tired but overall today I reached my "breaking point." Today I cried when we went to Sunflower County Freedom Project. I just fell in love with all the students. They were so nice and kind to me & very intelligent! The reason I cried today is because I just realized how grateful I am to go to a school thats not segregated, Grateful to live in a community with diversity not just all black people, and I'm glad my school has after school programs that are easy for me to access. The students have to take a long ride from their schools just to get extra help like tutoring and drama classes and I feel like those programs should be available at their school. I also cried because I realized I take so many things for granted. For example my school has a lot of extra curricular activities after school that I could participate in but I'm just lazy to and I'm starting to realize that I need to take advantage of the things around me because not everyone has the same opportunities available to them as I do. This brought me back to the overnight when we did the egg drop challenge because the same type of thing went on . Some people couldn't succeed during the egg challenge because they didn't have the right materials or didn't know how to use them in a way to save their egg from cracking . Honestly, now that I went to the Sunflower County Freedom Project I am encouraged me to send them and other schools supplies that may help them. I also want to get something started in my community that could help schools facing these same problems. I don't know how I will get it done but it's something I'll definitely be speaking to teachers and others when I get back to rhode island.

Kelley Sellers, Hope High School

Today, we left the Quality Inn after a conversation about our group dynamic. The day before, we had a long conversation about it because there were mixed opinions about comfort level in the group. I think we are making progress. This seemed evident as we had a big dance party/sing along tonight in the bus that most people participated in. 

  We arrived at the Medgar Wiley Evers' house. He was shot by Byron De La Beckwith right outside of his own home. A bullet went straight through him and into the house, through the window, hitting the fridge, ricocheting off of it, and landing on the counter, sliding under a watermelon on it. I found that I could identify with this landmark better than others since that was the original house that was standing when Medgar Evers was killed. I didn't have to imagine the scene as much like other places, such as imagining what happened when seeing the remains of Bryant's Grocery later that day. (This was the grocery store where Emmett Till was said to be flirting with a white woman.) Going back to the house, we could also see bloodstains along the sidewalk where Evers crawled toward the stairs. I couldn't believe that there are people still living around monuments such as  this house and Bryant's Grocery. These events were hateful, terrible, and tragic and shouldn't have happened. 

I wonder how these events impact the people living nearby. Do they seem not to care? If they did, they'd probably be haunted by the fact that these events happened or felt endangered and would have left. I found it interesting that before we got off the bus to the Evers' house, the woman next door came out of her house and rolled out of her driveway. She was black and wasn't too young. I'm still wondering about that woman and what she thinks. 

After the house, we drove to Tougaloo College. We heard memories of the Civil Rights Movement from two activists: Flonzie Wright Brown and Hollis Watkins. What I enjoyed the most with them is singing Freedom songs with them. It reminds me of what Barbara Mines had spoken about revolting to the jail keepers and kept singing "Freedom Songs" when she was arrested because of her participation in the Children's March.  

After hearing them speak, we watched a short video about Upgrade Mississippi, which I thought didn't really talk about Upgrade Mississippi as much as I expected. But either way, we were able to asks questions. It turns out that they have three programs: one about education, one about civic engagement and one about health. They also build community gardens like a non profit in Baltimore called Dayspring, which has a sub program called Dayspring Gardens. It was cool to see this connection between Baltimore and Mississippi. The name seemed to be pretty cool too because the speaker related all of us as phones. We all pretty much have the same purpose in life, like phones all have the same purpose, however each generation of a phone changes because of their functions, meaning we can evolve our ways of helping the community. 

Afterwards, we had a brief college tour, checking out the church which is considered a historical site, as well as a mansion there. I remember liking the aura of the place as I was walking around. It was nice and calm. Once we hit the parking lot, it was interesting to watch the stepping. It was pretty cool to observe. I found myself thinking that black fraternities and sororities have a different meaning compared to the white Greek life. It seemed that the steppers were honing on to their heritage of being black compared to the culture of white fraternities. 

We left Tougaloo College and drove to Bryant's Grocery and then to Sunflower County Freedom Project. I found that this was the most inspiring part of today. The Sunflower County Freedom Project is an after school and summer program that leads students on to the path of success for education and encouraging kids to fight for their civil rights. There is a 60% for kids to graduate from high school in Sunflower Country but an 97% - 100% chance of graduating high school if they are part of the program for a good period of time. Although it seemed to a be a beaten down building on the outside, it was so hopeful on the inside. I was so happy that the middle schoolers and high schoolers are not losing hope, even if they have less resources, they had a very small library, and have segregation in schools. They are all so smart, and I was so happy to be able to hang out with them for what little time we had. I would have hoped that we could talk to them longer and particularly ask them about their individual experiences. I wanted to compare my 11th grade life with theres. I hope that they will all thrive and be successful today and in their futures. I came in saying don't judge a book by its cover, and I feel like that is a good statement to describe Sunflower County Freedom Project.

   After buying some shirts, the dance party started and we headed to dinner at Chili's. I got this really good Rib Eye Burrito Bowl. We left and arrived at another Super 8 motel. I felt like I was energized today even though I am somewhat sleep deprived. I hope that I can keep that same energy tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing Central High School.

Nina Feliciano, The Park School

Parris experience in Mississippi

In Mississippi we went to Medgar Evers home. He was a civil rights activist in the NAACP at the time of his death when he was assassinated in his driveway. It seemed too good to be true that I was in a historic place. Until I realized that the blood after he got hit with the bullet was still on the driveway when he was shot in 1963. And it is now 2017. That blood has been there for the last 54 years and that amazed me.

-Parris Collick, City Neighbors High School 

Strength and Optimism

Today we were privileged to visit Tougaloo College, an HBCU in Jackson, MS. We heard from veterans of the Civil Rights Movement, and an organization called Upgrade Mississippi run by college students. As stated on their website, Upgrade Mississippi is a non-profit organization that “promotes the significance of education, self-cultural and ethical awareness through establishing and enhancing youth empowerment, unity, professional development, and social cohesion.” These students’ personal stories made it clear why a young, black-led,  empowerment organization is important today. 

Later, we toured some of the campus, and learned about its history. Tougaloo was originally a slave plantation, so there is a lot of upsetting and unsettling history on the grounds. After listening to the history of the campus, we ventured on towards a group of students to hear about their campus life. Immediately, these students started to dance and laugh with each other and have a great time together. I really enjoyed this part because I got to see a college campus in action. 

Later in the evening, we visited the Sunflower County Freedom Project. While there, we discussed past and present civil rights issues and how they relate to all of us. We then came up with issues within our community and how we might work to solve them. It was really interesting to hear different issues and perspectives, since we are a group of different students from different communities. I liked that we were talking about possible solutions and not just restating the problems. 

Towards the end of the night, we watched a documentary on the school systems in Little Rock, AK. One quote that was mentioned in this documentary was one from Jesse Owens: “Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it and you'll start believing it.” I really liked this quote because it is inspiring and so full of optimism. 

Jack Kalvar, The Park School of Baltimore

Preserving a Legacy

Peering down the road I saw nothing of significance. More barren trees huddling close to the perimeter. More telephone poles with faded white paint, loosely connected by wires sagging under the weight of history. Then I let my eyes focus once more on the shop where Emmett Till was identified as having supposedly flirted with a white woman.

The site of the buildup to the murder of a fourteen year old boy, whose unrecognizable face after death was displayed for all to bear witness, was allowed to decay with time. The walls crumbling, and the remaining outside portions of the structure overrun with vines. It made me uncomfortable to see the significant building that was surrendered to time, especially because I feel there have been less significant locations we have visited that have been preserved and renovated to ensure their original likeness was not lost. However Emmett Till is dead, regardless of the condition of that shop. His death sparked a will to rise up in the souls of many, and that fact would not have changed if the store had been in better state. Likewise the ability to pass on Emmett Till's legacy to future generations was not hindered by the dilapidation of one of his final known locations. 

The monumental lessons we learn from heroes and martyrs of the past do not fade as physical reminders of their time on earth do. It is up to us to honor their memory, no matter the physical preservation of moments in their lives. 

Pablo Richter, Baltimore City College

CRT Day 4: Montgomery

After Roscoe Jones spoke, I went with a group of others to ask him some questions while others got dessert. I forget who asked the question, but he was asked if he ever felt like giving up during the movement, and he said yes. When we asked why, he said “It’s always lonely at the top.” Being a student leader had been very stressful and isolating, and there were times when he wanted to stop. But he kept on going. Since I myself want to be a leader of some or any sort in the future, I really took that to heart as words of caution, or a warning of what I would be getting myself into. It was powerful coming from someone like him, who was my age and worked in the movement. I wonder if I could become that involved at my age.

Looking forward to Mississippi tomorrow.

Luke Pound, The Park School

CRT Day 5: Mississippi

Today we went to Tougaloo, saw Medgar Evers' house and saw the historic store where Emmett Till's life was changed. Today was hard for me, I kept feeling like nothing was hitting me and I was somehow wrong for it. I got chills at the store and the Evers' house, but I think I couldn't picture it. It was really hard to think of what happened without it feeling like a reenactment. It felt weird being at the Evers' house in the place where Medgar Evers died. I really enjoyed going to the Sunflower County Freedom Project and talking with the students. It was really great and I loved their energy.

Dakotah J, Park School

Birmingham

Today, was an interesting day for me. After packing up, we went downstairs for breakfast, got on the bus, and listened to part of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" as we came to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. In his speech, Martin Luther King wrote topics such as nonviolent protest and unlawful laws and what constitutes as them.

 We came into the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and watched a short video specifically on he lives of black people in Birmingham. The projector screen rose up revealing the museum inside. The museum was filled with artifacts, old photos, and models of people, such as Rosa Parks. At first I thought the museum was really small, until I realized that there were endless hallways ahead. There was so much information that I wanted to read, but I wasn't able to look through it all due to time constraints. The most striking realization I had there was that the Aunt Jemima company wanted to keep the black woman stereotype of "a happy, overweight, "Mammy" figure." It made me think how twisted it is that we still have Aunt Jemima, and it still exists today. Even though the black woman looks different, it still holds on to the origins of the woman figure of Aunt Jemima.

 After the museum, we went to the 16th Street Baptist Church in the beautiful weather and took a group picture. It's very upsetting and disturbing what happened to the four girls at that church, but it was also an honor to get the chance to be there and be at the place where one of the most famous events of Birmingham took place.
We got back on the bus and drove to lunch, meeting up with Cleopatra Goree, Barbara Mines, and Catherine Burks-Brooks. It was also an honor getting to hear their memories about being a teacher and supporting the Children's March, participating in the Children's March, and about the Freedom Rides. It was also nice to meet Mr. Rivers, a friend of Traci's dad. We ended our time with us holding hands, crossing right over left, singing "We Shall Overcome."

We left and headed toward Selma, watching a video called "Eyes on the Prize", featuring many original video clips during that time, such as Bloody Sunday, and Turn-Around Tuesday. These were also very upsetting, but were important to watch. We arrived in Selma and walked out of the bus into the early night, toward the Brown Chapel African Episcopal Methodist Church, later taking a group picture there as well. This church acted as a hospital for the injured marchers.

We walked toward Edmund Pettus Bridge, and walked in pairs across, singing "We Shall Overcome" once more. When we got to the end of the bridge, we were greeted with murals and monuments of Civil Rights Movement heroes. We then all gathered and group and had reflections of the current moment and the current day. I found the reflections to be really insightful, topics ranging from fear to freedom, and death to peace, and fitting in to enjoying the moment.

We got a late dinner and came to the Super 8 motel. I'm looking forward to having a meaningful day tomorrow and hope I get enough rest.

Nina Feliciano, The Park School

A purpose confirmed

January 17th 2017

Pre-Reflection 

Today so far I feel lost and without a purpose with being on his trip I think for me all that I was currently looking for on this trip fulfilled yesterday. Lately, I've been feeling more and more stuck in something similar to my situation at home. For example having to watch everything I say and do so my dad won't use it against me. I feel like I have to be silent and think and figure out why they won't talk to me like my brother. 

Greyhound Activity

We started our day out with going to the historic greyhound bus stop for an activity. We had to create a statue by the people and everything on the side of the bus stop. My group chose Jim Zierg because he was a Freedom rider and he was always first to get off the bus and always first hit. With that being said of course we reenacted that via statue.

EJI

Then we went to EJI which is a non-profit who's helping to decrease the number of children in the jail system given life without parole or the death sentence, mass incarceration, and to abolish death row. They also work in jail housing and the legacy of racial and emotional justice. They were founded in 1980. We spoke about the difference of Alabama and Maryland . For example in Alabama they have 22 appeal judges who are all white. In Maryland we have public defenders who we are given when you can't afford one but there they have and appointment system where lawyers around the state will appoint themselves for a moment despite them not specializing in public defense.

Roscoe Jones

We ate dinner with Roscoe Jones who was a teacher and being a young leader in Meridian and the movement. He also was in COFO who helped create the freedom schools. 

Post-Reflection

My takeaway from day 4 of the trip is the confirmation that my purpose on this trip is now to think about where am I going with my life with Roscoe Jones's 3 questions , who am I, where am I going and what can I do to better it? So far in okay with the unknown but I'm nervous of the time that I will find it won't be fitting for what I want to accomplish. At EJI the two people who spoke to us were young educated black people named Keira and Evan. Keira and Evan are everything I strive to be. They are within the equality / civil rights movement, but they found that they wanted to give back to their community through law and I want to do the same through education. Roscoe Jones taught me how meaningful school is for children because they learn the fundamentals and foundation to be a literate equal person in this community. He used School as a refuge similar to how to Schafer in school. I also noticed how to share in schools. He said 2 quotes that confirmed this purpose for me " Become a teach because you care not for a paycheck" and that "Black lives matter should be black life matters because at this point we aren't scared of the KKK killing us but it's one of us killing each other."

-Anonymous

"Black life matters"

Today we I took in a lot when we spoke to Roscoe Jones. He said many things that really touched my heart. I think it was very cool how important education was to him. I feel that we forget the importance of education through these movements. I liked how he has thought a lot about things going on right now in our world. He said "Black life matters." This shows that it is important for people of color to stick together. 

-Rosa Medrano,  Hope High School

The icing on the cake

Today is day four, today I was excited because we went to EJI. I was excited because EJI has a direct correlation to what I will be studying in college (major in Psychology minor in Sociology or Criminal Justice). I felt very informed when we went to EJI and some of the things that were being said, I was already aware of given the fact that I had done my research on the death penalty and watched documentaries on mass incarceration. I left there being sure about what my career goals are and I actually felt like I wanted to work at EJI in the future as maybe a case manager or something. Seeing thee Bryan Stevenson was just the icing on the cake. I also enjoyed talking to Mr. Roscoe Jones. He was very insightful and relatable.

-Anonymous

I should drop everything and go to law school

I have officially lost all concept of time. I've been saying all day that today is day three. But! today is in fact day four and it was great. We went to the Equal Justice Initiative first. I was incredibly inspired (so much so that I was joking with friends about how I should drop everything and go to law school so I could join them). We had the amazing experience of briefly meeting Bryan Stevenson (and by meeting, I mean us screaming how much we love him from across the street until he ran across to us). We then went to SPLC and to meet Roscoe Jones. It was a great day and I'm ready to see what comes next. 

Paige McDonald, The Park School

EJI helped me rekindle my interest

Today was inspiring and hopeful. After a quick breakfast, we headed to the Greyhound bus station in Alabama. There we had a mini group project. We were split into groups of 3 and each group was supposed to find a blurb about a Freedom Rider and create a monument out of themselves to commemorate that Freedom Rider. The one that my group chose was Reverend James Lawson. He was Methodist Minister who trained the Nashville students Gandhi's nonviolent philosophy. Reverend Lawson believed that nonviolence could lead to integration. As a group, one of us sat with a book as another tried to take her book away, and the other held fists up behind the sitting girl. It was interesting hearing information on different people and how what their role was in the movement, as well as seeing how they portrayed the activist and their ideas through their monument.
   
After, we came to the Equal Justice Initiative, or EJI, founded by Bryan Stevenson. There, we watched a short video about death row and mass incarceration and how this non profit organization has helped to take people off of death row. I believe so far they have saved 115 people in Alabama. After, we had an overview of the process that death row convicts go through and had the chance to ask questions. We took a group picture in front of the building, and as we were walking away, Traci saw someone walking across the street. It was Bryan Stevenson. So we got really excited, or at least I did, and he crossed the street and took a photo with us quickly since he had someplace to go. EJI helped me rekindle my interest in creating a better judicial system. It made me want to read Just Mercy again. The key point that came out of this experience was to spread awareness that 1 in 3 black people are incarcerated and that this is a problem.

We walked on and acknowledged some historical plaques, an example being slave trade markets, as we got to the the Civil Rights Memorial Center. The center, which was a museum, focused specifically on 40 lost lives during the Civil Rights Movement. We looked at some of the blurbs of these people and watched a video focused on some of the victims, like Emmett Till and Viola Liuzzo, and came to the Wall of Tolerance. There I typed my name into a touch screen type of computer, which projected the name on to the wall. I pledged that I would devote my life to fight for "justice, equality, and human rights." We exited the museum after some of us bought some items from the gift shop and spent some time at the monument that was near the museum. We also took a group picture there too.
   
We ate lunch from Burger King or Wendy's and drove to a buffet in Meridian, Mississippi to meet Roscoe Jones. He spoke about his time with Freedom Schools and talked about his overall time in the movement. There was question and answering time. Some found his statements to be agreeable and disagreeable when he was asked about what he thought about the Black Lives Matter movement. But overall, his key point was to fight for something you believe in.

We left the buffet and watched a movie, which I think was called Ghost of Mississippi. We arrived at Quality Inn. We put our bags in our rooms and had a discussion on how we felt on the trip/at the moment and our group dynamic. It was interesting how we felt differently about our group and at the given moment, positively and negatively. After the conversation, we went upstairs to our rooms.

Tomorrow will be a long day, but I hope that we will all be able to make it through, mentally and physically.

Nina Feliciano, The Park School

Sorry for the blog

Sorry I haven't blogged for a couple days, I've been ready to sleep the moment I got back to my bed. This is indicative of how much energy we're expending on these experiences everyday. Today we visited the EJI in Montgomery, which does important work, saving people put on death row who didn't commit the crimes they were accused of. Additionally, they work to end lifetime sentences for children as young as 13. On the wall, there were jars of soil from the sites of various lynchings held in Alabama. After this visit, we walked over to the SPLC, and explored their museum, which had additional exhibits on lynchings, as well as modern hate crimes. Then, we transported ourselves to Meridian, Mississippi, where we met with Roscoe Jones, another civil rights hero. It was a long day,  but one full of information, and a constructive method of presentation. My highlight would be visiting the Civil Rights memorial outside the SPLC with the names of several lynching victims as well as critical times and events.

-Mahey Gheis, The Park School

Lessons on Interpersonal Connections

The big emphasis from today was on the group dynamic, and how some students felt like they did not have a setting where they could openly share their views without judgment. I was troubled by the number of people who felt that way, and it made me want to do better in how I act around people who have perspectives that differ from mine, whether it be perceived or explicitly shared. For many people it is difficult to share their thoughts with a big group, because there are fears of how they will then be perceived in the eyes of others or if they will be respected. And going forward in the future I aim to be entirely honest about my perspective with another person, and appear open to their unique views, so that we can have an open, two sided conversation. Personally I am much better about speaking to individuals than to a group, so in those personal conversations I want to establish connections with those whose perspectives I do not regularly experience, in order to gain a better understanding of their situation and where we hold common ground in issues we care about.

Once again it is clear that this trip is not only providing me with hugely important information, but also lessons on how to interact with people from much different backgrounds than myself. These life lessons are sometimes more important than learning hard facts, and it's great that the trip has a capacity to affect participants within both of these planes.

Pablo Richter, Baltimore City College

I met Bryan Stevenson today !!!!!!

I met Bryan Stevenson today !!!!!! Ahhhh!!! I know amazing right. That put everything in perspective for me it showed me that this revolution isn't the same as our parents and grandparents revolution. Hearing Mr. Roscoe Jones speak showed me that this trip is to learn about the civil rights movement and not necessarily replicate it. We need to keep some things but find our own revolution and be confident in it. The evolution of revolutions is natural. Things change and that's ok. 

Dominique Whit, Baltimore City College

Today we...fangirled

Today we visited Montgomery, AL and saw some of the the big civil rights hot spots. We got to see the square where the Slave auctions were held. At the moment that we arrived to the placard, a businessman hops out of this black SUV and it was so coincidental, like we all thought he was some sort of secret agent or FBI agent coming to get us. It was so funny. He starts asking where we are from and it was hilarious. Later after we visited EJI, we got to see Bryan Stevenson who literally popped out of nowhere and we all started fangirling and screaming and it was amazing. He was such a nice person. I got to take a ton of really great pictures (this trip has been bringing out my best pictures) and it was amazing. We also got to meet with Roscoe Jones, who was absolutely hilarious. His story was so spectacular and he reminded me a lot of my grandmother. It was a wonderful experience.

So many thank you's to the chaperones who planned this. You guys are so wonderful!!

- Anon Y. Mouse

Deep Discussions and a Surprise Sighting

Today we visited the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery, AL. The EJI works tirelessly to end mass incarceration, reduce excessive punishment, and protect basic human rights in the court of law. In talking to some employees at EJI, we were able to learn more about the system, its effects, and what they do to combat them. It was really interesting to learn law vocabulary words, and gain a deeper insight into laws in Alabama. 

Later on, the conversation shifted to the topic of capital punishment (the death penalty), and how the EJI is opposed to it. I asked the speakers specifically about their own opinions on the death penalty and I received answers that I had never heard before. Common reasons I’ve heard that some people oppose the death penalty include that it is immoral, that on average it costs more than life in prison, and that it is the “easy way out.” In contrast, the answer I received today from the employees at the EJI was, “It's not do they deserve to die, it's do we have the right to kill?” I was completely intrigued by this answer because I had always thought about the death penalty in a passive way - that criminals would be put to death - as opposed to the employees’ active way of thinking, which was that people are killing. They went on to pose an interesting question: Who are we to decide whether someone is broken beyond repair or that someone can never have a place in society ever again? This led to a discussion about whether  the law system value finality or justice. 

Following this, our group shared ideas about the objectives of prison. Some people came to the conclusion that prisons should be abolished and that rehabilitation centers should take their place. At first the term “prison abolition” sounds extreme, but after listening to these ideas, I am more open to this idea. 

By some stroke of magic, immediately after walking out of EJI, we noticed BRYAN STEVENSON walking on the other side of the street! We shouted that we loved him and his work and we were so fortunate that he decided to come over and take a picture with us. I had seen Mr. Stevenson speak in Baltimore, and found him to be an incredibly engaging and thoughtful speaker. It was truly a cool moment to see him today! 

Jack Kalvar, The Park School of Baltimore

"I almost died for you!"

   Today at the Civil Right Memorial Center and the talk with Roscoe Jones made me realize that history is repeating itself. It made me think that the movement is still not over, and that we still have to finish what the people before us had started. A quote that Roscoe says that impacted me was "I almost got killed for you." This made me think about the responsibility we have as the future generation, to carry on their wonderful movement. We have to appreciate the participants in the civil rights movement because they impacted and shaped our lives today.

-Deyreni Ferreras, Hope High School

Equal Justice Inititative

My favorite part about today was going to the EJI Center. Before today I never heard of the EJI. At EJI center two people that actually work there talked about what they do. I learned that they work on issues with race, help communities, and help prisoners that are on death row appeal to get time off there sentence or released from prison. I feel like the EJI center was such a good experience because I learned more about the legal system in Alabama . For example, Alabama doesn't have a public defender system. I think this needs to be changed because I don't think its fair that some people that can't afford a lawyer are appointed lawyers that aren't even trained to defend the person on trial.

-Kelley Sellers, Hope High School

more than physical violence

Being on the trip, I have heard many stories from the prominent leaders who led and had unique

experiences with the Civil Rights Movement. They opened my eyes to the physical violence that

they each experienced and how it affected them as individuals and as a united front that fought

to end the inequalities and injustices that occurred in their youth, but being on this trip has

showed me that there is more than physical violence. Microaggressions stapled in ancient racial

stereotypes manifest themselves in everyday ways. Before this trip I believe that I may have

been oblivious to them, but because of the trip and the strong support system around me I am

stronger and wiser. This civil rights trip has given me a wiser and stronger mindset to combat

these microaggressions and the social constructs that they grow out of. Overall I am thankful for

this experience to grow and reflect as a person.

-A

whatever tomorrow may bring.

I feel exhausted emotionally. There have been points in this trip that I have felt were beneficial because they were emotional but as of now those moments seem overshadowed by the negative emotions flowing within many individuals. I believe that the combination of hearing about past events and the barbaric actions faced by blacks within America as well as the constantly shifting group dynamic has caused the trip to become exhausting. However, I don't believe that feelings of exhaustion should always have a negative connotation as they can be a result of a challenging environment. So today I have mixed emotions, I'm exhausted, hopeful, tired, sad, and ready for whatever tomorrow may bring. 

Anonymous 

In the right direction

Today we went EJI (Equal Justice Initiative) and we were talking about laws today. And how those laws were broken back in the day and I have come to learn that most of the laws that were back in the day were unjust and people weren't treated equal. Today I got to meet Roscoe Jones and he inspired me because he genuinely wanted to be apart of the march that went from Selma to Montgomery. So I want to be like a Martin Luther King of this generation so I can lead people in the right direction.

Parris Collick, City Neighbors High School

Not everyone had to be a rider or marcher

Today we went to the Southern Poverty Law Center and met Roscoe Jones. I added my name to the list of pledgers to stop spreading hate, and learned a lot about the CRM behind the scenes. Not everyone had to be a rider or marcher, there were teachers, parents, and helpers in the movement that were vital. I really enjoyed the museum also, and learning more about specific people.

Dakotah J, Park School

Moral of the story is...

Yesterday was a emotional and heavy day for a lot of us. We went to another museum and we spoke with actual Freedom Riders. I think it was Ms. Cleopatra who said "choose this day what you shall do." This quote was very impactful for me because to me it meant to act now, don't wait. If you have a dream or a goal or aspiration don't procrastinate, go and make it happen. Moral of the story is, don't sleep on yourself.

-Anonymous

If it wasn't for their bravery

My favorite part of the day was hearing the stories of the people that were part of the civil rights movement. I particularly liked Catherine Burks-Brooks' story. Her mug shot was a perfect representation of the attitude they had back in the day during the movement. Listening to her speak about the things she did made the history a little more like reality. It's different reading about something and actually hearing about it from someone that actually went through it. The women that spoke today were very brave and I thank them for what they did when they were my age. If it wasn't for their bravery, our nation may not have been what it is today.

-Anonymous 

Did he think the word was offensive?

I found yesterday to be very interesting, We visited the Birmingham civil rights institute. One thing I noticed was that all of the statues in the exhibits had no color, but I could still distinguish the difference between black and white people. 

There was a little white girl in the museum with her father and she ask "why were black people like that", her father then quickly shushed her and told her not to say black. This moment had me in deep thought. Did he think the word is offensive? Is blackness a taboo? Overall I think that silencing the young curios mind is bad and might only increase ignorance. If he'd answered her question maybe the young girl would have learned something.

Marie Mokuba, Baltimore City College

I'm Still Learning

As of yesterday I felt accomplished due to the events that took place where I stood. I felt accomplished because it's a memorable feeling that I have and getting to stand in the same spot where people died for our freedom and rights really means a lot. However, along this trip I'm still learning as I go. Also I still have questions that yet has been answered.

Ty'Quan Jackson, Baltimore City College

A Very Powerful Day

Today was a very powerful day. Walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge broke me. Just the thought of human beings being beaten and murdered at the very place where my feet stood made tears fall from my eyes. Also, hearing the stories of people who were active during the Civil Rights Movement made me appreciate the movement more than I ever have before. They sacrificed themselves so that the future could be better but they didn't even know us. Today hit me hard. 

Ayjah Maggett, The Park School

Today was an important day. Meeting with the freedom riders was the most amazing thing I've ever done. Hearing the stories from the actual people themselves was very inspiring. I was able to hear the stories from a different point of view besides the narrator's and text books. I was able to talk to Barbara Mines before we left for Selma and she said something that I will always remember.  She said “ I am passing the torch to you. I lit it and ran with it. You run and do something with it. Whatever you do, don't let the torch burn out.” This means a lot to me and it stuck out to me. I'm not exactly sure what this means but  when the time comes, I will understand it.

When we arrived at the Edmund Pettus bridge, I felt many feelings. Comfort, peace, and this feeling of demand. When I first started walking I had a neutral feeling but as I walked further and looked down at my feet, I felt peace. Knowing that my feet are taking the same steps on the exact side that Dr. King took built this peace and comfort. I imagined me walking with Martin Luther King and all the other protesters and seeing the police on the other side of the bridge, I felt like I was doing good. I loved the experience and would want to experience it again. During the reflection circle, I was really taking everything in. Someone said something that really had me thinking. “If you look back at that bridge, there was absolutely nobody behind you. It's up to you to do something”. This stuck out to me and brought tears to my eyes because it was true. There was no one behind us. Nobody to pickup where we left off. So if we start something we have to finish it because who knows what's next in life.

Kaijah Dawson, City Neighbors High School

The Waffle Cooks

January 16th 2017

I first started this day by watching CNN as I ate my finally successful waffle. On CNN there was a speech about our president elect, Donald Trump and the crude things he's said about Congressman John Lewis . John Lewis is someone who did the work of abolishing segregation through the Freedom Rides and Selma. So, if almost getting beat to death is all talk the I don't know anything.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

This was the first place we went as a group. We started off with a 8 minute video about Birmingham. One thing that I learned was that black people helped the city thrive with coal mining and they were paid horribly low, but the people helped their families get education and access to health care. Due to this being after slavery they had a strict color divide that was informed by brutality, so black people made their own thriving communities. What hit me the most wasn't a part of the institute, but it was by a person who was there. It was a little girl who was looking at the exhibit and kept saying " That isn't fair." At that point the institute made me realize that if she can get it then everyone understands what's going on and we are masking the impact using coping mechanisms like Trump who is blaming the people because law enforcement and the rest of government can't be wrong although it wouldn't be the first time they were wrong.

Activists 

Today for lunch not only were we fed some amazing soul food from Alabama but we also fed some wisdom from some Activists in the Civil Rights Movement .

•Cleopatra Goree

She was a history and English  teacher when her students walked out the classroom to protest. From there she followed them and fought for Civil Rights. They would go to 16th street church to sing hymns, listen to speakers and talk about the next steps in the movement. This is how a classroom should be in my opinion open-walled and personalized , but I need guidance on how to do so as a future educator. With that being said, I asked her what advice would she give to a future educator? Some key things that I got from her that with teaching is a calling because you don't get paid enough and you're also think what would you do at the kids age.We can't group all children the same.

•Katherine Burkes Brooks

She's from Birmingham and went to school in Nashville. She told us about their childhood and how she lived in an area that you could go 5 blocks before being in a white neighborhood. At a young age she was fed up with going through segregation to spend time with her mom downtown and to go to and from school. Her first run in with the bull (Bull Connor) was when Paul Brooks (her boyfriend and husband ) sat together on the bus and the Bull came on and took them off. Then he tried to narrow down who was a Freedom rider based off their tickets. When he took them in for their ticket destination, then, John Lewis and her were promised a ride from jail to Nashville from Bull Connor and he dropped them off in the middle of no where.  She expressed how that experience went. He picked them up in then she went through that moment when they almost stopped the Freedom ride after a bombing. 

•Barbara Mines

She was a child marcher in the 1960's. Her mom was determined to go to every Civil Rights meeting at every church. Every meeting was standing room only. Selma decided to have the children march but her mom refused to her let her march and made her promise to to go to school. Instead she went to School to put her books in her locker and went to march. They sent them in groups of 50's in different ways. As she crossed the street she got arrested and put in the wagon at the county jail that was packed. Then the Juvenile Penitentiary. she was moved 3 times for singing Freedom songs. They slept on the metal of the cot and they put them in the sweat house which was super small with metal walls. As kids hey were sick and tired of discrimination and segregation and not to get books and materials. When you're younger and have heavy emotions with something you have a low fear.

Pre-Selma

After all that we did today I realized how meaningful and needed  it is for me to remain strong and become more proactive in black greatness and politics for my little cousins and the rest of the next generation. Today after the museum I was able to see the MLK Celebration in the park on the other side and it was just like Ms. Goree said the outside of the 16th Street Church was full of snacks, hotdogs and  just a celebration in the park. As a teen I also agree with Ms. Goree because we don't have enough physical conversation and that's something that we need to start and pass on to the next generation. I just keep repeating that we all have a seat at the table of America, what are we gonna do with it, but I never answered it. With my seat at the table of America I will use the knowledge and wisdom that I've obtained to uplift and educate my generation and the future generation. I remain to be a life long learner. I will carry on Martin Luther King Jr's dream of his kids and youth not being judged by their race but by the content of their character. I will also expand the categories of the what is not to be judged, such as gender and sexual orientation because we all deserve peace and not to be oppressed. I vow to do these things and be a instrument for thy peace as I walk across the Selma bridge so we can overcome these injustices as Civil Rights activists and leader to overcome segregation and voting rights for black people. 

Post -Selma

Overall after today I feel answered because I now found my "how?" question. I need to create conversation, uplift and educate myself and others and love myself. Yes, it will be difficult like my waffle who remained to stay undone yesterday, but it will be okay if you take it one day at a time .

Victoria Able, City Neighbors High School