BALTIMORE CIVIL RIGHTS TRIP
January 2024
ATLANTA, GA (again)
The forecast in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee, was not in our favor, so we made the difficult decision to stay safe and turn the bus around towards to home. But, luckily, we knew that if we stopped back in Atlanta, there was more history to unpack. We had lunch at the iconic Paschal's Restaurant and had a chance meeting with photographer Horace Henry, who took many of the photos that hang in the restaurants. Many of us got to try Paschal's famous fried chicken, which according to Ambassador Andrew Young, is the best fried chicken ever.
We also visited Morehouse College, MLK's alma mater.
BIRMINGHAM, AL (cont'd)
By morning, the roads were clear, and we were able to make our way to the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park.
BIRMINGHAM, AL
We made it safely to Birmingham, AL, but because of the freezing temperatures and icy roads, it was unsafe for us to venture out. But this didn't matter. We still had plenty of work to do! We studied MLK's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," and we wrote our own freedom songs.
Lyrics by Craig and Cassandra
Lyrics by Gabe and Malik
{Verse 1}
We sit where they sat,
Riding the bus down freedom road.
We sit where they sat,
Drinking a coke in Greensboro.
We sit where they sat,
Praying for peace in Georgia.
We sit where they sat,
Marching along the arc of justice
{Bridge}
Freedom, Freedom. Blown up in a long southern ride.
Freedom. Freedom. Waiting and too long denied.
"In Due Time"
By Ry and Kynae, written for the parents of the four little girls who were killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
When prejudice prevails and innocence is stolen, justice will return in due time
When all seems lost and hope is sparse, justice will return in due time
MONTGOMERY, AL
HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
DR. KING!
Yesterday we went to the Freedom Riders Museum, and our tour guide told a heartbreaking narrative about the white mob that attacked the first bus of Freedom Riders that arrived in Montgomery. The Freedom Riders were an interracial group of students trying to desegregate interstate buses by traveling through the south together. Talking about the idea of remembering people as groups vs individuals that did something as a collective, and talking about how we see that in other places in history was incredibly powerful.
-Anika & Kaya
There is such a cruel history surrounding the civil rights movement and it didn’t happen long ago. It feels strange to bond over it but when you think about it, it’s really incredible that we have the opportunity to be together. None of what we’re doing today would be possible without all of this history, and it’s really moving to be walking through where it all happened.
-Zara & D’Ashia
Yesterday we went to the Freedom Riders Museum, and our tour guide told a heartbreaking narrative about the white mob that attacked the first bus of Freedom Riders that arrived in Montgomery. The Freedom Riders were an interracial group of students trying to desegregate interstate buses by traveling through the south together. Talking about the idea of remembering people as groups vs individuals that did something as a collective, and talking about how we see that in other places in history was incredibly powerful.
-Anika & Kaya
The “Last Words” section of the Legacy Museum deeply moved us. The exhibit displayed detailed descriptions of the final moments of lynching victims, from first-hand accounts. Though it was awful, it was hard to look away, and the exhibit made the violence more personal and emotional.
-Josh & Jamal
It really moved us when we heard Raphael Warnock say, "We are blessed into being clueless of how blessed we are" because we take so many things for granted. We do not realize how blessed we are with even the small things. We are grateful that we get to have this life changing experience, especially with such a diverse group. This would not be possible just a lifetime ago.
-Ethan & Bayron
One interesting thing about the legacy museum is how relatable the problems that slaves could be. Tragedies that could be one time coincidences and occurrences for others would happen everyday because slavery was a lifestyle forced upon people. Losing children, rape, sexual assault, torture, watching murder within your own family, are just parts of a larger scale lifestyle. White people created these horrific actions as tactics to weaken and destabilize the lives of African Americans.
-Stephen & Craig
Something that compelled me from the past two days is definitely hearing about all the unknown names that we don’t hear about on a daily basis, like the name Howard cooper is very new to me but we continuously hear about the big names like MLK jr and Rosa Parks.
For me, one striking realization is how black Americans could not rely on our legal system to bring them justice or even allow them a fair trial. Black people would constantly be framed for crimes they didn’t commit and wrongfully convicted with extreme punishments, and when crimes were committed against black Americans, they would rarely see justice and retribution. I hope one day this issue can be completely eradicated in our country, and that I won’t take my privilege for legal fairness for granted.
-Kelsey & Meena
The most compelling for me was when the lovely lady from the freedom rider museum said the quote from Jim Zwerg “God, forgive them for what they’re about to do.” It was so calm and so content it was truly inspiring even when they brutally beat him he was still able to open his heart and ask god to forgive his abusers. If the question was proposed to me a few years ago I wouldn’t be able to have the same response as Jim. It allowed me to be able to choose peace over violence.
-Jacob & Kanyon
I really enjoyed the museums and being able to witness how the slaves were treated first hand. Also seeing how many lesser name African Americans who don’t have as much popularity but did just as much if not more than some of the more political ones. Also something compelling was church as it changed my outlook on how we need to sit in each other's seats to fully be able to understand each other.
-Malik & Gabe
We found it compelling when we read about Hezekiah Watkins. He was a 13 year old freedom rider on July 7, 1961. Over the whole Civil Rights movement he was arrested over 100 times. We found it powerful that someone so much younger than us had so much courage, strength, and determination. It inspired us to see the kids that were involved and the punishments they were willing to go through for the same end goal. The freedom rides were so powerful because the riders stuck to their non violent tactics while being rushed by an angry mob threatening their lives. This was compelling to us because a lot of the protests in recent history have taken a more violent approach and have seen less of a change.
-Arsalan & Demari
Something that struck us was how mass incarceration affects Black youth. Mass incarceration fails to recognize the possibility of rehabilitation and growth. Furthermore, it underscores the presumption of guilt that is projected on Black people in court. Another thing that struck us was the imagery from the Legacy Museum. This imagery, at times being graphic, was heartbreaking. Other times, it created empathy, furthering our understanding of the Black experience in America.
-Marcello & Ella
The Peace and Justice Monument left a lasting impression on me as I read the names, contemplating how each individual had their life unjustly taken solely due to their race. The amount of unknown names also saddened me because we will never know those lives that were lost.
-Amelia & Cassandra
ATLANTA, GA
This morning, we heard Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock deliver a poignant sermon about walking in someone else's shoes or as he stated, "I sat where they sat." (Ezekiel 3:14) As we celebrated the eve of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, Senator Warnock wanted everyone to remember to pair empathy with action . . .help their fellow man. We also heard a beautiful rendition of "Sometimes I feel Like a Motherless Child" and "We Shall Overcome" played by Gabe.
We then ventured on to Center for Civil and Human Rights where we explored exhibits that allowed students to experience the trials of the Greensboro Four at a simulation of the sit-ins at the Woolworth counter, listen to testimonies of the Freedom Riders, and gain a better understanding of the interconnection between civil rights and human rights. As we headed to our next destination of Montgomery, Alabama, we sang some of the spirituals that are cornerstones of the civil rights movement.
Gabe Sax.MOV
GREENSBORO, NC
At the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, we were able to see the Woolworth's site where the sit-ins at a whites-only lunch counter in Greensboro took place. Here we are at the statue of the A&T Four on the campus of North Carolina A&T University.
Firstly, I would like to mention that our tour guide really made the experience more impactful and engaging. I learned a lot throughout the guide including learning about the Tuskegee Airmen, the extent to which safety was a constant worry, and how two things can seem equal on paper, but be completely unfair. The courage that it took for the men and women to risk their lives for something that many take for granted was really inspiring. The Tuskegee Airmen were able to defeat enemies of the US overseas, yet they had to face oppression when they were back. They had to prove themselves for a country that they chose to fight for.
-A.E.
It was really interesting hearing about the mentality of the Greensboro 4 and the contrast between how they were treated and what they were being taught and how this forged their mentality for their actions. It holds a lot of relevance into ideas of today and the role schools play in forging a revolutionary mindset in youths. Would the Greensboro 4 think schools today do a good job teaching this mindset and supporting their students' effort for change??
-A. S.
I learned today how protesters’ understanding of Greensboro’s economy propelled them to create the “Jail, No Bail” protest. This revealed to me the cross section between education and protests, and also emphasized the importance of widespread education, which was made a priority later in the Civil Rights Movement.
-M.F.
Something that struck me was the Museum in general. I was struck by the amount of effort and passion that went into a small museum about black history. It made me wonder how these things will fare in the future. Is our generation educated or interested enough to continue giving the youth an experience like this?
-S.C.
Today I learned about the importance of the bystander effect. The bystander effect is when others are influenced by another person’s willingness to do something or help someone in need. This was seen through the Greensboro 4. Before GB 4 many people were talking about the inequalities in America but weren’t confident enough to act on it. The Greensboro 4 gave people this confidence and security which allowed more to act on their feelings and join the fight for equality. - D. D.
We had learned about what the greenbook was and why it was so important. The green book was basically a map of all the safe places for a black person to travel with the least resistance. This is important because it truly shows how dangerous it was to be black and in America at one point in history. I would like to learn more about what started the making of the green book and that whole process.
-Q.M.
Today I learned about the “Jail No Bail” movement. I found it really interesting how the protesters figured out how to bring about change, by using tax-payer dollars until people paid attention. They did this by simply staying in jail, where they had to be provided with food and water. This is important because it is an example of economic protest, a common form of protest in the civil rights movement.
-J.B,
IMG_3834.MOV