Social impact

Janell Bell, Samuel Osaro, Kristen Young

Memphis, Tennessee

The National Civil Rights Museum-

Lorraine Motel

My first thought upon entering this BEAUTIFUL museum was "Who owns this?"

This was the first question that I felt compelled to ask after learning that general admission was about $20 per person. Realizing that this museum generates a large amount of revenue, I wondered who this money was benefiting... After venturing both parts of the museum I can honestly say I was disappointed. Not at the presentation of the facts, and artifacts, but at the overall message. The museum presents Slavery, Civil rights, and racial disparities as a "thing of the past."

The money, time and effort put into an entire building/exhibit detailing the murder of Dr. King is truly disheartening, and disrespectful to his entire legacy... adding to the fact that the earnings of a museum supposedly glorifying Dr. King does not honor or contribute to the many injustices Dr. King advocated with and for during his life.

This experience was triggering for me because it truly reinforces, and proves a larger issue present in our society. The MISEDUCATION of matters pertaining to injustices that are still very prevalent in our society today.

One of my favorite quotes by Dr. King states,

"In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality ... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

The time is always right to do what is right."

It is time that we be completely honest so we can move towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

The purpose of Boys & Girls Clubs is to provide a safe, affordable place for kids and teens during critical out of-school time. Boys and Girls Clubs offer life-changing programs and services to youth all across America. These programs are huge for low-income families as they make it possible for parents to work outside of school hours. Most importantly, they decrease the chances of these at-risk kids from falling down the wrong path in life.

The Sycamore View Boys and Girls' Club had an incredible impact on our whole team. The bright eyes of the children solidified the idea that hate is taught and learned. The kids were very open and quick to love. I enjoyed being role models to them even if only for a temporary time. I personally connected with so many of the young girls, and it somewhat came as a surprise to me.

The focus of our activities were academically based. We helped improve their writing, spelling, and speaking skills. The kids were all from different schools, and there were clear academic gaps between kids of the same age group. This a result of the quality of school the kids had access to depending on their socioeconomic status within Memphis, Tennessee. This made me sad because it's something that personally has effected me in life. I didn't have access to the prestigious private schools that would have properly prepared me for college. It's a barrier that a lot of people of color are forced to cross, and most of us are not equipped to.

The Slave Haven

The Slave Haven in Memphis, Tennessee was overall a powerful experience for me, among the most powerful of the trip. Our emphatic tour guide led us through different stages of Slave Haven history in Memphis. She told us of how the home was used as a stop in the Underground Railroad.

Being presented with the physical artifacts of a history not very far removed was jarring. The underground portions of the house, the freedom quilts, and the story about young Black children being used as feet warmers was jarring. Our tour guide told us of how sharks to this day follow the main paths of slave routes that routinely expelled Black bodies from their ships.

The tour guide took us down into a hideaway where Black people would be concealed for days to weeks. In this small and completely dark crevice, human beings would hide in the midst of people they did not know, hoping and trusting that this was just one stop on a path to freedom.

This information served as a powerful reminder that even though these artifacts and stories are historical, the legacy of slavery is as present as ever and manifests around us everyday.