This year, University of Illinois students will pay $325 plus the cost of food for the trip. For University Housing students we will charge your student account. Other students will need to bring a check for the cost at the time of signing up. In order to sign up email January Boten at botenja@illinois.edu to set up a meeting. Please include several times you are available to meet during business hours.
Friday March 18th
Noon: Leave Champaign
Sleep in Greensboro, NC at LaQuinta 1201 Lanada Rd. Greensboro, NC www.laquintagreensboro.com
Stop at a Truck Stop for dinner
Saturday March 19th
Eastern Time Zone
1am Arrive in Greensboro, NC
11am Lunch in Downtown Greensboro http://downtowngreensboro.net/
Noon-1:30pm International Civil Rights Museum www.sitinmovement.org
2pm-3pm Greensboro Historical Museum www.greensborohistory.org
3:30pm-4:30pm North Carolina A&T University Gibbs Hall www.ncat.edu
4:45-6pm Dinner in Downtown Greensboro
6pm Leave for Charleston, SC
10:30pm Arrive in Charleston, SC
Sleep in Charleston, SC at La Quinta 11 Ashley Pt Dr. Charleston, SC www.laquintacharlestonriverview.com
Sunday March 20th
9am church service at Emanuel AME Church www.emanuelamechurch.org
11:30-1:30 Lunch and Free time in downtown Charleston www.charleston.com/neighborhoods/downtown-charleston.aspx
2pm leave for Atlanta
Stop at a truck stop for dinner
8pm arrive in Atlanta
8:30pm First group discussion
Sleep in Atlanta at Hampton Inn 1808 Sullivan Rd, College Park, Georgia http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/georgia/hampton-inn-atlanta-airport-ATLATHX/index.html
Monday March 21
In Atlanta
9am King Center www.thekingcenter.org
11:30am-2:30 lunch and free time near CNN Center (people can choose to tour CNN, go to Aquarium, Coke Museum, or just hang out in the Olympic Park)
2:45-5pm National Center for Civil and Human Rights www.civilandhumanrights.org
5:15 Dinner at Paschal's http://www.paschalsatlanta.com/
7pm group discussion
Sleep in Atlanta at Hampton Inn 1808 Sullivan Rd, College Park, Georgia http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/georgia/hampton-inn-atlanta-airport-ATLATHX/index.html
Tuesday March 22nd
8am leave for Tuskegee
9am Arrive in Tuskegee (Central Time Zone)
9am-11:30 Dr. Bernard LaFayette www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/people/bernard-lafayette-jr/ atWestminster Presbyterian Church https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westminster-Presbyterian-Church-Tuskegee-Al/480525192025312
Noon-1:30pm Lunch at the dining hall at Tuskegee University www.tuskegee.edu
1:30pm Lecture with campus officials from Tuskegee University
3pm-3:30pm George Washington Carver Museum www.nps.gov/tuin/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
4:00pm Meeting with Attorney Fred Gray at the Tuskegee Multicultural Center www.tuskegeecenter.org/
5pm leave for Montgomery
Dinner in Montgomery at Montgomery Mall www.eastdale-mall.com/
8pm Discussion
Sleep in Montgomery at Holiday Inn 96 Folmar Pkwy Montgomery, AL www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/montgomery/mgmhs/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-hi-_-USEN-_-mgmhs
Wednesday March 23
9am-9:45am visit the State Capitol (no tour)
10:00am Dexter Avenue Baptist Church http://www.dexterkingmemorial.org/
11:30-12:30pm Lunch RSA Tower Commerce Center Cafe www.montgomery-catering.com/locations.html
12:45-1:45 Freedom Rides Museum www.preserveala.org/greyhoundstation.aspx
2pm-3pm SPLC www.splcenter.org/civil-rights-memorial
3pm Drive to Lowndes Interpretive Center on the way to Selma www.nps.gov/semo/index.htm
5pm Arrive in Selma
Eat Dinner in Selma at Golden Ranch BBQ www.facebook.com/Golden-Ranch-BBQ-GRILL-192865800620/
8pm Discussion
Sleep in Selma at Hampton Inn http://hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/alabama/hampton-inn-selma-SMAALHX/index.html
Thursday March 24
Spend morning in Selma
8am-11am Footprints to Freedom tour http://nvrmi.com/
11am Leave for Birmingham
noon lunch on the road
2pm-4:30pm Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park and 16th Street Baptist Church www.bcri.org/index.html
5pm-7pm Dinner in Five Points neighborhood in Birmingham www.fivepointsbham.com/merchants.php
7:30pm Discussion
Sleep in Birmingham at Holiday Inn 5000 Richard Arrington Blvd Birmingham, AL www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/birmingham/bhmap/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-hi-_-USEN-_-bhmap
Friday March 25
7am Leave for Little Rock
12:30pm arrive in Little Rock
12:30-2pm Lunch in Little Rock at Root Cafe www.therootcafe.com/ or Boulevard Bread www.boulevardbread.com/ or Loblolly Creamery www.loblollycreamery.com/loblolly-creamery/
2:30-4:30pm Tour of Little Rock Central High School joining the students on the UW-Eau Claire Civil Rights Pilgrimage www.nps.gov/chsc/index.htm
4:30pm leave for Memphis
6:30pm dinner in Memphis at Oak Court Mall www.simon.com/mall/oak-court-mall/stores
8pm Discussion
Sleep in Memphis at Comfort Inn 4225 American Way Memphis, TN www.choicehotels.com/tennessee/memphis/comfort-inn-hotels/tn656?source=gglocaloz1
Saturday March 26
9am-noon National Civil Rights Museum http://civilrightsmuseum.org/
Noon-2:10pm Lunch on Beale St http://www.bealestreet.com/
2:30-3:45 Stax Museum http://staxmuseum.com/
4pm-5:30pm Ernest Withers Museum http://thewitherscollection.com/
5:30-7pm Dinner on Beale St
7:30pm Discussion
Sleep in Memphis at Comfort Inn 4225 American Way Memphis, TN www.choicehotels.com/tennessee/memphis/comfort-inn-hotels/tn656?source=gglocaloz1
Sunday March 27
5:30am leave Memphis for Champaign
Noon Arrive in Champaign
Civil Rights Pilgrimage in Review – Ryan Woods
This trip was a wonderful way to spend my Spring Break, to say the least. As such, I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something to do during next year’s (and the next, etc.). The people were wonderful, the sites were great, there was always great information to be mined. I know I certainly learned a lot. And I might even say that most of this was from the individuals with whom I traveled.
The dialogue between fellow travelers – whether on the bus, in a restaurant, at the hotel, etc. – was probably the most important part of the trip for me. I know I burdened some of my friends with my overly-philosophical and, at times, bizarre way of discussing these issues. But the conversations themselves were, at least to me, very enlightening. I hope that I can continue engaging in such dialogue throughout the remainder of my life.
I would like to encourage those who are so moved to read some of the writings of Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders of the movement. I know that reading the former’s works – even the small portion that I have read myself – opens one up to a much deeper and more interesting thinker than the history books and museum plaques will show.
I was surprised at how much I learned after this trip. Also, I was also surprised at how much my high school and middle school textbooks had left out so much valuable information. If it wasn't for me taking an African American history class in college, much of the information from the trip would have been completely new.
My favorite museum was probably the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The museum was built around the place where one of the first sit-ins took place. It felt very surreal to be able to stand in the place where African Americans peacefully fought against racism and segregation. In the museum was an exhibit called the “Hall of Shame” this exhibit was a hall of gruesome and violent pictures. It was story of the raw and unpolished history of the United States during the Civil Rights Movement. These black and white pictures of people who had been tortured, beaten, and lost their lives showed the hatred that haunts US history.
Those events helped to move people into action and are some of the reasons why the movement has progressed so far. While todaythere aren't as severe of cases of racism and segregation, I believe there are still parts of this country where inequality and racism still exist. After going on this trip, I hope to use the information I have learned to tell others about this history and raise awareness of the past in order to improve the future.
Day 1: Friday, March 20, 2015
Hi! My name is Chibu Asonye (I realized I didn’t tell you my name earlier), I’m currently a freshmen and I am very happy that I was able to go on this trip.
We’re on the bus and were watching these Civil Rights movies giving a look at what we will learn at the places we go. Guys, Elementary and High schools need to step up their game because they don’t tell you the truth. They act like the Civil Rights Movement happened in a day the amount of time spent on it. No Shade but we can definitely do better in our history departments. The Civil Rights advocates were bosses! Like in the slang term. They People Kicked Really Butts. I cannot stress enough how more I have learned about these people in the last like five hours. I’m already excited.
Day 3: Sunday, March 22, 2015
At the Center for Civil Rights and Human Rights, I did a simulation of the Lunch Counter Sit-Ins. It was a one minute and 46 seconds. I almost cried. How these people lasted for month with that kind of treatment blows my mind. They were my age.
Later that day
Being on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage, I have been able to engage in conversations that I wouldn’t been able to. One night, we ate at Mary Mac’s Tea Room and I sat with three boys, Ryan, Austin, and Jacob. Our table consisted of an African-American, Native-American, and two White students; but of the two White students, one was of high-socioeconomic means and status and the other was of low socioeconomic status.
Clearly, we all come from different walk of life but we’re all on this trip. That night was an amazing nigh because of our talk and boy, did we talk. Ryan, comes from a highly affluent family, doesn’t have to worry about tuition, and is studying Philosophy. He asked out table about privilege; being a white male, do we think he should feel some sort of shame? Guilt? Like rich persons remorse. Now, I don’t know who is actually going to read this and what you all would say, and since I wasn’t this to be concise, I won’t go into detail about my answer (Which was a Hard NOO, by the way). But I was surprised that he would ask this to us. I have to work and will be working for the rest of my four years because my scholarship requires it and I need to pay for books and my tuition. It surprised me that he cared and more so, sympathized with needing to work.
We also talked about the Chief and other socioeconomic barriers, what it was like for me, an African-American from Chicago to go from a very diverse high-school to a Primarily White Intuition (PWI). Again, I won’t detail my answer but for me it was and I quote, “Weird.” Anyone who has read this far, feel free to ask me for my full (don’t worry, I’ll also be concise) answer, you know, if you want to.
I probably would never have talked to Ryan, my new questioning friend, if I were not on this trip. Not going to lie, but I was starting to think the kids at U of I were a little too covertly racist but Ryan definitely gave me hope for my fellow classmates. Both White and Black (that was a reference to my PWI question, just in case you were wondering my reasoning).
Bye for now!
Day 4: Monday, March 23, 2015
I got to meet a Freedom Rider!!!!That basically says it all :D
Day 6: Wednesday March 25, 2015
Ok, So we just finished this slavery reenactment and I liked it. I did. I didn’t necessarily have fun but I think why we acted this out was not only important but good. The reenactment brought out a lot of feelings from me and not all of them are very nice. So here’s a fair warning: What I wrote next is angry but read it. And if you read it, continue to read what I wrote next, don’t just stop at the angry part.
The Mad Part:
I liked the reenactment. However, I am currently extremely upset by the reaction of the White people in the other group that came with us. Why you might ask, well because they were acting like this happened to them. Like it didn’t. How dare you cry, like this is something that’s close to home? It’s not. No one in your family and your entire bloodline would ever go through something like that nor will they ever. For the pure fact that you are of the “dominant” race and no one could ever think of possibly oppressing you in any way. These girls came over to console each other. CONSOLE. Like what are you consoling? Her trauma. Trauma of what? What did you connect with that made is so that you would feel upset. Another girl was like, I can’t believe that my ancestors could do something like that and I have a black friend, so it really hurts….STOP. No, never. So, if you didn’t have a Black friend would it not have hurt? Would you not felt that what these people did was wrong? It takes knowing a black person to make all this slavery business to seem real and cruel? Like, Really? I’m over here like: I don’t know that many Jewish people but I recognize that the Holocaust was awful and an incomparable wrong that should never happen again. My heart goes out to victims and the survivors of this dark period in history. But I shouldn’t need to know a Jewish person to feel sympathy or empathy or sadness or anything in that regard. We are all humans, we are all people, we are all of the same race, Man-kind. If you need to be friends with someone who looks different from you to empathize with the victims of oppressors than I truly worry about you. Slavery was a systematic oppression and degradation of African people.
I ask you, why is that the way to see into injustice.
Less Mad Part:
So, I reread my upper paragraph and I’ve calmed down a lot. Talked it out with some people and I have a better hold of how the girls I “discussed” were probably feeling. I will admit, I was pettier then I should have been in my writing and I apologize because I was unfair. I can now see where they were coming from, I still don’t necessarily agree with their mentality but at least I can understand and I know that I’ve grown in that.
I’m really glad that we went to the reenactment.
Last Post:
I learned a lot about Civil Right and also a ton of other really important life altering stuff this week. What I love most of this trip was the conversations because it allowed you to talk though the problems of that day but also of todays’ and man did we talk. I had a four hour conversation and I stayed calm. Took enough effort too.
I think that everyone off all backgrounds and identities should come on this trip. I learned just as much if not more from my conversations and listening to people talk as I did with the museums. That’s because this trip created a safe environment for us to have these conversations and discuss controversial, life themed issues and problems. Issues and problems that we all know we play and can play a part in.
What can I say about the 2015 Civil Rights Pilgrimage? It was one of the best experiences in my life. The reason I say that is because I was able to learn about all of the Trailblazers who made it possible for me to vote, sit anywhere on the bus, have the opportunity for an equal education, etc. I'm not saying I did not know about the struggle that my ancestors went through, but I was reminded and educated about the true events that occurred. Two of my favorite moments of the Pilgrimage was (1) listening to the great Dr. Bernard Lafayette speak in Tuskegee, Alabama. Having the opportunity to listen to several moments in his life where he overcame discrimination and even his own death was so humbling and filled me with so much hope. Dr. Lafayette said, "It's not your feet that's carrying you. It's something in you that's carrying your feet"! This reminded me of the importance of having a passion for what you do. (2) It was something about Little Rock Central High School that resonated with me. Maybe it was the fact that I care so deeply about education. Just knowing that the bravery of kids younger than me took on the challenge of desegregating schools was so inspiring. There were so many great things that I can talk about, but I don't have the time. The Civil Rights Pilgrimage has left me feeling grateful, inspired, humbled, EDUCATED, and optimistic about what's to come in the future! January Boten and the trip planners (Nick Tarleton, Youyou Zhang, Latrice Tynes, and LaQueishia Cummins) did an amazing job with making sure we left this trip feeling great about our decision to come.
- LaVontae Brooks, senior
Right now it is 5:40am and we are all on the bus headed back to Champaign. How do I feel? I honestly feel really sad but very hopeful. I am sad in the sense that I don't want to leave my amazing new friends. I have not been surrounded by so many people in such a closed space in a long time. Not everyone got alone but we all learned something from one another. The best part about new friends is newly found knowledge. When I asked one of my friends why she knows so much, she said "I talk to different people." It seems so simple but it is so true. This trip has taught me to turn relationships into moments and moments into memories. I am completely hopeful because I know every single one of us now have the knowledge and ability to change the world. For most of us, we just need the courage. This trip has been the ultimate experience. Got me thinking every high school should substitute the history book for a trip like this. From my experience, the books I read about Black History was told through the White eye. However, the knowledge I learned on this trip were told by people who actually cared, people who know things I did not know and people who were actually present during certain historical moments in history, Please, don't sleep on this trip. It was amazing and if I could do it over I would again and again. What was my favorite place? It honestly depends on the people who are delivering the information. They could either make your trip or break it. We had one tour guide that cried as he explained to us the experience of "Little Rock Ten." Also there was a tour guide who kept it real the entire time and told us his personal account about the MLK conspiracy. These are the type of people that you will encounter. Their stories will forever be a memory of mine. There were plenty more but these are the ones off top of my head. There is one thing reading names and dates you might not remember but actually hearing people stories is something I won't ever forget. I am a very proud Black Woman! My history and the sacrifices of my people makes me so proud and appreciative of being Black. Remember, you can I make a difference. Rather its small or large, help contribute to someone day or someone's life. There is still so much that needs to be done in the world but with a plan/strategy and a specific goal, we can accomplish anything.
-Mary Renee
If I can describe this trip in one word, I would defenitlely have to say "INSPIRATIONAL." This trip inspired me to learn more and do better as well as use my knowledge to change the world.
Every place that we have visted was very significant to the civil rights movement, but the the two places that moved me and stood out to me the most would have to be the slavery museum with the slavery reinactment activity and the Lorraine motel. I loved these places mostly because it was something that I was always interested in when I was younger. I have always heard about slavery from my grandparents and other elders that may have been a witness and or victim of slavery. My knowledge of black history and civil rights was limited to text books, so I am very thankful to have gotten this experience. And to to have witnessed it face to face was awesome! The slavery museum was very realistic as we went through slavery reinactment. It gave me a better idea of what happened to my annesters as well as compare it what is still happeningtoday. I always wanted to go to the Lorraine motel instead of seeing it while I am trapped behind a tv screen. There is nothing like seeing history for yourself. I was very moved when I witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King's motel room, the house he was born in, and the house that he lived in with his family, as well as his personal belongings. I also really liked how the museums recognized the cilvil right participants that were and are not as talked about today.
There are several great things for me to take away from this trip. One big thing that I will take away from the trip is that these things such as racism still exists in the world todayand it is our responsibly to change history as well as make it. We can change this by spreading our knowlege and making sure that we are aware of what is going on. The movement cannot move foward if we are not educated on the situation. To move foward it's important to have memory, meaning, and moments As well as FORGIVINESS, EQUALITY, HOPE, PEACE, UNDERSTANDING, and UNITY.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
- President Nelson Mandela
P.S. Thnks tp all the planners. They did a great job planning the trip and making sure we got the most out of our experience.
Overall I think the civil rights pilgrimage was fantastic. I learned many new things about myself and civil rights. I think traveling is the best way to learn about civil rights because you hear from firsthand accounts and can actually be at these historical places. Also, I really enjoyed meeting many new people that are different from me and making new friends. The pilgrimage is a great program for anyone instersted in diversity, civil rights, and history. I'm very glad to have gone on this year on the UIUC Civil Rights Pilgrimage.
The trip is so inspiring. We went to every important place for the civil right movement. In every museum, I learnt something I never learnt before, something is not on the textbook. That’s very inspiring for me, because as an international student, all I knew before this trip were Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. But now I know there are still many stories many people in the fighting process for the civil right. And national civil rights museum is most meaningful for me. Because in the museum, I could learn the complete history of the black people fight for their right, which can give me a better understand of the whole development of the black society in U.S. I knew that black people risked everything to get their rights: though it could cost their lives, they still fought for rights, for justice, for equity without fear. What I learn in the trip is that if you don't stand up for the unfairness now, the inequality will never get changed. Therefore, after this trip I will be afraid nothing when I know something unfair happening around me; I will stand up and speak out for the justice without hesitation.
--
Anqi Liang
BSAS 2018
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
One of the most important things I've learned on this Civil Rights Pilgrimage Tour is that you can't help educate anyone until you have taken the time to educate yourself. For a while I felt like I knew the basics of the Civil Rights Movement but I've learned that I have been cheated out of so much and it almost makes me sad that I didn't take the time to learn more sooner. This trip has been really informative and I've learned so much. I am very happy that I got to experience it.
"It's not what is being delivered, it's how it's being interpreted" -Dr. Bernard Lafayette
If I could describe the Civil Rights Pilgrimage trip in one word it would be inspirational. The most significant place we visited was the National Civil Rights Museum. I had been to Memphis two previous times and I had not had the chance to see the museum so I had a lot of anticipation built up. When we went there, it was insane how much history was there. I think the most significant part of the trip is where Dr. King spent his last moments alive and see what he stood for. The one thing that I took away is the three M philosophy from the Little Rock Central High School (Little Rock Nine or Ten depending on what history you learn). The three M's are we live for the moments, there is always meaning behind everything, and we live for the memories that are formed. This trip was amazing and the little feedback I have is that I wish we could have gone to Birmingham for the trip to see everything that occurred there.
This trip or more so like a journey has allowed me to do a great deal of self reflection. I have enjoyed every place we have visited which carried its own uniqueness. From this trip a quote by Dr. King Jr. Has stuck with me. This quote is "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." This quote has stuck with me because for me it's a reassurance that there is never one way to accomplish something or be successful at something even if you have to start from the bottom, but if you don't loose hope and keep the faith you are bound to accomplish everything you set out to be. Because of this trip I have felt a great deal of responsibility to pass on the knowledge I have learned on this program, because a lot of these things you don't learn through the text book. The exposure of this raw material and journey does not amount to what I have been taught in high school and in college. This trip makes me question my potential and ability for what I can do to make a change in my own community and life, seeing so many young people in a powerful movement during the Civil Rights, but specifically for those we don't even hear about at all in history such as Dr. Lafayette and Jane who was the tenth person of the Little Rock 9. I have learned a lot on this trip thanks to the places we have visited, but primarily about myself during discussions talking with peers and hearing and picturing everyone's point of views from the places we have visited and their experiences. I am happy to have been apart of this trip because it has allowed me to grow and work on my leadership skills in that I am now able to initiate and spark conversations on campus within my communities I identify with and communities of identities I do not identify with. Being exposed to new things, you are forced to reflect on every aspect of your life because you are affected in some shape or form by the experience. If we refuse to acknowledge these changes we can't grow as an individual, and we can't expect to change circumstances and situations in our daily lives. This experience has been liberating, moving, and emotional.
The planners for this program has been absolutely amazing and I appreciate the time they have put into this trip so that we could get the best out of it!
Thanks you guys!!
<3
I was given the opportunity to reflect about this trip and what I had learned. These were my comments:
1. One word to describe the trip: Empowering
2. The most significant place to me was going to Central High School at Little Rock, Arkansas. To me, this was the most significant place for two reasons. One reason is as someone who is passionate about education, hearing the stories of the Little Rock Ten and about what they went through helps motivate me to follow my career of education. Second reason was we had an incredible speaker named Brian who gave an emotional story about his experience working there and why he works there. This was really powerful to me and really made think about what those students went through.
3. One key take-away was learning how the movement was mostly younger people. I was surprised as how many young people were there and this made me think how young alduts can make an impact on our world. One action step is I will attend the workshops about our campus on Tuesday so that I can raise my voice about campus issues.
4. One way to improve the trip for everyone is offer more time to discussion and reflections at night. That way, students can have more in-depth conversations about the trip.
