Rosa Parks Museum, Montgomery

The Rosa Parks Museum was freaking awesome!!!! I never knew the backstory of her story relating to the Civil Rights Movement. I did not know details in her life like the fact that she was not a plantiff in the case against her declaring that she went against a White person's orders. Regardless, she was still seen as the female face of the Civil Rights Movement. We spoke about the women that refused to give up there seat to a White person previoulsy before Mrs. Parks, but yet we were never introduced to them nor were they mentioned as participants in the struggle for equality on a major scale. I chalk this fact up to the fact that just like other great strides in American history Blacks always seem to be missing. As we spoke in the Tabernacle Baptist Church, Ma'am Joanne asked some of the students who did we do our elementary book reports on during Black History Month and it was sad to hear that each Black history maker mentioned from a large number of students were one of a group of only five Black greats. This was clear evidence that shows that Blacks are too often left out of history, which gives Blacks, as well as others the false sense that there are only a handful of Blacks that contributed to World History. Moving back to the Rosa Parks Museum, this shows why so many foot soldiers were left out of the textbooks that helped in the advancement of the Civil Rights Movement. Those women who defied the authority of the Whites that told them to give up their seats may not have been mentioned or well-known, but they still played a huge role just the same as Mrs. Parks.

Selma

The past two days have just been wonderful. Currently, we are on the bus on the way to Birmingham. We spent the day today in Selma. We started the morning at the National Voting Rights museum. Then we had a driving tour of Selma where we learned all about the history of the city. After that we had a real southen lunch while foot soldier for freedom, Joanne Bland, spoke with us. After lunch, we participated in a slavery recreation and then a panel of Selma's Civil Rights leaders. A whole lot of learning packed into one day! It makes me think of the current practices happening in the US to try to keep people from voting.

Day Four Adventures

Day Four of the UI Civil Rights Pilgrimage offered us an amazing opportunity to further delve into events of the Civil Rights Movement. Over the past few days in Atlanta, we have learned about the generalities of the movement; focusing on the overall qualities and events. Today, we began bright and early in the morning at the Rosa Parks’ Library and Museum in Montgomery, Alabama.  

There, we saw a good reproduction of Rosa Parks’ arrest and aftermath. The exhibit presented a lot of information and original documents from those times. We learned about the immediate aftermath for Mrs. Parks as well as the significant dates of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. We even saw clips of President Clinton recognizing Rosa Parks for her efforts to begin the modern Civil Rights Movement. We were even able to take pictures with a statue of Mrs. Parks from the famous picture.

Our next site was outside the Southern Poverty Law Center fountain. We took many pictures and even a group picture (which our amazing advisor January should post) of the unique monument to those who have senselessly died in the fight for the Civil Rights Movement. Afterwards, we took a brisk walk around downtown Montgomery before heading to the home of Martin Luther King Jr and his family while he was pastor of the Dexter Street Baptist Church. 

We had a great tour guide who was quite knowledgeable and very personable. She gave us a great introduction and a tour. I was truly shocked at just how close we could get to the actual artifacts of the King’s home. We saw the original furniture, set up, and even the crater created by the thrown bomb during the bus boycott. It was truly a hollowed group, especially the kitchen where MLK Jr. is said to have gotten the courage to continue the fight. 

When we were finished with the tour, we ran back to the Southern Poverty Law Center for a tour of the museum. It was a great opportunity to learn more about each person’s individual story who died senselessly. After the SPLC, we visited the Alabama State Capitol Building. It was a beautiful and historic building but we all got the feeling that they were ignoring critical parts of the state’s history (eg: the Civil Rights Movement, slavery, MLK Jr, etc). We found little if no mention to these events however many displays to the building being the place where the birth of the confederacy occurred.

Our next stop was the United Evangelical Lutheran Church. There we met a good friend of January who had put together a panel of living witnesses for us. Not only did they cater us dinner but the members of the panel presented us their own individual experiences from the era. Included among our distinguished panel were individuals who had participated in the fight in Montgomery, a former pastor, a neighbor to the Kings, a close co-worker to MLK Jr. in Atlanta and the family of one of the plaintiffs whose case reversed the legality of bus segregation with the US Supreme Court. 

I don’t think I can adequately describe how amazing the presentation was. Each person combined real world memories and experiences which were inspiration, education and even humorous. I must give much thanks to them and let them know how life changing I felt the experience with. Each has lived a unique and fulfilling life and continue to be making a difference in their community; building a better world for tomorrow.  

March 18, 2012 - Atlanta, GA.

In the words of Ice Cube, I must say that today was a good day! We woke up and went to church (Ebenezer Baptist Church). The service was AMAZING! It felt really good to there and to also feel the history there. Walking through the old sanctuary where Dr. King preached was so surreal. You could feel the power in the room. I could probably sit there all day lol. Yeah, that was great. Then we got to meet and take pictures with his sister!!!! A HIGHLIGHT OF MY LIFE! Like, we touched history! However, I must say that my favorite part of today was going on the CNN tour! Amazing! I just saw my future right in front of me and it felt sooooooooo GREAT! Amazing experience! I felt like this day made up for a lot of the struggles we've been through on the trip. Well for me at least. Overall great day. I'll post pictures later, but right now.....I'm HUNGRY! Time for food!

Day Three...by Kevin. :)

Today was our last day in Atlanta. We began the day by attending service at Ebenezer Baptist Church; the same church that was led by MLK Sr and MLK Jr. I myself have never been to a Baptist ceremony so I was excited for the new experience. Consequently, we had arrived on their 126^th founding anniversary.  Included in their festivities was an appearance and speech from Christine King Farris, sister of MLK Jr and the longest serving member of the church. Members of our group would later get a chance to meet her in person while others of us were graced by a wave from her car. J

The service was very thorough and focused on many of the challenges facing the world today. It also paid respect to this history of this, America’s Freedom Church and its history of being an advocate for civil rights and service in the community. After the ceremony, we had time to further explore the MLK Jr Center. My group went to see the original Ebenezer Church, now called the Heritage Sanctuary; it was turned over to the National Parks Service in 1999. 

Heritage Sanctuary was restored to its 1968 condition. It was inspiring to see the pulpit where Martin Luther King Jr himself spoke and preached from. As famous as the room was, it was sad to learn that his mother was assassinated in that very same room. It is without a doubt that the King family has had a long tradition of leading and inspiring the congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church even to this day.

For late lunch, we drove into downtown Atlanta. My group decided to check out the CNN Center and the Olympic Park. It is an amazing part of the city with just so many active people and so much to do. I must say…the screen inside CNN center is HUGE and has a very bright and crisp picture. After some shopping at the CNN store and taking a massive amounts of photos…we took off into the sunset for Montgomery.

Day 3!

Today was day three of the Civil Rights trip. So far everything has been very interesting and a great experience. I have had a lot of fun and am really glad that I decided to sign up for this trip. We are now almost to Montgomery and that means food! We will be eating at Shoney’s so I am excited to give it a try. I just figured I would post something on the blog really quick before we got off the bus and away from wifi. So if there is wifi in the motel tonight I will be adding onto this post. If not I will be adding more tomorrow.

Learning so much

Good Morning!

We are about to head to breakfast before attending Ebenezer Baptist church. Last night we had our first of many facilitated discussions and this is already one of my favorite parts of my trip. It is so enlightening to hear why these stories we are learning relate to the lives of everyone on the trip. Our students are so bright and they make connections to today that really inspire me.

1st Day Thoughts

Today was an amazing day for not only the students but for me as well. I've visited the MLK, Jr. site in Atlanta before (twice) but I still learn something new with each visit. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an amazing man who changed the world, forever. His assasination was difficult for so many people but not once had I ever thought about his parents. He was an influential leader, a husband, a father, friend, and more importantly, he was a son. The images of his parents are still vivid in my mind and it saddens me to think about their experience during that time. I want to hear their story...know their thoughts/feelings on their son.

As I think about MLK, Jr., I wonder did he know how he changed society. He will forever be known as a prominent leader, national icon in the history of modern American liberalism. Did he imagine?

drp

Trip Update by Kevin

Hi All!
So far the trip has been an amazing experience!! The ride from Champaign-Urbana was smooth as we watched several movies and documentaries. We stopped in Nashville, TN around sunset for dinner and saw the energy in the town for the NCAA tournament.

On day two, we awoke bright and early and got down to visiting the sites in Atlanta. We began at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. For me, I was shocked at the different ways of segregation there were back then. It also amazed me at how young MLK Jr. was when he took on what would become the national civil rights movement. I was truly impressed at the 15 year timeline which documented all his accomplishments and how much he did each year. We were able to see the Freedom Center, the outside of his boyhood home and where he and his wife and buried.

For lunch, we drove into downown Atlanta and ate at the Varsity. It was a unique experience for me and a great time for us to bond as a delegation. 

Our last site today was the Jimmy Carter Center and Presidential Library. Though you might think Jimmy Carter might not connect to our trip, he had an integral impact on civil rights in the world. We learned more about his presidency and the different challenges he faced before, during and after his presidency. At the Jimmy Carter Center, there was great open garden which we were able to walk around and take pictures. 

Now...off to dinner at Underground Atlanta. :)

Keep checking back for updates and don't forget to comment!! :)

2 Days in the South

So far this trip has been pretty cool. We got to see the Martin Luther King Jr. historic site, the house he grew up in, the first church he preached in and just alot of stuff about his life. I thought this portion was going to be boring because every Black history month I always have heard alot of info about King, but this exhibit showed me alot of things that I haven't read in books or seen on tv (did you know Dr. King Jr. won a grammy?! Crazy, right?). I definitely appreciate the new things I learned about King, Coretta and how he came to be the Man he was. The Jimmy Carter center was great, I never really studied anything Carter has done for equality in the U.S and his center was a great way to get a brief overview of everything he has accomplished over the years. I will definitely look up more about Carter's life.
The restaurant in Nashville, Demo's was freakin awesome (s/o to Jake for the constant refills on the bread and beverages) and the restaurant in Atlanta, the Varsity was great w/ the high school desks for tables and the employers yelling at the customers...great atmosphere and food. Also, love the cool people that are on this trip and laugh at my corny jokes on the bus. :)

Finishing Touches

Currently I am all packed up and hoping that I have not forgotten anything. Since the logistics of preparing for the trip are over it has given me a little bit of time to reflect on some thoughts that I have before the trip. First of all, I have not been to any of these places that we are traveling to over the next 10 days. I am so excited to experience all of these places with an open mind and my own two eyes. I think that there is something to be said for being familiar with history, but it another to experience it on a whole new level. This trip provides me with the opportunity of physically being in the same place where events occurred, and even the amazing opportunity to talk face to face with people who were there. It is my goal to be a sponge and soak in as much as possible. I cannot wait to meet everyone and experience a once in a lifetime trip together!

Thoughts before the trip =]

I am really excited to do something productive and worth-wide in just one week. I signed up for this trip because I am unfamiliar with a lot of the history behind Civil Rights Movements and I would like to learn more about how our country came to be. In addition, I am really excited to meet other students who are going on this trip to make new friends and memorable experiences. I know I won't be going home and see old friends but I think this trip will be great and really open my eyes looking at it from a different perspetive. I look forward on meeting all of you ! =]

Where are we going?

Friday, March 16th
• Noon: Leave Champaign-Urbana
• 6pm stop for dinner in Nashville on Broadway
• Midnight: Arrive in Atlanta, GA
Saturday, March 17th (Atlanta)
• 9am: Martin Luther King Center
• Noon: Lunch Fast Food
• 2pm: Jimmy Carter Museum
• 5pm: Dinner @ the Underground mall
Sunday, March 18th (Atlanta)
• 8:30am: Breakfast at Denny’s
• 11am: Attend Ebenezer Baptist Church service
• After church service, lunch and free time in Downtown Atlanta (Optional: CNN, Aquarium, Coke Museum)
• 4:30pm: Leave for Montgomery
• 7:30pm: Arrive in Montgomery
Dinner at Shoney’s
Monday, March 19th (Montgomery)
• 9am: Rosa Parks Museum
• Lunch at Eastdale Mall
• 12:45 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Parsonage
• 2pm Civil Rights Memorial/Southern Poverty Law Center
• 3pm Alabama State Capitol
• 4:30pm Dinner/talk with History Makers at United Evangelical Lutheran Church (formerly Trinity Lutheran Church)
Tuesday, March 20th (Selma)
• 9:15-12:15pm – Tour
o Includes the Brown Chapel, town of Selma, Edmund Pettis Bridge and National Voting Rights Museum
o First stop: Selma Interpretive Center
• 12:15-2pm – Lunch
• 2:15-5pm – Interview History Makers at Tabernacle Baptist Church
• 7pm-9pm –Leave Selma and travel to Birmingham Alabama
Wednesday, March 21st (Birmingham)
• 8:30am – leave for fast food breakfast
• 10am-12pm: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• While we are there we will meet with Scott Douglas from Greater Birmingham Ministries
• 12-1pm: Sixteenth Street Baptist Church
• Lunch: Fast Food
• 2pm: Leave Birmingham
• Dinner at Cracker Barrel
Thursday, March 22nd (Little Rock)_Brendon’s Birthday!!
• 9am-10:30: Little Rock Central High School Tour
1500 Park Street
Little Rock, AR
• 11am-1pm: Lunch
• 1pm Heifer International
• 3-5pm: Clinton Museum
• Dinner at the River Walk in Little Rock
Friday, March 23rd (Memphis)
• 11-1pm: Lunch
• 1:15: Leave for Memphis
• 4:30: Arrive in Memphis
• Hang out and explore Beale Street in Memphis until 8pm
Saturday, March 24th (Memphis)
• 9am-12pm: National Civil Rights Museum
• Noon-1pm: Lunch
• 1-3pm: Underground Slave Haven
• 3pm: Monumental Baptist Church
• 5:30pm Dinner at the Waffle House

Sunday, March 25th
• Load bus at 5:30am to head home nice and early to be in C-U by noon!

My thoughts before going...

I am really excited to go on this trip and cannot believe it is finally here! The main reason why I want to go on the trip is because, I believe it is a once in a lifetime opportunity -if I do not come back- to actual visually see the Civil Rights Movement history in a physical form versus reading or hearing about it. The place/city I look forward to the most is Memphis, Tennessee for two reasons. Number one, the National Civil Rights Museum, Underground Slave Haven, and Waffle House sounds amazing. I am curious about what exactly the museum will have in it, since it claims to be national. I have only read about what an underground slave haven was and would really like to see what the conditions were somewhat like. Also, I have heard the Waffle Houses are really good, so I am excited to experience one for myself. The second reason is because it is the hometown of a close friend of mine, who is actually visiting my hometown of Chicago during her spring break. It is unfortunate that we not be able to see each other, but I believe that being in and learning about each other's homes is pretty awesome too.

Can NOT believe that the trip is starting in five days!! I am so excited right now!! Can't wait to learn about this turbulent part of our country's history and how these social movements were able to change the nation!

Twitter

Hello! For those of you who use twitter you can follow some of our travelers at the following:

@januaryboten
@Watulive4
@thomasduh
@thekevinlim
@miss_shell_ayy
@goaldigger312
@PoeticProblem
@shan_luo
@ngracia356

Excited!

I just got home from the final planning meeting for the trip. The one promise I can make to all of you who are coming along on this journey with us is that it will change your life. You are going to be able to see into the lives and minds of people who faced great challenges and also into those people caused such horrible oppression. My hope for all of us going is that we will open our hearts to what has happened in our past so that we can each do our own part to keep such things from happening to people, all kinds of people in the future. I know that once you know something you can never go back and not know it. I am excited for all of you that are coming along on the trip to know these stories. But I am most excited to hear what you plan to do once you know them.

Get excited!

Hello!

My name is Kasia, and I am one of the student planners for this great trip! I am also a resident advisor for University Housing. I hope many of you have looked through the past blogs and have gotten a better idea of this trip, and I also hope you all decide to come with us! The trip is only $240 and this includes museum fares, travel, and the hotels! The reason why I love this trip so much is because you get so much more out of it than just reading facts from a textbook, or having your teacher spend one class period talking about the Civil Rights Movement. We are trying our best to get speakers who experienced the Civil Rights Movement. For example, two years ago we had Reverend Billy Kyles come speak for us. For those of you who do not know who Reverend Billy Kyles is, he was Dr. King's close friend and he was with Dr. King when he was shot.
The way we have our trip planned out is that we start where Dr. King was born, and we end where he was shot in Memphis. It is a very powerful trip (I promise!) and I highly recommend going! When I first went on this trip two years ago, I knew very little about the Movement, and I was shocked how much information I was not aware of.
For this trip, I am in charge of Little Rock and Memphis. My favorite place from Little Rock is the Little Rock Central High School Tour because I learned so much from the guide, and I loved how determined the Little Rock 9 students were to stand up for themselves. My favorite place from Memphis was the National Civil Rights Museum. It brings all of the places we went to in the other towns and cities together and it was surreal to see the place where Dr. King got shot.
You WILL leave this trip feeling inspired and far more knowledgeable, I promise you that!

Foot Soldiers

So it has been a couple weeks since the trip and I am still inspired. Its as if the people that attended the trip are in some kind of fraternity that no one can really understand. I see them on the quad and we speak and share a laugh. This is crazy because before we would pass each other by without even the slightest desire to talk to that person. I think that was the main thing that I garnered the most from this trip, the ability to bond with those totally unlike me, all different cultures, backgrounds and lifestyles. We learned history and made it applicable to our day and age.

Tolerance, respect, love are messages that we took from the civil rights movement of the past and are still needed in our struggles today. This trip has truly inspired me to be a better person and to cherish the opportunities that were afforded to me only because of the sacrifices of others. Before planning this trip I must admit I had a one dimensional view of the civil rights movement, slavery, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, KKK, and then all of a sudden blacks and white people were allowed to interact with each other. This was what I was taught in school, and what I saw on T.V. But through researching for and going on this trip I gained a new understanding of what a real hero was. As Joanne Bland said the “foot soldiers” where the real ones that brought about most of the change. It was people like Mary Louise Smith, Pastor and Mrs. Gratze, Emmitt Till and Sammy Younge Jr. just to name a bring few that really sacrificed to bring about the change that we see.

With that being said my favorite parts of the trip were the parts that really emphasized the part that “regular” people played in the civil rights movement. Such as the meeting with the “History Makers” those regular people that were called to do extraordinary things. I remember Mary Louise Smith- Ware, said she didn’t stay on that bus that bus to be some sort of activist, she did it because she was angry and tired of being treated as less than human. I also remember when I was talking to Pastor and Mrs. Gratze they said they did what they thought was the right thing to do and didn’t care that their position as white citizens would be jeopardized. People like Emmitt Till and Sammy Younge Jr. actually lost their lives for this cause, which is the ultimate sacrifice. I think that those who lost their lives in the movement would be happy to know that they were memorialized at the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Civil Rights Memorial. It pays homage to not only those who were well known but also those who were forgotten or overlooked.

But I just want to say that I am so happy that I went on this trip I gained a new understanding of how much power I have. You don’t have to be some grand orator or some charismatic figure, you have to be yourself and do what feels right that is what the foot soldiers of the movement did. I think all of those people who perished since the struggle would be happy to see a group like ours. Because in some way or another their actions impacted all of our lives no matter what race.I’m sooo happy I went!!!!

Teranika's Post

Teranika Campbell asked me to post this for her:

When I returned to my dorm room after the coach bus departed, I dropped my luggage on the floor and flopped on my bed. I held on to a feeling that initially was a difficult for me to capture. Shortly, after trying to put my fingers on the feeling I called my father. Through conversation, I was able to reflect on what the trip meant to me. I voiced to my father how proud I was of my activists endurance and strength to obtain Civil Rights. I was in complete awe! In just a week my mind went into almost an overdrive of information and thought.

I did not know where to start with my father, as I loquaciously started a sentence and jumped to another topic about the trip. What still stood out to me and still holds presence is no other than, Ms. Bland. She personally inspired me. I doubt I will ever forget her, due to the impact she has had in obtaining civil rights in her community. When she picked up the rock, it was tangible evidence that evoking change is as real as the pavement we walk on.

I was moved during the tour of the Alabama State Capital. I was able to validate that African-American history is American history. It is a silly thought to detach African-American History from mainstream culture, as our heritage is deeply rooted and influential in American History. At the Arkansas State Capital the tour guide mentioned how uneducated blacks help to construct the capital, specifically the stairwell. African- Americans literally did build America, and is not something that can be deterred or doubted by time, as the stairwell is still standing.

Motivation. Hope. Appreciation. Simply put, three words that describe how I feel about the Pilgrimage. I will continue to inspire other students to attend the trip, as it has greatly been a life-changing, and mind-empowering experience.


--
Teranika L. Campbell
University of Illinois
College of Nursing, Junior
Women of Color Organization Member
Resident Advisor

Musings

Dear reader,

Before I elect to put in words the emotions, sights and smells of the week I spent during the Civil Rights Pilgrimage, you shan't be spared from a brief introduction. :D My name is Victor Hong and I am an international student from Malaysia who is pursuing his studies here at the University of Illinois. I have had a hellish semester thus far, and upon hearing that the University Housing was organizing a trip to the South, I seized the opportunity on what i thought would be a perfect escapade to revitalize from the arduous academics. At that point of time it did not quite matter to me regarding the theme of the trip; I just wanted my well deserved rest and an opportunity to travel to the Southern States.

I got a little more than I bargained for.

Before arriving in the States, I have had a decent exposure to the historical background of this great country. However, after listening to the accounts of people from the Civil Rights Movement back in the 50's and 60's, it was very evident, that the sources in which I had used to learn about American History, was falling short in its actual depiction. The racial bigotry and hipocrisy that existed for centuries was seldom mentioned in the books I read, hardly highlighted at all. To my horror, it seemed that racism could drive people to perform incredibly inhumane, heinous and unbelievable travesties in the past. How is it possible, that the mere difference in skin tone, could drive man to perform such acts of reckless hate?

However, not all in the trip was doom and gloom. Despite the extreme circumstances and oppression that beset the African American population during times of racism and segregation, notable figures rose to fight against this system. Dr. Martin Luther King was quite a central figure throughout our entire trip. Yes, I assume you would associate Dr. King with civil disobedience and you most probably have heard of his speech "I Have A Dream".

Though his speeches exemplified nerves of steel and an indomitable will to convince his supporters to triumph over their adversities, Dr. King was quite uniquely different when he was not speaking into the microphone addressing thousands of people. When I spoke to Reverend Kyles (he was with Dr. King when Dr. King was shot at the Loraine Motel in Tennessee), Dr. King was no different than you and I as a person. He lived in constant fear for his own life as well as that of his family's. He had his own personal issues to be worried about, and to bring more burden to his shoulders, he had the weight of the pressure of his followers who were hoping his efforts would bring them a better future. Yet despite the atrocities that were oppressing his people and the immense pressure on his life, Dr. King never incited his followers to commit acts of violence to achieve equality. He could have blamed the defunct laws of segregation that beset his people and choose the easy way out by using physical violence to force matters. Instead, he chose not to be a victim of his circumstance but by becoming the master of his own fate by not letting the extreme circumstances around him dictate his actions and utilizing his influence and democracy to effect a change within society.

Initially this was a trip that was intended for me to go sight-seeing and to recharge my batteries.

At the end of the trip, I came back more exhausted than I had before I left for the trip. I did not get to see much sight-seeing (January please dont kill me!), but I did strengthen my moral fiber, made wonderful friends and have now traveled to more States than my American roommate. (my roommate is just embarrassed of the fact that I have seen more of America than he has despite him being an American citizen)

I hope you enjoyed reading this. The trip had a very profound effect on me and I would highly encourage you to get on this trip if you can! It's truly an experience like no other.

Warmest regards,

Victor

What a life changing experience

I'm so glad that I chose to spend my spring break learning and embracing my history. So many people faught, died, and sacrificed for the opportunities that I have today. We are living the dream the Dr. King once had. This trip motivated me to be the best in everything that I do. We come so far but we still have a long way to go. I have much work to do in school, on campus, in my community, in church, etc.

This trip has reminded me of the quote that I live by and that quote is "To whom much is given, much is required ". We're standing on the shoulders of many of our ancestors. I know that I am making them proud.

WOWWWW where to even begin. This trip has truly inspired me to be a better person and to cherish the opportunities that were afforded to me only because of the sacrifices of others. Before planning this trip I must admit I had a one dimensional view of the civil rights movement, slavery, Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks,KKK, then all of a sudden blacks and white people were allowed to interact with each other. This was what I was taught in

Best Trip Ever

For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated with the Civil Rights Movement. I deeply admire every single person that ever shed blood or even simply passed out flyers during this period. Because of them I was able to go on a trip across the country with students from all backgrounds and am able to live my life the way I do every day.

Being an African American Studies major I hear about the places we went almost every day, but today in class David Barr III came to speak with us and described how some of these places have inspired some of his art. You could hear the inspiration in his voice and I wanted to cry because I knew exactly what he was feeling.

I wish I could pick 'the highlight of the trip' but for me it was all better than I expected. I still cannot believe that I was inside the house that Dr. King grew up in, that I walked the halls (even if it was just the entry way) of Central High in Little Rock, that I walked across the Edmund Pettis Bridge, went to the Southern Poverty Law Center, and saw with my own eyes where Dr. King was shot and where the shot came from.

I have always wondered who the people were that legally handled modern day civil rights cases and I found them in the Southern Poverty Law Center! I have always felt that I need to do something to destroy discrimination and I will definitely be looking into working for this organization.

All of the places listed above were great but they would not be relevant had it not been for the wonderful people we had the pleasure of meeting. Mary Louise Smith was jailed for refusing to give up her seat prior to Rosa Parks and it's thanks to her that I was able to go on this trip! Mr. and Mrs. Graetz sacrificed so much and put their family's lives at risk so that I can walk down the street and live my life in peace! Ms. Ella Bell is improving schools so that children can have the best possible education! Ms JoAnne (but I'll stick with calling her Ma'am!!) participated in bloody sunday and the march from Selma to Birmingham and thanks to her I was able to vote for our first black President! I love the fact that she is still very actively involved in making progress and in preserving history so that one day our children will be exposed to this history. Rev Billy Kyles is encouraging people all over the country to never give up on their dreams, something that I'm sure will inspire people to get out there and change the world.

Despite the fact that our 44 personalities clashed at times, we all had some great times together and always managed to turn a negative into a positive. Despite the hours we lost on the road (we still love you Charlie!), despite the fact that we got rained on in ATL n then paid $15 for a cab to drive us 2 blocks, no one will ever be able to take away the fun we had, the information we learned, our experiences, and the friendships that were made.

January, Demetrius, Sade, Brendon, and Charles thank you soooo much for planning this trip! If I could go back and do my spring break all over I would sign up for the trip again in a heartbeat!

My History Lesson

First of all, to be honest, I don't really get excited about anything dealing with history. Not even my own (black history). As I write, I feel different. Not only did this trip allow me to meet some really grand people (inspirational and kind), it taught me a lesson. In Atlanta I did like a video blog and when I was done I kinda felt like it was forced or like I wasnt being true to myself. When we were in Alabama, I wanted to say something else. Something that I knew was from my heart. When we were downtown I called my mom and told her about my day and the museum we had went to. I remember looking into the eyes of an empty robe that once hide the face of a man that despised people like me. Honestly, it hurt. I was on the phone talking to my mom and i was telling her all the hate I seen or felt in just a picture or display. I was born in this era, this generation so Ive been accustomed to what I have and have been given. And because of that I take so much for granted, like many others. Things, rights that so many people fought for and struggled for. Anyways, the point is that this trip opened my eyes to reality. Reality about the past of people who wanted a better life for their children and also the reality I live in now. Although we as a people have come so far, there's so much more that has to be done so that everyone is seen as an Equal. This was more than a pilgrimage or an alternate spring break, it was an honest lesson about our history. A history that is rarely talked about in our schools..

As for the people that were on trip trip with me, I've gotten close to some of you all. Had moments with others. We shared the same experiences and although our reactions or emotions may have been different, we got to learn together. It was a chance to bond with people not like me. And because I did, Im glad I was on this trip. Through the amazing displays, personal stories and even the unpredictable weather, this is one experience I will never forget.

The day after... Rethinking our week.

First of, I must say that this past week has definitely served not only a life-changing experience in the way that I view the world, but has also brought me to look inwards to how I want to be in this world.

I remember the Reverend "Billy" Kyles making a reference to something so obvious yet so profound and easily forgotten. He spoke about the uniqueness of each and every one of us as individuals, and how special that is in relation to our responsibilities in contributing to our communities, societies and the world. This touched me because for me, it really defined civil rights and showed how struggle continues as long as we are social beings.

My impressions of the South prior to this trip had been of curiosity, confusion and a slight sense of harsh judgement. I had visited New Orleans, Memphis and Florida before but always maintained that those were the more "touristy" parts. The education that I received in the small town of Selma just through its demographics really showed me how the movement was elevated and empowered from all corners of the South. I really enjoyed visiting Selma and I think Joanne Bland is a remarkable individual, one of which I will forever feel blessed for having the opportunity of meeting.

On the other hand, I couldn't help but feel disappointed by the remnants and perpetual celebration of an old order. I had known from before that many Southerners hold onto a sense of pride in what is deemed a "lost cause", but I had never imagined that the trailing aspects of the "lost cause" by which they should be ashamed of now, would continue to openly bear such importance today. Visiting the site of the Confederate Circle was somewhat comprehensible to me as it paid tribute to peoples grandfathers and so forth in their effort to protect what they believed was right. However, to come into contact with a memorial for Nathan Bedford Forrest alongside the disturbing words that accompanied was a major shock and disappointment and a real eye-opener. We are so easily accustomed to putting the blame upon radical hate-groups, and we quickly denounce them as "crazies". I remember Rachel questioning whether there was a place in Germany where one could find a memorial celebrating Hitler? Seeing that memorial was a revelation to me. It showed me that on the surface, relations may seem better but the struggle to really understand each other continues.

This brings me to another point that I have learned from the trip. Joanne Bland told us the importance of communication and asking questions in order to understand one another. What again seems like a simple reminder, is something that is so significant. I believe that every person has the capacity to love and that every person desires to be loved (reminds me of a debate we had on the bus actually... wink wink Samuel!). I also believe that to denounce somebody as being evil is not good enough, and almost excuses their actions. From what I learned from the Little Rock experience, it was not only the students that were mean and perpetuating the oppression of the 9 black students, but it was an entire community with a specific belief system that they sought to protect. Is it therefore enough to say that the entire community was evil at that time? I don't think so. However much we may not be able to fully comprehend the thought of the time through our contemporary lens, I do strongly believe that what we can do now as a move towards reconciliation and a better understanding of each other, lie within what Joanne Bland highlighted; the importance of asking questions so we can do away with prejudice and stereotypes.

Meeting with Mary Louise Smith was so unimaginable to me. I still can't believe that I hugged a lady that had so much bravery and courage to defy an unjust system alone. I had never really been the person focus primarily on popular individuals as the sole catalysts in movements of change. I also looked to grassroot activists and protesters because I believe they were the ones that put the "move" in movement. Likewise, in Birmingham, AL, my friend and I spoke with a guy sat in the park who shared his story of being arrested multiple times during the 1963 protests and how he feels about the city now it has changed. Listening to personal stories really touched me, and it really brought the textbook to life for me. It gave an individual voice to the numbers that would usually accompany the voice of a leader in a textbook.

So to conclude, as I enter my last segment of my journey to and within the United States on my international study program, I can comfortably say that I am glad that I embarked upon the Civil Rights Pilgrimage. I found it both educational to the mind and heart. I never cried so many times in one week from so many different emotions. It was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I have come across some very special people that I hope to keep in my life as friends.

Thank you o January and the other creators of such an amazing opportunity, and thank you also to the U of I for giving this Brit such an enlightening experience! :)

Movie Blog 7

A busy couple of days

I started to blog last night, but half way into it it randomly erased and I was too tired to re-do it then. So, I am back at it tonight :). We leave at 5am tomorrow, so this will be a brief re-cap. Yesterday morning we had a tour at the Central High School Historic site. Our tour guide didn't think we would get into the actual school, but anyone who knows me knows that I don't really give up. We did make it inside the school to be able to stand in that historic spot and try to feel what those 9 brave high school students felt back in 1957. Our tour guide was excellent and did a great job of painting the picture in our minds of what they went through.

Our next stop was at the Clinton School for Public Service where 4 of the Master's students spoke to us about what they are doing to make the world a better place. Very inspiring. Most like there is a future Clinton school student in our group.

Then we headed to the Arkansas State Capitol. The highlight was checking out the Little Rock 9 statues.

Finally, we visited Heifer International. If you don't know what this is, go to www.heifer.org. They do incredible things to promote social justice and end poverty. I am not sure that all of our students were able to make that connection, but the ones that did got a lot out of this visit.

Today we had lunch at the famous Interstate Barbaque. I had very delicious BBQ nachos.

Then, we went to the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. We toured the first building and then met with Rev. Billy Kyles who was with Dr. King when he was shot. Rev. Kyles told all of us to dream big dreams. He told us that dreamers are the ones who make big things happen. He had such a positive message given the fact that the main reason we wanted to see him was to have him tell the sad story of the end of Dr. King's life.

Overall, it has been and excellent last couple of days. I need to go to sleep so I make it out to the bus at 5am.

Day Seven Video Blog

Day Six Video Blog

Day Five Video Blog

Day Four Video Blog

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Part 4

Day Four Video Blog

Hey guys,

Sorry that the videos are a little delayed!

-Kamil



Part 2



Part 3

A few things

This trip has been really awesome. Everyone is so nice and I am happy to have made so many new friends. Tuesday and Wednesday were the best days of this trip so far. The Rosa Parks Museum had a really cool bus display. Our tour of the capital was with an interesting older gentleman. I especially enjoyed laying down on the floor to look at the ceiling...

One of the biggest highlights was the SCLC. We had to go through a metal detector because the KKK has tried to bomb the place before. The Civil Rights Monument was powerful. It was surreal to touch the place Rosa Parks had once touched. It made me sad to see so many people lost their lives because of the cause.

Speaking with Mary Louis Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Graetz and the other civil rights activists was definitely the biggest highlight. I wish we could have spent more time with them. I deeply appreciate that they would take the time out of their lives just to come talk to us.

Joanne Bland was pretty cool, and marching over the Edmond Pettus Bridge was moving. Several people honked and waved. You can just feel the history of that place. I think it was cool Obama marched there too.

The Bill Clinton library today was pretty interesting. I especially liked the Mickey Mantle rookie card that he received as a gift. I'm sure that's worth a ton of money.

I can't right now but I'll come back and put up pictures once I get home.

Day 4: Selma and Birmingham

You know....you know...a day late....

Today we woke up early to depart from Montgomery. In planning, I can honestly say that this was one of the days I was looking forward to the most because of all of the positive things I've heard about Joanne Bland. Joanne Bland is the co-founder and director of the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in Selma, Alabama. As a child, she marched in "Bloody Sunday," and has been involved with Civil Rights ever since.

As we traveled from Montgomery to Selma, I had several thoughts running through my head: Where did they walk? In the grass? On the street? Which side of the street? How many people were with them? How long did the march take? What was discussed in the camps along the way. I followed the "historic route markers" along the freeway all the way to Selma. As we approached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, I thought about my own family. At my family reunion a couple years back, we marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the march. Unfortunately, I was not at that family reunion due to being in grad school and my assistantship obligations. I thought about how moving it would have been to walk across with my family, signifying a sense of strength through unity.

Due to serving as one of the co-advisors of the Civil Rights Pilgrimage, I sit at the very front of the bus. Within minutes of Ms. Joanne getting on the bus, she had already made several jokes about our driver, called me her "boo." It was then that I knew that today was going to be a very FUNUCATIAONAL (homeade word for fun and educational) day. Ms. Joanne's quick wit and personality could be described as a "big momma," or even a real life version of "mabel simmons, also known as Madea." She has a lot to say, speaks the truth, and will say what is on her mind. In doing so, if she hurts your feelings, is unapologetic, as she distributed her FRANKNESS and CANDOR evenly amongst all people on the bus (from Advisor- Me, to bus driver- Charly.Furthermore, Ms. Joanne had a very charismatic method of delivering her personal stories and information about Selma, and the Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Jonanne's keep it real personality was a bit much for some of the students to handle, as she made them uncomfortable. I challenged them to get past how she was acting and to think about what she was saying. I tried to explain that it was just her personality. I would have loved to continue having these conversations, but I had to keep it quick, due to respect...and to ensure the joke stayed off of me! I would have loved to elaborate on why the students felt that way and to probe them to reflect on why she is the way she is. I hadn't put much thought into it, but as I began to write this blog it hit me. Ms. Joanne lived during a period where most blacks were afraid for their lives! She actually saw "BLOOD" on Bloody Sunday! She's been arrested, as early as 8 years old! Through each of these events, Ms. Joanne demonstrated a sense of courage in persevering though these awful events. I think it is unrealistic to as someone who was brave as she is to utilize a "filter!" It's just not her.

Our tour with her started in a riding tour of Selma. We saw the home of family friends of Dr. King (the place with he stayed when he visited Selma), the AME church that SNCC held meetings, the place that everyone congregated before heading down to the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, cemetery where some Confederate solders are buried, and the "black" and "white" side of campus. Ms. Joanne also talked about how during the Jim Crow period, there were two of everything, one for blacks and one for whites. This was observed on the tour. This was most notable with the fact that Blacks and Whites could not enter a building through the same door. As a result there were many buildings had two entrances. In most cases the white entrance was usually very nice, while the black entrance was often dilapidated and at an inconvenient location (back of the building). I saw the remnants of this with my own eyes during the tour. There was one building that was unique. There was a church that had two IDENTICAL entrances. One on the front of the building for whites, and one on the side of the building for blacks. Seeing this really brought Jim Crow to life for me. THIS WAS HOW PEOPLE LIVED and didn't have a choice!!!

Our tour also included us walking across the Edmund bge. Before getting off of the bus to prepare for our march across the bridge, Ms. Joanne shared a very emotional account of what happened on Bloody Sunday. It was a very moving story, and Ms. Joanne even broke down. It did fell a little different to see such a strong woman choke up and cry, but again only signified how important this day was to her existence, and that while she may be a very strong woman, she is also still human. Ms. Joanne mentioned how talking about her experiences were good for her, as it served as a form of therapy for her. After setting up the scene and having a couple tears roll down the side of my cheek, it was time for us to get off of the bus. Ms. Joanne did not go, because as she stated, "had already done it for us, and this time was for us to do it for her!" While this was a "symbolic" march, it was not very difficult for me to put it into perspective! We took at stand for a right that we strongly believed it. Knowing all that happened during this time period, I can honestly say that what we did was by far much easier to do. There was not a threat of getting shot or arrested by a police officer, mulled by a German Shepard, or attacked by angry mobs.

After we walked across the bridge, we concluded by attending the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute. It was here were we saw more artifacts that went into the fight for voting rights. There were several sections of the museum: a time line of black history events, women's history, being in jail, early politicians during the reconstruction phase, and President Obama, just to name a few. During an earlier phase of our tour with Ms. Joanne, she mentioned how when they went to jail, they'd often put up to 40 people in a cell. To enact what this felt like a student thought it would be a good idea to for us to ALL get in the cell and take a picture. This was a little difficult for some students who were in processing mode after all that we had done so far. One student became visibly shaken up because they felt other students were not taking the experience seriously. I followed the student outside and we processed about what was going on. I told the student that this experience is about them, and to not let others take away from it. If we're doing something and they need to vent or release, just to step away or go outside, calm down, and then return.

We then went to lunch at a Soul Food Restaurant where I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO EAT SOME PEACH COBBLER!!!!!!!!!!! and whew....it was dabomb.com!

After lunch we headed to Birmingham, where we attended the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. As a younger person, I had visited this place before. It felt different going back this time around. There was an addition to the museum this time, but it was more than that. I had a different perspective to view the museum. While here, I spoke with a student about the state of the black and what that meant at a predominately white institution. We both shared our experiences and ended up talking for nearly 45 minutes as we walked on throughout the exhibits. Our talking spawned out to include: The Black Family, activism now, what it means to be black, and interracial relationships. I was also approached by another student who wanted to have a discussion about what he was feeling with other students.

I did get a pleasant surprise. One of my cousins from Birmingham surprised me at the museum. Thanks Cousin Gene! It was good seeing you!

After leaving the museum, I went over to 16th Avenue Church to see where the Four Little Girls had attended church, followed by Kelly Ingram Park. At Kelly Ingram Park, I saw a new friend, Muni, who was also in Birmingham with her students during Spring Break. It's such a small world.

Day Four: Selma

Today was intense. We had to be on the bus at 6:45 in the morning for the trip from Montgomery to Selma, Alabama. Selma’s history and current social state is overwhelming. Our tour guide Miss Joanne Bland was and to this very day is a freedom fighter. That decision was made for her when she was 8 yrs old…and was arrested for the first time. By the time she was 11 yrs of age she had been arrested 13 times and had given more to the battle for justice than most people (particularly the generations following the civil rights movements that enjoy such freedom people died for so inauspiciously) will their entire lives. She is walking history and I can’t help but think to give a big shout out to my guys Manuel Colon, Enrique Guerrero and Octavio Patino (including a lot more fellow University of Illinois students) that are making their own history and strives to equity by marching on Washington, D.C. for immigration reform. Now back to Miss bland, this woman was great and could tell first hand stories of the brutality African Americans faced when they organized in Selma wanting to march 54 miles to Montgomery. She shared her terrifying stories of beatings that brought tears to my eyes. This woman is truly remarkable. Aside from her personal experience she was holistically knowledgeable of Selma’s history. We paid a visit to the cemetery and to my horror found ourselves face to face with a 40 ft. monument to Robert E. Lee and a not-so-modest-bust in honor of ‘the defender of Selma” Nathan Bedford Forrest, a founding father of the Ku Klux Klan (who in one Civil War battle buried African Americans alive). I swear had I the means those two shrines to violent white supremacy would have come down, that’s how emotional I was. We then had the great honor to march the same march activists took over the Selma bridge and walk in the footsteps of the brave souls (who face firehouses, police dogs and police violence) before us. Today made me angry but it further incensed me and imbued the fact that the struggle must continue and the dream has yet to be realized…

Day 4: Selma and Birmingham, AL

We visited a really historic church where the march from Selma to Birmingham started. It was this church where protesters gathered to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday. The Curator, Mrs. Joanne, was a pretty interesting person. She had walked the lines on Bloody Sunday and protested police brutality. 

The two monuments in front of the church.

We also visited a cemetery... randomly

The group in front of the Edmund Pettus Bridge

After leaving Selma we drove for an hour to Birmingham Alabama. We visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute which was the most amazing museum I've seen on the trip so far. The museum was very well done and had a lot of interesting information. I really enjoyed the several timelines they had which followed the events in the civil rights movement and events around the US. It was really interesting to see how key events around the world and the US had intertwined with the American Civil Rights Movement.

After a whole day on the bus and in museums, the group felt a little restless. We all got out of the bus to do the electric shuffle.