Civil Rights

Hey family and friends!

In the final segment of the immersion, we were able to physically immerse ourselves in very impactful and powerful places. We traveled from Montgomery to Selma, where thousands of activists marched for their right to vote. 

Walking on the Edmund Pettis bridge represented the courage, pride, and triumph of the activists in 1963.  It was very powerful to know we stood where such amazing history took place. Seeing the footprints of those who walked and seeing the FBI surveillance pictures of the activists truly depict the impact that Selma had on the civil rights movement. However, even with how many steps forward marches like Selma created, it brings up questions of whether another march like Selma will occur in the future as we continue to battle with civil rights issues.

We then traveled to New Orleans, where we visited the Lower 9^th Ward and learned more about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the city and its marginalized groups. Although the community is not as lively as it once was, the love, courage, and pride of the neighborhood persists through community centers such as the local museum and grocery store. The stories of the individuals who survived Katrina were not forgotten; they are honored and celebrated as the community continues to rebuild.

We continued to learn more about the revitalization of the city at Studio Be, an art exhibit by local painter B Mike, that artistically represented the pain and suffering of Katrina, but also the celebration of black activists and the black community. 

In the final portion of this immersion, our group battled with the question of “What is our call to action? What are we going to do with the knowledge we gained throughout the trip?”.

At a panel in Montgomery, we were able to listen to the stories and advice of living members of the civil rights movement. They taught us that it is imperative that we continue to educate ourselves about the systems that oppress marginalized groups. That we must find our call in social justice no matter the career path we pursue, and to act on the issues we are passionate about. We are the generation that is next up to create change.

A huge thank you to the Moreau Center for Service and Justice, Tyler Wagner, and the other immersion leaders for making this experience possible!

Signing off,

Gloria Joseph and Jackson Blum

Hello Family and Friends,

It’s hard to believe that we’re already halfway through immersion.

We just left Birmingham, Alabama and it was both heavily emotional and inspiring to be there. While we were there, we had the pleasure of working with BuildUP, an organization that gives low-income youth in Birmingham the skills and knowledge to revitalize their own community. Through paid apprenticeships and personalized education, the youth leave the program with a high school diploma, associate’s degree, and career-ready skills.

Our group had the opportunity to work on one of the housing projects in Ensley, which involved hanging dry-wall, mowing the overgrown lawn, and cleaning up the house. After working on the house for a few hours, we had lunch with some of the youth involved in the program and talked with them about their experiences. At the end of it all, even with our different and diverse perspectives, we were able to come together and express our gratitude for each other.

Later in the afternoon, we also had the chance of meeting with the mayor’s new Office of Peace and Policy. Our group was able to have a conversation with them about their vision of the future for civil rights work, as well as, their current view on Birmingham.

It was saddening to learn about how the state of Alabama has made it difficult for the city to make laws that aid in the civil rights movement. But, it was also encouraging to learn that they are still working hard to try to make changes despite all the hurdles set in front of them. Their hope for the better future also help encourage us to be hopeful too, especially with the passing of the highly aggressive anti-abortion bill happening so close to us.

The following day, we visited the 16^th Street Baptist Church, an important landmark from the Civil Rights Movement. At 10:22 AM on September 15, 1963, a bomb went off on the east side of the church and four young girls were murdered.

Their names were Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Denise McNair.

This event solidified the fact that not even children are exempt from the hatred, violence, and bigotry that exists in the world. The group facilitator at the church spoke of how even Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was speechless after hearing the attack and just sobbed.

What’s even more powerful was how even the world came together amidst this tragedy. The speaker spoke of how the citizens of Wales wanted to donate a mosaic portrait truly from the people. They gave the church a beautiful stain-glass window, depicting an African American Jesus. This was unprecedented in the South at the time due to extreme prejudice.

Today, we had the amazing opportunity of meeting with Wanda, a tour guide from the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. From just our very short amount of time of meeting

 her, it was clear to all of us that she was heaven-sent.

Wanda greeted us with open arms and an open heart, sharing her love for music, humanity, and God. She spontaneously burst into singing “This Little Light of Mine” and we all joined her in this beautiful moment of unity.

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Hi friends and family!

Here’s an update for y’all, a lesson we learned in Jackson, Mississippi was: Mississippi Goddamn! During the course over the last couple of days this has been an emotional journey, especially in Jackson. We started the morning by meeting with Habitat for Humanity. Here, Habitat for Humanity is a religious based organization with a white savior complex. We were introduced to the organization through a slideshow that misrepresented the targeted population by “need” being romanticized. Following the introduction, we were greeted with feelings of anger. This is because she began giving us the tour of her “saving the hood”, by making individuals prove to her that the homes are not handouts but something they have earned from her. She kept emphasizing the word “work” with the insinuation that the people who do not qualify for the homes are lazy or slumlords. At the end of her tour, she stopped mid-street to a show us where THE GATE would be placed. We as a group silently questioned, what does this mean? She was demonstrating economic segregation or in other words making a clear indication who are the haves and the have nots. After she observed our body language, continued to defend herself and actions by mentioning how much of a “SCREAMING LIBERAL” she was and basic information about systemic oppression as a way to impress us. The sad truth is that, this is what a progressive individual looks like in Mississippi who thinks they are aiding but doing more harm than good. So, to represent our frustrations, we dedicate the song by Nina Simone called, “Mississippi Goddamn” (click the link to hear the song), which was to show her frustrations with the lack of progress the state made during the Civil Rights Movement and to this day. This can be shown through the Mississippi state flag that is uncanny to the Confederate flag.

Signing off xoxo

Ashley and Destiny

Happy Mother’s Day!

We celebrated this Sunday by going to Mass at Holy Family church in Jackson, Mississippi. The members of the church greeted us with open arms and smiles. We were touched by their welcoming, loving nature, and supportive community.

We were particularly touched when the church was giving acknowledgments, they were celebrating a recent graduate who was an active member of the church community. While they were remembering her time there she teared up and warmed the hearts of everyone present. Her family was also recognized and her parents graciously thanked the members of the church for supporting their daughter while she was away from home.

Later that day, we went to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, which focuses on the Civil Rights movement within Mississippi. Starting our tour we had the incredible opportunity to meet Freedom Rider Claude Liggins. He talked with us about his experiences riding from New Orleans to Jackson and the conflicts that he faced. He welcomed questions and talked about what motivated him to become a Freedom Rider.

Talking to Mr. Liggins emphasized to us how important it is to vote because our voices matter and our generation is the one to create serious change. His insistence on our generation being a glint of hope made us feel a slight weight of pressure as well as an eagerness to catalyze change. His response to this was, “don’t ever think you can’t change the world.”

We learned that the Freedom Riders grew a strong sense of community by putting their lives on the line for something they felt was right. Mr. Liggins pointed out other Freedom Riders’ pictures and talked about them like old friends. It amazed us just how much they were all still connected. We also were surprised to learn that they have reunions that bring them together every several years.

As he showed us around the exhibits featuring the Freedom Riders, he expressed how it all took his breath away. He noted the progress made from the Civil Rights Movement, at the same time acknowledging how much still needs to be done when he said, “10 steps forward, 9 steps back.” His opinion on where we stand today shocked and saddened us because it showed us how much more there is to accomplish.

During our daily group reflection, we all agreed that learning about Mr. Liggins’ story and the vast number of students involved in the Freedom Riders inspired us to take action today. Hearing his story made us ask ourselves if a modern Freedom Rider-like movement started, would we drop everything and volunteer like he did? The day was filled with many lessons, among the most important was when Mr. Liggins mentioned that people referred to him as being a hero, although he doesn’t see himself as that. It wasn’t until later that we realized true heroes don’t see themselves that way.

Let’s do this!

Sam & Nico

Dear loved ones,

The emotions have been running high today. We departed our beloved hostel in Memphis, Tennessee and left for the Emmett Till pilgrimage route which started in Money, Mississippi. As our immersion community grows closer, the impact of the powerful stories we are encountering seems to be touching our hearts on a different and deeper level.

The signs of inequity and injustice along racial and socioeconomic lines became immediately clear to us in Money as we worked our way down to the grocery store where the tragic story of 14-year old Emmett Till, the story that sparked a movement, began. We moved between several key locations where the brutal murder of Till and the following courtroom proceedings took place. Here are some of the reflections which came to mind during this life-changing pilgrimage:

As we drove from the grocery store to the  , eventually, we found ourselves on the banks of the Tallahatchie River where Till’s body was recovered. When he was found by a fisherman after his death, he had been inhumanely beaten, mutilated, and lynched. As we gathered by the banks of the river, a somber and beautifully reverent silence settled over us. Huddled together, we held the pain and injustice of Emmett Till’s story close as the rain continued falling upon us. 14 years of hope and potential and joy and innocence ended where we stood.

No one told us when it was time to leave; somehow, when we were called to, we did.

The last leg of the Emmett Till Pilgrimage ended at the courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi. There, we learned about the case in more detail, and the healing process that encompassed the town years later. We read an apology letter curated by 18 members of the community and took turns reading phrases aloud as a group. While the letter had the right intentions, during our reflection an important point was brought up. Apologies are great, but the paper can be torn up and the words can be lost in translation. Actions have far more accountability, and we as a nation need to begin tending to these wounds by actively fighting against injustice.

While emotions continue to run high, we are finding solace in each other and the commitment to justice we each hold. We’re staying at two separate Airbnb’s and have found a strong sense of community as we sing, reflect, and share stories. Everyone we have encountered in both Memphis and Jackson has shown us kindness, sincere generosity, and hospitality – they are the reason we keep moving forward.

In solidarity,

Sitara and Sophie

Hi family and friends!

After a long day of travel, we have arrived in Memphis, Tennessee and were warmly welcomed with some southern BBQ. To follow along on our civil rights immersion journey, we will be posting reflections and pictures here for those at home to engage with the experiences and connections we will make along the way.

Welcome to our journey.

We woke up today, eager and a little tired to start our first full day of our civil rights immersion in Memphis, Tennessee. Throughout the day we were graced with true southern hospitality, starting off with a panel hosted by the NAACP. The panel included board members of the NAACP, the executive director of the Memphis branch, attorneys that have represented the NAACP, and The Shelby County’s first women chief public defender. The discussion was focused around their campaign Voting is Power 901 – which is a campaign to increase the knowledge and turnout of voting. As well, the panelist provided a deeper look into the Shelby County Election Commission Lawsuit.

Following the panel, we went to the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM), which is the first ever civil rights museum. The museum was created from the Lorraine Motel, the location where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4^th, 1968. The NCRM was rich with information which provided us with the proper mindset for the next few weeks. The NCRM was broken up into 39 exhibits that walked us through the timeline of major events of the civil rights movement.

After the Museum, we walked to the Clayborn Temple, where sanitation workers gathered to organize their strike. The sanitation workers strike for better working conditions and treatment. The strike gained momentum with the support of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As we explored the grounds of the temple today, we ran into Rosalyn Nichols, the operations director for the restoration project at Clayborn Temple and she invited us inside. She referred the temple as “ground zero” for the civil rights movement, because it is centered between the Mason Temple and Lorraine Motel. Thanks to her hospitality we were able to see the original beauty and structure of the temple and housed such significant history.

To wrap up the day, we headed over to the Mason Temple(The Church of God in Christ). When we were arrived, we were bummed to see it was closed down for the day but again found a welcoming community member, Darin Burns. As a member of the National Board of Trustees for the Church of God in Christ, he invited in and shared the history and importance of the Mason Temple, which is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his last sermon “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” before he was assassinated. Being in the temple was a surreal experience, where we were able to feel the impact of the civil rights movement.

Thank you for joining us on our journey. We are excited to embark on the rest of our immersion and share our experience with you all.

With peace and love,

Rainey and Frankie

Co-coordinators