Day Nine and Ten: Little Rock and Memphis

We finally got to Little Rock and Central High School. We marveled at the beauty of the facility (voted "The Most Beautiful High School in the U.S." when it was built in the 1920s), and could not believe so much ugliness and hatred could exist at this place. The students reflected upon the bravery of the Little Rock 9 at the pond in front of the school built in honor of the nine students who integrated Central. We also visited the National Park site museum and had the honor of meeting Elizabeth Eckford, the brave young woman who faced angry mobs of people alone on her first day of school. After leaving Central, we traveled to the State Capitol building where statues of the nine students stand and sang freedom songs with Minnijean Brown Trickey.

Sojourn students reflect at the entrance to Central High School

Matt and me in front of the beautiful Central High

In Memphis, we visited the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated. The site is now the home of the National Civil Rights Museum, which houses a tremendous exhibit chronicling the Civil Rights movement. We met Rev. Billy Kyles, who was with Dr. King when he was killed. Rev. Kyles' message of hope and keeping Dr. King's dream alive was the perfect way to end our journey. We also had a great time on Beale Street, dancing the night away at the Blues club! 

The...um...interesting Elvis who greeted us at the Blues Club!

I LOVE Ms. Nicholson and Ms. Conlin! 

Sojourners celebrate their amazing journey on Beale Street! 

We all feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to travel through the South, visiting the major Civil Rights landmarks, and, most importantly, meeting with some of the brave men and women of the Movement. Taking this trip made us all realize how much further we need to go to truly achieve liberty and justice for all, and we are ready to construct a direct action plan for our school community. If you are interested in experiencing the amazing ten days yourself, please visit the Sojourn to the Past website here. The Sojourn to the Past organization ensures that all students who want to take the trip, can. There is information on their website about how to donate to this valuable educational organization.

Thank you SO much to our generous donors who ensured that this transformative experience was possible for the incredible SJND students. We are very grateful for your love and support!

Day Eight and Nine: Hattiesburg and Jackson

In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, we had the honor of meeting with the Dahmer Family. Vernon Dahmer was a successful businessman in Hattiesburg in the 1950s and 1960s. He worked tirelessly to help African Americans register to vote, and his famous line: "If you don't vote, you don't count" inspired people in his community to continue working for the removal of poll taxes, literacy tests, and other registration obstacles. On the night of January 10th, 1966, Dahmer's home was the target of a firebomb attack. As Dahmer's wife and children escaped, Vernon fired his gun at the attackers and was severely burned about the head, face, and upper body before he could escape. Vernon died the next day from the effects of burns in his respiratory tract. We spent time at the Dahmer family compound and then drove to Vernon's gravesite. The students were given voter registration forms, and we discussed the vital importance of exercising our right to vote, especially considering the tremendous sacrifice made by so many for the privilege.

After leaving the Dahmer family, we went to Jackson and got to meet with investigative journalist, Jerry Mitchell. Mitchell, responsible for uncovering/reopening several “cold” Civil Rights murder cases, delighted and inspired us with his stories about meeting with Klan members and exposing their plots in his Jackson’s Clarion-Ledger Newspaper. His talk made us all want to be investigative reporters!!

While in Mississippi, we also visited Medgar Evers' home. Evers was a field secretary for the NAACP and was murdered in his driveway after coming home from a meeting with NAACP lawyers. He staggered 30 feet before collapsing in front of his wife and small children. Like Vernon Dahmer, Evers was killed by Ku Klux Klan members. The killers of both men were not brought to justice until many, many years after the crimes were committed. We are outraged that the bravery of both men is not explored in most U.S. History classes, despite their tremendous sacrifice for freedom and equality.

Meredith and me in front of the Clarion-Ledger Building

Celebrity Reporter, Evander, on the scene at Medgar Evers' home

With some of my wonderful and inspiring colleagues, Lauren, Dianne, Patrese, and Sandy! 

While at Medgar Evers’ home, we received another AMAZING surprise. Denise Everidge, one of our adult leaders on our trip, revealed her true identity to us: SHE IS MEDGAR EVERS’ DAUGHTER!!! She had gone by her middle name (Denise) and her married name (Everidge) all week to conceal who she is---RENA DENISE EVERS EVERIDGE! She spoke to our group about her recollections of her father and her hope for each of us. Later in the afternoon, several of us were interviewed by the local television station about our exciting day. 

Day Seven and Eight: Birmingham and Hattiesburg

We had an amazing experience in Birmingham, known as Bombingham during the Civil Rights Movement on account of the numerous bombs that hurt and killed many people and destroyed black homes, businesses, and places of worship. We learned about "Bull" Connor, the Birmingham Police Commissioner who ordered fire hoses and police attack dogs turned on children during their peaceful marches. Most moving, was our visit with Chris McNair, the father of Denise McNair, one of the four little girls killed when a bomb went off at the 16th Street Baptist Church. We had the opportunity to visit the church and reflect in the sanctuary. We cried thinking about these young women who never had the opportunity to live the full lives ahead of them. We watched and discussed the excellent Spike Lee documentary, "Four Little Girls," about this tragic event.

While in Birmingham, we also had the honor of meeting and spending time with Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. "The Rev" was the driving force behind the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, the most violent city in the South. In the words of Historian Horace Huntley, "If not for Fred Shuttlesworth organizing in 1956, Birmingham would not have been ready when Martin Luther King came in 1963" (You might remember that King wrote his famous "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" while incarcerated in the city). Minnijean Brown Trickey led our group in an awesome lesson about the freedom songs of the Civil Rights Movement while we were in Birmingham. I was SO proud of our talented SJND students who helped with the singing on stage--we certainly have a GREAT group! 

Last night, we visited the gravesite of James Chaney, one of the three Civil Rights workers also killed by Klansmen during Freedom Summer, 1964. James' daughter, Angela, who was ten days old when he was murdered, met us and discussed the importance of taking her father's memory and dreams back home with us and making a difference in our schools and community. Our evening ended with a lesson on Fannie Lou Hamer and the vital importance of community organizing and leaderless change. My dear friend and colleague, Sandy Nicholson (who teaches at Jefferson High School in Daly City), and I presented the lesson in hopes that our students realize the valuable contributions of women in the Freedom Struggle and that they return home with a firm resolve to "let their light shine" on issues in their own communities. 

We are in Hattiesburg, Mississippi today and are heading out to meet the Dahmer family later this morning. Vernon Dahmer, a prominent black business man, was killed when his home was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1966. 

Our awesome SJND students, Monina, Evander, Matt, and Robin, lead freedom songs with Minnijean Brown Trickey

The crowd singing loudly and proudly!

With my dear students, Crystal, Amber, and Imani, in Birmingham's Kelly Ingram Park

With "new student" and fellow swimmer, Sierra :)

Matt and Monina in front of the 16th Street Baptist Church

With my lovely students, Tiffany and Keyonna!

Robin shares her wise insights about Fred Shuttlesworth in front of his statue

Day Six: Montgomery

Yesterday in Montgomery, we had two lessons, both equally moving. The first was about Emmett Till: the spirited fifteen year old who, when visiting relatives in Mississippi, whistled at a white woman and was brutally murdered for his actions. We learned about Till, the horrific murder, and how his brave mother insisted that the casket at his funeral be open so the world could see what hatred had done to her son. After the lesson, we were surprised by a visit from Simeon Wright, Emmett's cousin, who was asleep in the same bed with Emmett when Emmett was kidnapped and taken to his death. Everyone was riveted listening to Mr. Wright's recollections about his cousin and the tragic day he was taken. We also spent time discussing James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner: the three men who traveled to Mississippi during Freedom Summer and were kidnapped and murdered. As we travel to Mississippi, we will continue to examine these brave young people and their enduring legacy. Last night, we spent a lot of time at Montgomery's beautiful Civil Rights Memorial. The Memorial, designed by 28 year old, Maya Lin, is an incredible tribute to the martyrs of the Movement. Designed around the passage from the Book of Amos: "Until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream..." from Martin Luther King’s "I Have A Dream" speech, the memorial allows visitors to touch and reflect upon the names of those who gave their lives so that others could live free.

The Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery

Day Five: Selma

Today, we had a fantastic walking tour of Selma. We paid our respects at the memorial built to honor the Unitarian ministers who were attacked while in Selma supporting the fight for voting rights, specifically the Rev. James Reeb, who lost his life. We also gathered on the steps of the beautiful Brown Chapel, the headquarters of the Selma campaign. Our tour guide was Joanne Bland, a veteran of the March for Voting Rights. She is awesome and inspiring!

Robin and a group of students walk through downtown Selma and past the Voting Rights mural

Joanne Bland and students fire it up on the steps of Brown Chapel

Our time in Selma ended with the most AMAZING surprise. Representative John Lewis arrived in Selma to lead our march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge, just like he did in 1965 during the March for Voting Rights. We all screamed, cried, and just could not believe how amazing the moment was. In Sojourn’s eleven year history, the Congressman has never been able to join the group…this was SO special!

John Lewis talks to the students moments before we march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge

Our group makes our way over the bridge...."American democracy was not born on July 4, 1776...American democracy was born in 1965 in Selma" -Jesse Jackson

Day Three and Four: Atlanta/Selma

On Saturday, we had an informative lesson on Robert Kennedy and his legacy. We discussed at length how our country might have been different had he not been assassinated. In the afternoon, Minnijean Brown Trickey (of the Little Rock Nine) and Ken Mason, a former teacher at Castlemont High School in Oakland, led us in an anti-racism workshop. We explored institutionalized racism and shared our ideas about how to stop racism at this expansive level. The experience helped us to confront our own feelings about racism and how to stop it in our community.  Saturday night was our favorite night thus far. We visited the Ebenezer Baptist Church site where Martin Luther King Jr. preached and where his funeral was held. We spent a lot of time reflecting at the King tomb and further explored King's contributions to our country as well as his great sacrifice. At the end of the evening, we sang “We Shall Overcome” at the tomb site and paid reverence to Dr. King’s life and legacy.

On Easter Sunday, we met first with Clark Olsen. Reverend Olsen, a retired Unitarian minister, went to Selma, Alabama with other clergy members to support the March for Voting Rights. While in Selma, Clark Olsen and two other ministers were brutally assaulted. One of the ministers, Jim Reeb, was killed. Reverend Olsen’s story and his message of hope and love in the face of brutal violence was an important lesson for us on Easter.

We next had the honor to spend over two hours with Representative John Lewis. Our textbook for this trip is Lewis' Walking with Wind, often called the definitive book of the Civil Rights Movement. Mr. Lewis talked about his role in the Civil Rights Movement, specifically his recollections of Bloody Sunday, when he tried to lead marchers from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights. Mr. Lewis is still passionate about creating a country of equality for all. His enthusiasm for the cause is contagious, and we feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to hear him speak. Recently, John Lewis was verbally assaulted by Tea Party protesters as he was walking to the nation’s capitol to work for universal healthcare. The shameful incident is a powerful reminder that racism is alive and well in our country, and that some individuals use issues like equal access to healthcare as an opportunity to espouse hateful, racist rhetoric.

After meeting with Representative Lewis, we departed for Selma, Alabama. We are staying at the historic St. James Hotel, an antebellum inn built in the 1850s. The Hotel is right on the Alabama River, and our windows look straight out at the Edmund Pettus Bridge where the horrifying Bloody Sunday March took place. On Sunday night, we had a lesson on Selma, specifically the brave men and women who attempted to march 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights from Governor George Wallace. We were treated to a visit from Pastor Jimmy Webb, who, as a teenager, led a group past a police barricade and confronted a group of policemen with questions about civic culture and civil religion. He was a surprise guest, and we LOVED hearing his stories and insight!

Mr. Steinberg and Ms. Lei read a poem at the King Tomb

With the MMMMs! Monina, Matt, Meg, and Meredith

Evander, Meg, Keyonna, Amber, Meredith, Jonathan, Monina, and Carmen get ready to hear John Lewis speak

The SJND Group..."Throw the Peace Sign...Throw it Three Times a Day..."

Day Two: Atlanta

Today was another inspiring and enlightening day. After a riveting four hour lesson on the Little Rock Nine, we had the honor of officially meeting and spending time with Minijean Brown Trickey, one of the students who integrated Central High School in 1957. It was emotional watching my students learn about what happened at Central High. The nine students who bravely integrated Central High School were only fifteen and sixteen years old. They were harassed, threatened, and physically and verbally assaulted on a daily basis--just because they wanted a better educational experience. Watching the footage of these brave young people get out of the 101^st Airborne Division station wagons each day, carrying their science projects and textbooks, really opened our eyes to the fact that they were just kids. High school is hard enough, and it is difficult to begin to imagine what their daily experience must have been like. To this day, Elizabeth Eckford (who we will meet later on in the trip) cannot discuss her experience because her emotional wounds are still unhealed. In 1957, Elizabeth's family did not have a phone. When the other Little Rock Nine students were contacted about where to meet on the first day of school, Elizabeth did not receive the information. A fifteen year old, Elizabeth rode the bus to school in a new dress her mother made her and stepped out into an angry mob. She walked two blocks by herself as the adults around her screamed obscenities, spit on her, and threatened her life. Watching the footage from 1957 as well as hearing Minnijean’s message about her experience and racism in our country today brought a lot of us to tears.

Tonight, we had the privilege of visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. We had the museum to ourselves, and the exhibits of Dr. King's life and legacy were enlightening and wonderfully well presented. My students read the disturbing segregation laws of various states, watched video footage of Dr. King’s speeches, and learned about the powerful influences on Dr. King’s life. We ended our day singing the anthem of the Freedom Struggle, “We Shall Overcome.” An inspiring way to end a great day…

The entrance to the King Center

Andrea and Meredith read about Dr. King's early life

Carmen and Tiffany working hard on their museum questions

Meredith reflecting on what she has seen

Jonathan and Evander watch video footage of Dr. King's funeral 

Rebecca thinking about segregation laws

Meg and Meredith take a quick photo break!