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!
3 comments:
This blog was fantastic...The narrative and pics are amazing. I appreciate my daughter having the opportunity to experience such an amazing time in history. She has been forever changed...
Thanks to all who made the experience possible.
PS...Elvis lives!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for keeping the memories alive for the next generation. We can not let these experiences of hatred reoccur. You are a great gift to humankind and our SJND family. Thanks for being a great person and a history geek.
GO Ms. Honey!
Tom Emig
There are really no words that describe the experience of a lifetime in 10 days. After the first parent meeting I attended at SJND, I felt so passionately about attending, my mind was made up to go for MYSELF and then for my child, Carmen. You see, after the Sojourn (“SoJo”) meeting, I was just bringing her along to watch me. How funny is that? Carmen wasn't even at the first meeting! History literally came alive all around us during those 10 days. Eyes were opened. Lives are changed. At my tender age of 53 (and counting), I am no longer a silent witness. Fellow Sojourners can tell you I already act a little different from most parents I suppose, so thinking different cannot be far behind, right? Yet I am still a work in progress (a “wip” you might say) and I have learned I have so much more to learn. Sojourn was the proverbial time of my life. Through the tragedy of the times we visited, I felt glad to be alive and sad to be alive at the same time. I was so proud to be among so many bright young students when the lights came on! The mood was contagious. I felt (as old as I am) it's not too late for even myself to give back. My husband understands as he has been giving back to the community of his childhood (Oakland) for 10+ years (and counting) by holding summer model car classes for neighborhood youth. Sojourn to the Past, blessed me to be there and watch our future take flight. We sang loud and proud, "Aint No Harm in Keeping My Mind Stayed on Freedom" through the airport on our late night return to San Francisco, CA. Freedom for all is a pretty darn good idea whose time has come (again and again... infinity). Too beautiful for words. It was not easy in the past, is not getting any eaiser now and will be desperately more difficult going forward, but I believe it is someday going to be... Maybe this generation or the next, or the next after that? My prayers will be answered when our future gets in the way of our past. Our future is in the generations to come. OK, I'm really not trying to preach here, but suffice it to say, everyone needs to Sojourn to the Past or at least give the organization the financial support and recognition it deserves. Kudos to Mr. Jeff Steinberg, Ms. Minnijean Brown Trickey, Dr. Carolyn, Mr. Mason, Ms. Denise, sisters Ms. Becky and Ms. Tori, Ms. Horgan (you will be missed), Ms. Lauren, the speakers (especially Congressman Lewis, Jimmy Webb, Sgt. Joann, Rev. Clark and his wife, Anna Olson and Rev. Kyles), SoJo sisters and brother (Ms. Minni, Ms. Denise and Rev. Jim), the teachers (especially Ms. Honey, of course, Ms. Sandy, Ms. Emily, Ms. Martha, Ms. Penny, Mr. Lance and Ms. Justine to name a few), the fellow parents (Ms. Sashi and Mr. Curtis-the voice), the hip-happenin' California, Ohio and New York students -- the whole April 2010 Sojourn crew - I love each and every one of you. Some of the kids call me, "the flower lady" but I call myself blessed (and gave all my flowers away). I am deeply grateful for Sojourn and will tell everybody I know about the special group of ordinary people doing an extraordinary thing that I was privileged to be part of for 10 magical days in April 2010!
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