The impact continues...

I think we were all shocked at our tour of the Alabama State Capitol building this morning. Seeing Confedarate flags, hearing praise of George Wallace and Jefferson Davis, and being told that slavery (as we Yankees refer to it) really only lasted for twenty years--all of the things we were told were from the Southern perspective. I think we knew that was how it would be, but we didn't truly realize it until we had heard it from the doscent.

Our tour guide at the Civil Rights Memorial Center was incredible; Eviva was very open about her own experiences and interested to hear about our purpose on the pilgrimage and the things we've seen, learned, and believed. The most impacting thing was when we all crowded in the room with the Wall of Tolerance and being able to see the names of individuals in our group scroll on the digital wall as we each pledged to take a stand against hate, injustice, and intolerance as well as working for the ideals for which the Civil Rights martyrs died.

We were all shocked when we saw that the memorial outside the center was closed because of the ice that surrounded it on the ground, but of course they let us take our pictures around the monument after finding out we were from Wisconsin, and clearly have experience with much worse conditions.

Walking over the Edmund Pettus Bridge and taking the same path that the foot soldiers traveled on Bloody Sunday was one of the most powerful things I've ever experienced. This is when I began to really understand the human sacrifice surrounding the Civil Rights movement, and it was truly a sombering thing for me. We hear about their deaths, we hear about their lives, and today we were able to really walk their steps. Of course, we didn't have the policemen waiting for us at the end of the bridge forcing us back with whatever means necessary, but it was a chance for us to really imagine and be impacted by that sliver of history.

Speaking with Joanne Bland and Lynda Blackmon today was one of the most powerful things ever. Both were spunky and hilarious, but beyond that they were truly inspiring and open about their experiences as children who decided to become hugely involved in the movement and continue to work in Selma, Alabama to maintain the things they have sacrificed for. Joanne and her sister inspired us to commit to working toward a just world; they've taken the first steps, now we need to take the responsibility to continue the work that they've begun.


"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim." --Elie Wiesel