Incredible

Another marvelous day! After a great night’s sleep we headed to the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. Touring the capitol was a very interesting experience. It was very different to hear the view of Alabama state history from a capitol tour guide. Some of her thoughts were rather strange, such as referring to Native Americans as “hostile Indians” and referring to slavery as “plantation life”. All and all it was a very good time. The guide did provide great insight into Alabama history, however biased it was.

After the tour we went to see the Civil Rights Memorial Center. It was a very powerful and moving place. It profiled all of the people that lost their lives during the Civil Rights Movement. It also had a cool outdoor display that paid homage to those that died. The most powerful part of the museum was “The Wall of Tolerance”. It was a display of all of the names of people who are committed to justice and equality. It is a powerful reminder that the fight for civil rights is not over. We need to continue to make the world a better place.

The last place we visited in Montgomery was the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. We learned about the church’s rich history and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s time at the church. It was crazy to think that not all that long ago Dr. King was sitting in that very church. The church was a very big part of the Civil Rights Movement. We then grabbed lunch before heading to Selma.

When we got to Selma we visited the Voting Rights Museum. It was very interesting. Then we met up with JoAnne Bland, a foot soldier who participated in the Civil Rights Movement. She gave us a bus tour of Selma. We also got to walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It was so movie. It truly gave you an eerie feeling. We then went to supper at a fine Southern buffet. We got to speak to JoAnne Bland’s sister Linda Blackmon Lowery. It was a surreal experience. Words cannot describe how amazing these two women are.

What an unbelievable day. I can’t wait for more tomorrow.