The Civil Rights Trip!

Over all this trip has truly been amazing! Walking over the Edmund Pettis Bridge was a great experience! Imagining what the marchers went through gave me an inspiration! It inspired me to do what i think is right and to know that anyone could accomplish a goal if they put their mind to it. If it were up to me I probably would not have had the courage to do what they did. They knew the kind of violence they were facing but they never gave up. They had dogs, firehoses, and policemen turned on them. Facing that much amount if violence but not returning it was a huge task to do. Many people today could not even participate in the movement because they would not be able to restrain themselves from violence. They had a lot of pressure on them but they stood strong and stood up for what they believed in. Being in the south my whole life, I have had an experience where people would not speak to me because of the color of my skin. When I greet them with a big hello and a smile some often return it. There were often times where they didn't speak to me they would just ignore me and continue doing what they were doing. I think that today majority of the racism is in the elderly population. They have their minds made up on how things should be in society. Some still believe that whites and blacks should still be separate. I think the younger children of today won't judge people by the color of their skin but by their character. It's up to the younger generation to help change the way people think of each other by it judging them by the color of their skin.
-Kenisha Lindsey, Simmons High School

Needing a cause.

So I am sorry for this but I needed to get it out. I went to my room early last night as some as might have noticed because I have issues eating. As soon as I got to my room and a while after I started to cry. This whole trip has been so much to intake and had been very overwhelming. As much as this trip is an amazing experience, this trip has made me realize how truely meaningless my life has been so far. The people ofthis movement were brutalized, tortured in a sense, and some even were killed. But they fought peacefully to change the world and inspire others. For those who do not know those are two of my goals in life along owning 7 cats. But yeah to change the world and inspire is what I dream to do everyday and honestly is is part of the only reason I am still here today. Anyway I realized last night that while this movement and these people did all of that. They fought peacefully, never giving up hope and changed the world while I am too worried about the boy I like thinking I was crazy because he catches me staring at him all the time. I have done nothing with my life and seeing what these people have done has made me realize how much I truely hate myself for not finding my cause as these people did.

Inspirational figures

I've learned many things since being on this trip, but I'd have to say that one of the most inspirational parts so far has been meeting Dr. Sybil Hampton
Sybil Hampton made me aware of all of the advantages that I take for granted and productive things I could be doing for the betterment of people other than just myself. I thought of all the things she went through as a teenager my age in Central High School and also outside of school such as being shunned, spat at, verbally abused and threatened on a daily basis and I compared that to the subliminal things that I go through everyday and how I over exaggerate situations that shouldn't really matter as much in life. At first I wasn't as grateful and aware of sacrifices that were made in order for me to live as I'm living today desegregated, and able to have freedoms that I wouldn't have today without her and others.
Mrs. Hampton challenged me to push limits and not just stop at Civil Rights for African Americans, she challenged me to truly forgive people and love them regardless because of the fact that she forgave individuals and actually developed relation after they had been so awful to her in the past compared to ludicrous situations I don't forgive people for.
-Sdhari B.

"But after a short while, it comes more & more to be realized that the seeds of war have not been destroyed but have become a thousand times more nourished & mighty" I was able to see a connection with the statement & civil rights movement. The civil rights movement started off small, but as days went on it became a group of thousands of people making a stand for equal rights.

Civil Rights Trip

We had dinner with dr Katherine Burk-Brooks, Cleopatra Goree and Barbra Mines. Cleopatra Goree was a teacher who turned her back while the children left to take part in the children crusade. They ditched school to go to go to jail. They wanted equal rights so they went to get them. I don't know if I would have the courage to participate in the children's crusade and risk my life. They knew that they could have died but they still protested because they could have died even if they didn't protest.

Taylor Majewski

Is it worth it?

Is life worth living for? Is it worth going through all the trials and tribulations?Is it worth crying and hurting for? Yes it is! It is most definitely worth it.

The Freedom Riders, little rock 9, MLK, Rosa Parks, John Lewis and all those that participated in the movement went through the hurt, the pain, the trials and the tribulations. If they can resist the violence then we can as well. They gave us something to live for. They made life worth it.

May 1,2013 I sat in the back of the bus by myself and I cried. I cried for like 15 minutes thinking about where my life was heading. I thought about if it really was worth it. But then I thought to myself about how much I feel sorry for myself. Rosa Parks didn't feel sorry for herself she did something, for herself and others. I begin to think about how blessed I am and the fact that I'm still alive. Emmit Till wasn't able to see the age 16. A lot of kids don't and it hurts to know that they didn't make it. But I think you should never give up on yourself. You should never doubt yourself because there is a purpose for your life and it is all worth it.

- Naomi Evans

WHY DID HE

It doesn't matter who you are, it was so simple a feeling, buts its everything.

As I pack my bag's and get ready for this overwhelming trip, I only think I'm going to have. Good a good time and eat lots of food. Not the impact that I would have while I'm on this trip, not how lucky I am to be on the trip or to see the famous landmarks and enjoy the famous spots were many people took risk not that much long ago.

It is May 1, 10:31 and after all the places I have visited I think that the Loraine Hotel has just maid an impact on me and make me think and wonder "WoW". As I walk to get to the top of the balcony were MLK. Jr was actually shot and killed I wonder why, why did such a powerful man, a leader to many, a husband and father 2 others, and a hero to millions. Why does he haft to be gone. My generation today doesn't probably feel the presence, the emotions, and the feelings that Martin Luther King hit us with when he maid a legacy and had to drastically change so fast.

I ask many and think to myself why, why did James Earl Ray take a beautiful life. The shame and the feelings that we all had toward him was a hate and anger like no other. I have never hated a person so much that's wanted to kill them, that I wanted to END them forever so Why Did He.

KEVON D