Yesterday, after going to the church and MLK
memorial in Atlanta, we drove to "Bombingham"', Alabama. Once we got
out of the bus, the first thing that struck me was the significantly warmer
weather. Our first visit in Birmingham was to the National Civil Rights
Institute. While in the museum, there were several things that I noticed which
were memorable and striking. There was one exhibit which held an original costume of a
KKK member, along with a cross that they burned as part of their personal tradition.
Apart from these relics of this horrible aspect of American history, I noticed
on the plaque that the KKK costume was donated by Anonymous. I then began to
think about the secrecy that many KKK members had to stay under, especially
considering that many of them were police officers. If I were to analyze the
mindset of some of the members at that time, however, I would speculate that
these people were very much ashamed for their barbaric acts of hate.
In addition, because personally I am very intrigued by the work field of photo journalism and its historical role, I enjoyed examining all of the photos that were exhibited in the museum. The photos taken during the street riots, for example, were essential to getting vivid images of the police brutality that was inflicted upon the rioters. Additionally, images of white Freedom Riders getting brutally beaten made me realize just how much less this movement had to do with race than it had to do with ideology. Whites would get beaten along with the oppressed blacks as long as they displayed their alliance with them.
After we went to the museum, we went to meet with a few people were active during the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s. Three people from our group, myself included, talked with them while we ate, and then they each shared their story to the rest of the group. Each story conveyed a different role in the movement, and these roles combined to create an essential force against the bigotry occurring in the South. The woman that I talked to Dover dinner was Ms. Cleopatra Goree, who taught both segregated and integrated schools from 1949 until 1989. She was one teacher during the Children's March who encouraged the children to get active in the movement. Aside from a few communication issues (such as my "Yankee accent"), it was a very pleasant conversation. I felt honored to have the opportunity to personally talk to a group of people who were so active in a movement that would later make this Civil Rights trip possible.
Hanna, The Park School
In addition, because personally I am very intrigued by the work field of photo journalism and its historical role, I enjoyed examining all of the photos that were exhibited in the museum. The photos taken during the street riots, for example, were essential to getting vivid images of the police brutality that was inflicted upon the rioters. Additionally, images of white Freedom Riders getting brutally beaten made me realize just how much less this movement had to do with race than it had to do with ideology. Whites would get beaten along with the oppressed blacks as long as they displayed their alliance with them.
After we went to the museum, we went to meet with a few people were active during the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s. Three people from our group, myself included, talked with them while we ate, and then they each shared their story to the rest of the group. Each story conveyed a different role in the movement, and these roles combined to create an essential force against the bigotry occurring in the South. The woman that I talked to Dover dinner was Ms. Cleopatra Goree, who taught both segregated and integrated schools from 1949 until 1989. She was one teacher during the Children's March who encouraged the children to get active in the movement. Aside from a few communication issues (such as my "Yankee accent"), it was a very pleasant conversation. I felt honored to have the opportunity to personally talk to a group of people who were so active in a movement that would later make this Civil Rights trip possible.
Hanna, The Park School
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