This spring, the seventh and eighth-grade class embarked on a two week trip to the South with Todd Smith, Ross Perrot, Jesse McTigue, Lizzie Edwards, and Kelsey Brax to immerse themselves in their Civil Rights studies. The students had adventures in Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Memphis, and Birmingham.
The Rosa Parks Museum, the Equal Justice Initiative's memorial and museum, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Maya Lin Memorial all provided formative educational experiences for the crew in Montgomery. In Selma, students attended services and a fish fry at the Blue Jean Church, crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, had a driving tour of historical landmarks, and met many friendly locals. They spent some time in Memphis at The Lorraine Motel and its accompanying museum. Students had the opportunity to try authentic BBQ food, stroll down Beale Street, climb and volunteer at The Memphis Rox Gym, went to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. They also visited the "I am a Man" Plaza, which provided an excellent opportunity for journaling and checking out the Mississippi River. Students visited the 16th Street Baptist Church, the Birmingham Museum of Arts, and The Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham. In Atlanta, the group went to the High Art Museum, The Coca-Cola Museum, The CNN building, The National Center for Social and Civil Rights, and various sites around the Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Students and teachers alike walked away from the experience with evolved outlooks on Civil Rights!
For the non-academic portions of the trip- a minor league baseball game and roller skating in Montgomery were big hits! The group enjoyed some of their favorite rap tunes from the 1990s and their favorite country music hits from contemporary times. A trampoline park, bowling, Beale Street exploring, and climbing were other fun evening activities.