Day Two: Birmingham
Today this trip became real. Standing in the same spot were kids were so brutally treated was chilling. As we walked along the Freedom Path in Kelly Ingram Park it was really hard to think about what happened to kids younger than us. The statue with the dog was the most powerful as you are shown the ferocity at which these kids were approached. Even the statue was scary which only made us talk about how frightening it would have been to be there. Going to the park today was a good coincidence as there was a rally for Birmingham’s youth and against violence. Although it can be seen as a positive that this was happening in this park, it was sadly more of a showing about how affected Birmingham still is from the civil rights struggle. There were tables of representatives for summer programs for the town’s youth but there were only about fifteen kids there total in the hour we spent. One table was a youth group trying to raise money to send their kids on a trip to Ghana and there could not have been more than twenty five dollars in the bucket and most of it was change. The intentions of yesterday were great as there were enthusiastic speakers and people handing out tons of information about activities at churches, concerts, and brochures about health and safety. It was sad to see that there was no turn-out and the people that were there, only a small handful were white. One of the speakers talked about lyrics from a rap song that indicates we should be followers and he emphasized the importance of being a leader but if no one is there to hear his words, his message was just lost. The people who each of us walked around with was an interesting split as we broke up into smaller groups that happened to be of similar race. We were able to share with each other our thoughts about the history and the events today in the park and then in reflection time we heard what everyone else was feeling and discussing. When we walked the freedom walk we did so with guilt and a true sense of sorrow for all the children hurt and scarred whereas others walked through and felt angry and a stronger sense of hurt. It was very good that we could experience the park in our own ways but then come together and share the different perspectives of what we felt hopefully making us more open to start experiencing these sites in a better mix of groups.
The Shore sisters and Peggy Heidi were absolutely fabulous. To hear about their childhood experiences and tragedies was extremely powerful, especially hearing Helen and Barbara’s first hand accounts and also Peggy’s experience as she was very in tuned as to what was going on even as a child. Listening to Helen and Barbara speak about their house being bombed twice and there reactions to the threatening lifestyle they were forced to grow up with was heartbreaking but also showed how impressively strong each of them are. They are so smart, personable, and funny it really really was special to get a chance to hear about their lives. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be targeted as a child and just having constant fear. Peggy mentioned several times how the fear was not just race specific and the whole city was plagued by it. Going on the bus tour definitely made what we had just heard about become more real to us. To see the street and think about how many hateful and violent acts occurred where were driving was sickening, especially next to the school where there were often cross burnings. Peggy’s honesty about her family and her childhood was very helpful in putting things into perspective. As she told us how her mother would not let her sister play with Angela Davis and all of the intertwining history of the neighborhood, you could tell how much being on the other side of racism affected her and it is great to hear about how enthusiastic and adamant she is to make a change.
Cameron sharing with us during reflections was another eye opener. To hear that he had never been to school with or even had any contact with a black person with the exception of one girl until college was astounding. To hear that Wake Forest was diverse for him was also shocking. When he described how white and diversity lacking he was until college I could not help but judge him a little bit even though those circumstances were not his fault. But his excitement and desire to meet new people in college and going to speakers and enjoying diversity is a real statement about his character. I would assume that for most people coming from a completely sheltered world, it would be hard and uncomfortable to change those habits. As a few of us talked with Marcus after reflections we talked about how today would have been different if there were any white males on our trip. The assumption we can make is that there are none on our trip because these issues are just a part of history for most of them as they have not experienced anything to hold them back from doing anything. To see all the work that Cameron has done and to hear him talk so happily about the mixing of his church youth group with an integrated church youth group proves that although conditions in Birmingham are still bad, people such as Cameron and Peggy are really passionate to change it.
The intensity of today hit us all at different times but definitely was a reminder about why we are here. Despite the tough things we heard and places we saw, the day has been very fun. Playing with a few children on the playground and the ribs at dinner were for sure highlights.