Day Two: Birmingham
Today was a powerful day for me. Everything so far has been even better than I expected. It was disappointing that the 16th Street Baptist Church wasn’t open, but the park and museum were more than enough to do in the time we had. We watched a movie in the museum, and looked at very interactive and intriguing models of different aspects of the civil rights movement, such as KKK members, segregation in schools, buses, and other public places, and timelines depicting significant protests. I wish we had had more time, as this is one of the most fascinating historical sites I have ever been to. We went into the museum with a family reunion group that was entirely African American, and I couldn’t help noticing a few looks we got as we went in, possibly due to the fact that our group was composed of both African Americans and Caucasians, or maybe just simply thinking Caucasians were out of place in a memorial such as we were in.
It was surreal to be in the actual place where children were so ruthlessly brutalized by dogs, high powered water guns, and other weapons during their nonviolent protests. I was completely speechless as to how to react, and felt extremely close to the incidents that happened just by walking through the park. The statues were powerful representations evicting fear and restlessness in everyone that was walking in a group with me. I was glad to have seen the movie before to fully understand the significance of where we were, and what effect the March had on the future of African Americans and our country as a whole.
I can’t say enough about how captivating and powerful what Peggy Heidi, Barbara Shores and Helen Shores Lee had to say was. I have never been exposed to such examples of racism as close as just hearing it from an African American in a way we did today. Even if I were to read their exact testimonies in a text book or watch it in a movie, it couldn’t possibly have the impact that hearing them talk and seeing their faces had on me today. I don’t think anyone can say they have never prejudiced someone else, or discriminated against or stereotyped another individual on the basis of race at sometime in their life, even if they just thought it in their head. I am not exempt from this at all myself either. I can honestly say after the events of today, particularly hearing these courageous women speak, that I have spent a lot of time, and will continue to think further, about any ways in which I could possibly be a perpetrator of negative stereotyping towards others myself, and how I can go about changing that in my thoughts and actions. I have never had any other event or message reach me in the way that today has.
This emotionally exhilarating day was followed by literally one of the best dinners of my life. We ate at a place called Farmland BBQ, serving ribs that are definitely famous for a reason. I have never had any that begin to compare. Combined with potato salad and banana pudding, this meal was to die for.
Now, I’m just relaxing with some of the new friends I have met, thinking how amazing and life changing this experience is after just two days.