Black History Travel and Memories
Black History Travel and Memories
Headline following Children’s March - 10 children arrested per minute
In recognition of Black History Month, I revisited my Mississippi River blog post from last March. I also took another look at photos taken on that trip. Here are a few from the Civil Rights Museum:
I had not heard about the Children’s March in 1963 which resulted in the arrest of 2500 kids.
James Reeb, a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and Princeton Theological Seminary, is remembered today as a Unitarian minister who sacrificed his life protecting voting rights. He died March 11, 1965, at age 38, leaving behind a wife and four children.
Description of the March 9, 1965, march, which attracted activists from around the country.
My river cruise last year included visits to several important sites related to Civil Rights. Rereading what I wrote then reminded me of how important it is for Americans to understand the racial history of the country. Please take another look at that post, especially the comments about my visits to Preservation Hall in New Orleans, the Whitney Plantation, the Capital Park Museum in Baton Rouge, the Oakley Plantation, the Proud to Take a Stand monument in Natchez, Frogmore Plantation, and finally the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
In my travels, I like to pay special attention to women leaders. Fannie Lou Hamer is a woman who should be better known:
Many historic sites deserve a return visit. I am scheduled for another alumni trip, which will include the Whitney Plantation and the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, both destinations offer more to see than can easily be comprehended in one half day. This year’s trip will also include several historic sites in Alabama, a state I’ve never been to.
My trip this year is entitled Black Freedom Movement. Follow this link, if you would like to learn more about my upcoming trip (June, 2025) and its destinations. Even if you are not in a position to sign up for a trip like this yourself, if you make a note of the itinerary, it may help you plan your own travels at a future time.
There are many organizations offering civil rights tours. Those sponsored by Road Scholar have also caught my attention, since I have traveled with that organization to numerous other destinations. You can read about their offerings on their website.
If you are interested in joining me this summer, I believe space is still available on the tour I’ve signed up for. Click here for photos and a video from tour leader and Carleton Professor Rebecca Bruckmann.
If you sign up for the Carleton tour, be sure to mention you are my friend, so that there is a Carleton connection.
It’s very sad to hear news reports that many DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs are being cancelled, including many Black History Month events. It’s frightening to think that government employees, including librarians and teachers, have had their employment threatened if they deal with civil rights history or current discrimination issues. We need more understanding of these matters, not less, and it’s a tragedy that individuals who have devoted all or a portion of their careers gaining expertise in this facet of history are now being punished for their efforts. We are at a time in our country’s history of shrinking freedoms and repression of historical facts and scientific knowledge. Let’s do what we can to save our history wherever we can – in libraries, religious institutions, and private, non-profit organizations.
Carolyn Hayek
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