Day 1, Civil Rights Trip 2024!
From start to finish, the day went well! Forty-two travelers left from Normal bright and early at 6:00 AM. Our first stop was the Memphis Civil Rights Museum, located next to the Loraine Motel. We were fortunate to have an introduction to the museum by Rabbi Micah, a colleague of Rabbi Rebecca. Over the years, he interacted with many of the Civil Rights Leaders who worked in Memphis, including some who were there when Rev. King was shot. The Civil Rights Museum was as inspiring for me as it always is. Multiple cities, spanning over countless years, were places of unrest, violence, and moral corruption. I found myself shaking my head, over and over, having trouble imaging how human beings can treat each other in such despicable ways. But we have to be taught to hate. We’re not created with a hateful heart. But I hold onto the hope that our faith can be transformative as it gives us the courage and hope to believe that even the hardest of hearts can be changed and transformed by love. We stopped by the “I Am a Man” plaza, honoring the over 1300 sanitation workers in Memphis who were striking for just their basic human and civil rights. Day after day, they marched from Clayborn Temple, to fight for their rights. They just wanted to be treated lIke anyone else would want to be treated. The steady, daily, faithful sacrifice of 1000’s of people, in Memphis and throughout the south is so very inspiring. As one quote I read today said, “I’m marching for my children.“ They understood that their efforts might not change things for them, but they believed that someday things could be different for future generations. We’re off to Birmingham tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing the reading of the “Letter from the Birmingham Jail”, read by community leaders outside of the Civil Rights Institute. Then we’ll tour the Institute and visit the 16th St Baptist Church. May our hearts and souls and minds be changed and transformed in ways that deepen our commitment to the goal of bringing God’s kingdom here on earth for all of God’s children.
Thinking about our trip last year and reflecting on how important faith was to all the people who worked and sacrificed for equal rights for their neighbors and future generations. Our study and travel impressed on us that that the work is not done.