Our students and chaperones began the day at Logan Airport at 4:30am. Despite the early start time, we were full of energy and excitement. And we were ready. Students, teachers, and families have been preparing for this journey for the entire school year (and for many, beginning in seventh grade.)
We landed at 9:00am in Atlanta and began the day journaling and responding to prompts about personal connection and reflections.
Today’s prompts:
How do you think the history of the Civil Rights Movement relates to your own life and community?
Have you had any personal experiences or observations related to issues of race, equality, or justice?
How do you think it would feel to visit historical sites where significant events of the Civil Rights Movement took place?
We fueled up with a Shake Shack picnic at The King Center,
and explored Martin Luther King Jr.’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia for a guided tour revisiting his childhood and early years. We visited important sites in Atlanta, such as Dr. King’s birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached, The King Center, King Reflecting Pool, and Sweet Auburn Avenue. Our students asked many questions as our guide, Christine, provided a deeper context and understanding of MLK’s life and legacy.
Facts shared on the tour included:
MLK Jr. graduated high school at age 15 by skipping 9th and 12th grade
MLK Jr. frequently won his weekly Monopoly games with his family and neighborhood friends. They later learned he was bringing his own Monopoly money to the games.
MLK Jr.’s office at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was below the WERD radio station. When MLK Jr. wanted to speak on air, he would bang on the ceiling and the station would lower a mic out the window!
After the tour, we settled in for a scenic drive through Alabama and arrived in Montgomery, the state capital and a pivotal city in the Civil Rights Movement (and a new time zone!)
Next, we checked into our first hotel and got ready for dinner. We enjoyed a delicious southern BBQ dinner at Jim ‘N Nicks in Montgomery that showcased local Alabama flavors.
We ended the day in our family groups to debrief our experiences, share reflections, and prepare for the next day’s activities in Selma.