Day 6: Memphis

Ahmed:

Day 6 made me feel like an explorer.  I felt that because we went to the Civil Rights Museum, where they started from slavery to Reconstruction to integration and segregation.  I learned all about them in the museum.  When I was in the museum I was mostly interested in one thing, Martin Luther King, Jr.  The museum owns the motel where Martin Luther King, Jr. got killed.  I was sad and happy at the same time.  I was happy because I got an opportunity to see the motel and I was sad that he got killed instead of dying of natural causes.  If I know anyone that would have a chance to go on a trip like this,  I would motivate them to do it because this is a great experience for me and my friends.

Day 5: Little Rock Central High

Nathaniel:

Today was a really special day because we got to learn about a lot of events that I have only read about. For example, we went to Little Rock Central High School and I actually saw where Melba

Pattillo Beals' experience took place.  From this trip to Little Rock Central High I learned to persevere no matter what and never give up when something is bigger than yourself.  When I get back to Washington, D.C., I will make sure I tell people the story of the Little Rock Nine and what they had to go through.  Today was also very special because I have read a lot of books about the Little Rock Nine but have never dreamed of actually going to the school they attended.

Jeffrey:
I learned that some guards stood there while the Little Rock Nine were being beaten.

William:
I want to share that even teachers hated the students to do terrible things to them.  For instance, one teacher asked a student to throw acid on one of the student's face which is surprising 'cause that's really mean.
I want to look into the background of the students at Central High, so I can learn why they wanted to go to the school and what childhood they had growing up that influenced the decision.

Nyjah:
I want to share how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. went to Ernest Green's graduation and how some white people were nice to some of the Little Rock Nine.

Sharrah:


Currently we are in Little Rock, Arkansas.  I've been looking forward to going to Central High.  The high school is MUCH bigger than I thought it was going to be and I'm so glad that I had this experience because if I never was in elite scholars to do this program, then I most likely would never have been to Arkansas.  We're about to go to the Arkansas State Capitol and I wonder what we will go over today.  I wish we had regular school trips to travel so we can learn like that because it's easier to learn with activities instead of watching videos about it.  Traveling and going to different tours is like having a workshop and we can use our own observations to learn.

 

Evening discussion

Day 4: Selma to Montgomery NHT

Jessica, 8th grade:

After we had lunch, we went to the Selma Interpretive Center that showed us the significance of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. That bridge is notorious because it's where hundreds of people decided to march to Montgomery but were briefly stopped. When they reached the end of the bridge, soldiers were waiting for them and the people in the march politely asked them to grant them passage through. Sadly, their passage was denied and were asked to leave in 2 minutes but in like 1 minute they charged into the crowd. As a result, many people were gravely injured yet some were resilient and continued their march.  This day will forever be known in history as Bloody Sunday. While we walked over the bridge knowing what happened, I couldn't help but feel admiration for those who were able to stand up for what they knew was the right thing.

Daisy, 7th grade:

At our third stop I learned why the Edmund Pettus Bridge is so famous and popular.  Learning that John Lewis's skull was cracked and he still continued to march to Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, makes me feel pathetic for wanting to give up when a test is too hard.  One day I hope to have the perseverance and dedication John Lewis had when he marched from Selma to Montgomery with a cracked skull.

Jessica, 8th grade:

Finally, we visited the Alabama State Capitol where we were able to look around and see the beauty of it all. While we walked around, we came across the church Martin Luther King Jr. preached and found it very interesting how he was so close to the government. After walking a while, we came across a circle and wall that had water pouring from it and some inscriptions. Since it was peculiar, we were asked to interpret what it meant. The engravings in the circle, were like reminders of the battles that took place against segregation. In addition, the water was like the purity of life that they brought to the future generations. According to the quote in the wall, it seems like the water also represented that justice, righteousness, and their faith will be like a mighty stream, unmovable.

Daisy, 7th grade:

At our final stop I really didn't learn anything but I did find it very cool and interesting on how the memorial was designed and it made me intrigued to learn more about the reason on why the memorial was designed the way it was.  What I really want to know more about is why the memorial (the table) stopped at Dr. King's assassination.  I think whoever designed the memorial did a good job in leaving the visitor thinking about the design.

Even though the heat was terrible, today was an overall amazing day.

The last stop today was at the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, designed by Maya Lin, who also designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.