Today we met with some extraordinary people – first in Selma and then in Birmingham. Their words will express the information they learned, the emotions they felt, and the different type of connection that was present. Enjoy the gifts that they received today:
Noah K.
Today when we talked to Rev. Wood, he put me in his shoes and brought me back to 1963 when dogs were nagging at black men’s shirts and when firemen sprayed water at them just because they were protesting for their rights. Walking in the park brought me back to their time and imagining all the hate going on. While singing I got goose bumps and every time I think about the hate and the cruelty, I may feel a tear coming down my cheek. Today I’m thankful for experiencing all that I did and listening to two real victims of the movement. When I leave tomorrow, I will remember the spirit and history of Rev. Wood and the power and message in his voice.
Jack C.
TO see how a person, or people, can make extraordinary change when faced with great oppression is an amazing lesson. When hearing recounts of utter torture and brutality, resentment is a quick emotion that is felt. But hearing how a people can retaliate not with violence, but through peaceful demonstrations and pushing topics, a sense of love and passion is felt. When one realized that cruelties and acts of racism for solely the color of their skin were committed against a people and to hear how they reacted so strategically, peacefully, and passionately is something that I hope I will have willpower to accomplish one day. Hearing how people questioned the government when no one else would, hearing how after knowing the road ahead and still continuing and helping a people and encouraging them when peole know who you are is so remarkable. This discovery is something I have questioned if I would have had but through listening to these stories I have told myself that if there is a cause, I should act bravely and passionately to fight or work for what I believe in. this trip has been a lesson of inspiration and how feelings, ideas, or knowledge is nothing without action.
Alex M.
There are a couple of gifts that I will take away from the experience with Joanne and Rev. Woods. First of all, elderly youth. Rev. Woods showed that even at his age, it is still possible to have a good time, sing, dance, and even run! I think that he is able to be so active because he is able to use his good memories from the Movement when the black community was able to come together to obtain that same feeling of excitement and enjoyement.
Matthew S.
The gift I received from today’s interactions was the chance to meet and listen to and learn from Rev. Woods – one of Martin Luther King’s right hand men. What he said and sang to us was very rich and impactful and made me learn and see so much more about the Civil Rights Movement.
Diana S.
Today, I was enriched in the feelings of the movement. Speaking to Ms. Bland gave me a real sense of the troubles for a child in the movement. Listening to her story and hearing the words, “What will you do?” really inspired me to think about the future. Hearing her impact sitting at whites-only counters, being a freedom fighter, and even walking across the Edmund Pettus bridge with police and horses surrounding her, interested me to think about what I would have done in the situation. When we met with the Reverend, I was intrigued by the unbelievable power in his voice. When he taught us the songs and changes, he shouted them and even though his voice was strained, he had no intention of stopping. I feel truly gifted that I met these two truly gifted people.
Sara S.
I really appreciate how lucky I am to get a chance to meet, hear, and speak to remarkable people that took a stand for justice. Ms. Bland made me realize that wherever I walked was history – like when she had us take a rock from the ground. At first I thought that she wanted us to just move the rocks out of the way, but when she said that we were holding history, I felt really special. I was also appalled that by age 11 she had gone to jail 13 times. It seemed more like reality when she explained it. When we met Rev. Woods I realized how spirited you have to be to be a protester. He really had a lot of personality. He taught me how it really was to be living in the time.
Sarah H.
A gift I was given today was hearing the Reverend speak. Rev. Woods’ voice rang out with such spirit and passion and pride, and his words were truly amazing. He spoke of what he went through while fighting for his rights: being beaten, chased by dogs, and seeing fire hoses with water being shot at children. He spoke of Dr. King, and his personal connection to him. He periodically stopped to teach us songs that the protesters used to sing while marching. His voice was rich and full of feeling and emotion unlike anything I had ever seen. Rev. Woods put all his feelings behind every word spoken, and when talking of Dr. King’s death, his voice cracked and he made you feel all that he was feeling. Being with him and hearing what he went through was unbelievable, and whenever we sang, we felt a sense of community, and could see how he was this great leader in the Civil Rights Movement.
David S.
One gift I received through this trip so far is the knowledge of all of these courageous people and how they sacrificed their lives and well-being for justice. The Reverend’s words today were a good example, his spirit was rejuvenated and he was reliving his youth with us as we were singing with him. He even started running around. His stories of the injustice really hit me because he was somebody that actually experienced the events we have been learning about. Today, the woman we met told us to grab a rock from the ground at a place where the concrete was obviously older. It turns out that area was preserved because it is where the protesters of Bloody Sunday were standing before they marched toward the National Guard.
Robby M.
Today, two gifts that I received were the conversations we had with two people that we would usually be reading about. I got to feel the emotion in Reverend Wood’s voice, in his stories and in his songs that I wouldn’t get from reading a book. We also got a great opportunity to walk over the Alabama River with Ms. Bland who was a part of the real march from Selma to Montgomery.
