A Civil Rights Journey

Source: National Archives

Today I begin a journey with a group of rabbis that will take us to some of the most important civil rights sites in Alabama. Our trip includes stops in Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham, Brighton, and Tuskegee. This is my first extended history tour since the pandemic and I couldn’t be more excited.

The trip was organized by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. I am responsible for leading a number of the tours, providing historical context, and answering questions along the way, but what I am looking forward to most are the many reflections and discussions that have been built into the week.

In addition to digging into this rich history, participants will explore the many ethical, moral, and religious questions that the civil rights movement raises for all of us. The hope is that participants will be able to bring their experiences back to their congregations and perhaps organize their own civil rights journey.

Here are some of the highlights in our itinerary.

• Stop at rest area on I-85 to discuss the Alabama state motto: “We dare defend our rights.”

Source: Flickr

Montgomery

• Legacy Museum/National Lynching Memorial at Equal Justice Initiative

• Monuments, Memorials, and Storytelling: Walking tour from the state capitol building to the waterfront

• Meeting with state representatives

• Rosa Parks Museum

• First White House of the Confederacy

• Martin Luther King Parsonage

• Discussion at Waterfront: The story of the Jews in the Civil Rights Movement

• Conversation with rabbi at local synagogue

Selma

• Meeting with Bernard Lafayette

• By the River Center for Humanity

• Tour of civil rights sites with Terry Chestnut

• Nathan Bedford Forrest statue in Old Live Oak Cemetery

• Viola Liuzzo memorial site

Birmingham

• Story of Birmingham Children’s Crusade in Kelly Ingram Park/Reflections on park statues

• 16th Street Baptist Church

Brighton

• Lynching site for William Miller

Tuskegee

• Confederate statue in downtown Tuskegee

• Tuskegee University

I am going to do my best to write up daily reflections, but I can’t make any promises. These trips are exhausting.

Thanks to the organizers of this trip for including me and special thanks to everyone who is going to take the time to share their personal experiences and knowledge with us in the coming days.