-Ahmed Mohamed
Setting of some of the worst acts of violence against African Americans. Led by Governor George Wallace, the city of Montgomery as well as the state of Alabama was not the place to be during the era of the civil rights movement. Yet, considering the events that took place in this state, on March 11, 2014, Alabama and Montgomery was the place to be.
By that I mean the PSU Freedom Tour was in town and ready to relive and learn about the events that took place. Something I love about this trip is that its not like a normal tour. We are actually meeting with people who were involved and lived through the events that took place. So not only are we learning about the events but we are almost reliving it. Several times on this trip I have stood at the exact location of a major civil rights event and saw what had happened. This might be a little confusing so I’ll give you an example. Yesterday, we visited the Greyhound Bus Station in Montgomery Alabama where the Freedom Riders pulled into town and were beaten by the whites of Montgomery. Blood rushing down the body of the Freedom Riders from the physical violence of the town people. As I was standing there, I could see that happen. I could see the Freedom Riders come out of the Station and people just swarming around them. Punches, kicks, billy clubs, bats, everything that could be used was used to make the Freedom Riders feel the hatred from the southerners.
I have always heard stories of people seeing events in the past happen in front of them as they stood where those events took place but I never thought that could happen until I stood in front of the Greyhound Bus Stop. It was incredible getting a vivid description from our tour guide about the events that took place and being able to visualize what had actually happened. It happened again when we passed by Martin Luther King Jr.’s house that was bombed. I could see an explosion and people rushing to the King home.
Being on this trip has given me an experience I never thought I could have. This is an experience that I am privileged to have and hope that others will get to experience this amazing trip. I’m reliving the past to fix the future.
Setting of some of the worst acts of violence against African Americans. Led by Governor George Wallace, the city of Montgomery as well as the state of Alabama was not the place to be during the era of the civil rights movement. Yet, considering the events that took place in this state, on March 11, 2014, Alabama and Montgomery was the place to be.
By that I mean the PSU Freedom Tour was in town and ready to relive and learn about the events that took place. Something I love about this trip is that its not like a normal tour. We are actually meeting with people who were involved and lived through the events that took place. So not only are we learning about the events but we are almost reliving it. Several times on this trip I have stood at the exact location of a major civil rights event and saw what had happened. This might be a little confusing so I’ll give you an example. Yesterday, we visited the Greyhound Bus Station in Montgomery Alabama where the Freedom Riders pulled into town and were beaten by the whites of Montgomery. Blood rushing down the body of the Freedom Riders from the physical violence of the town people. As I was standing there, I could see that happen. I could see the Freedom Riders come out of the Station and people just swarming around them. Punches, kicks, billy clubs, bats, everything that could be used was used to make the Freedom Riders feel the hatred from the southerners.
I have always heard stories of people seeing events in the past happen in front of them as they stood where those events took place but I never thought that could happen until I stood in front of the Greyhound Bus Stop. It was incredible getting a vivid description from our tour guide about the events that took place and being able to visualize what had actually happened. It happened again when we passed by Martin Luther King Jr.’s house that was bombed. I could see an explosion and people rushing to the King home.
Being on this trip has given me an experience I never thought I could have. This is an experience that I am privileged to have and hope that others will get to experience this amazing trip. I’m reliving the past to fix the future.