Saints on Pilgrimage

Reflections by Margaret Fair A week ago our group paid a visit to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The exhibit opened to a Technicolor whirlwind of models and machines emulating Civil Rights era living, but I found the succeeding area of photos and clippings was the most meaningful to me. I found the exhibit on student marches inspiring because it showcased the power and bravery of young people and the importance of students (even our age) in the civil rights movement. To see that youth were an integral part of the movement was powerful.  There was a small posting in the museum detailing jail-ins in Rock Hill, South Carolina; this caught my attention because my extended family lives in and around Rock Hill and my mother grew up in the area. I found it interesting and personally meaningful to learn about the civil rights movement in the place and time in which my mom and her siblings grew up. It made the struggle for racial equality feel more current and proximate

Reflections by Alyssa Rossen During our discussion with David LaMotte, we learned a lot about often unnoticed barriers to successful communication and society’s tendency to twist stories and history itself to fit the simplified hero narrative, rather than the messier and less definable Movement narrative. From the beginning of our discussion, Mr. LaMotte made sure that we understood the importance of defining some broader terms for the purpose of improving communication. Some of these terms included words such as welcome, love, hope, and optimism. Although we may assume that this would be a simple and unnecessary task, a closer inspection reveals that there are many possible correct definitions for each term listed, the variations of which could cause misunderstandings and misinterpretations when discussing controversial or important topics. This realization was truly eye-opening, as it means that due to each individual’s unique experiences and outlook on life, every perso

Reflections by Darlene Moreno Walking into 16 th Street Baptist Church, I didn’t know much except for what little I’d seen in the movie Selma. All I knew was a bomb went off killing four young girls, girls my age. I didn’t know if it was a hate crime towards the people of the church, or just for the hate of their skin color. So we started at the bottom of the church, walked around to look at the art, and read a little more about the church. Then they took us upstairs to the sanctuary. Our guide, a church member, talked to us about the heinous crime and the men who did it. One main thing that appalled me was the fact that the men were not convicted for their crime until many years later. While listening and touring the church, I genuinely felt sad for the church, particularly for the families of the girls. I saw the Holy Spirit working in the church members when they spoke about the crime. They were hurt, but they still believed that God was with them the whole way through, which

Reflections by Eleanor Kimbro Before leaving on this trip, I was under the impression we were going to be walking through the past, touring long-gone pieces of history and learning about the mistakes and victories of those not around anymore.   Seeing candles lit under a mural of Alton Sterling just a few feet away from a boy waiting for his dad to be done shopping was striking and it made me realize-we weren't just learning about historical events. We were suddenly in the middle of a community still piecing itself together after a recent tragedy.   Early in the morning of July 5th last year, Alton Sterling was shot and killed outside the Triple S Food Mart by two police officers who claimed they feared Sterling would shoot them. That same night, demonstrators gathered and chanted "no justice, no peace." In the days following, loving neighbors left cards, stuffed animals, candles, and spray painted messages and pictures on the walls of the store. The co

Homes of slaves Bed in homes Jail in which enslaved persons were held in process of being sold in New Orleans Front of the plantation home The back of the plantation home, which our guide noted was the only side of the home that slaves would view Memorial to enslaved persons who died in the state of Louisiana These faces represent those who participated in the 1811 German Coast Uprising, the largest slave revolt in the South. They lost their lives in an effort to liberate enslaved persons in plantations along the Mississippi in Louisiana.  This chapel, though not original to this plantation, was built by freed slaves in Louisiana.  Throughout the plantation, statues bring special attention to the painful reality of enslaved children's experiences. These statues are found in the chapel. 

“The two disciples heard [John proclaim Jesus the Lamb of God]…and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi, where are you staying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘ Come and see .’” (Jn. 1:37-39) “[When Jesus learned that Lazarus died] he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘ Lord, come and see .’ Jesus began to weep. ” (Jn. 11:34-35) Come and see. This is the invitation continuously woven through the gospel of John, which seems to be suggesting that some things can only be known through journey and witness. “Come and see” is a refrain exchanged between Jesus and disciples, the woman at the well and her neighbors, and finally, Lazarus’ friends and Jesus. In this gospel, it is Jesus who first issues the invitation to “come and see” who he is, how he abides, and ultimately, what the very meaning of his life is. Eventually, it is the people Jesus seeks to cure, save, and love who return