Our last day on our trip was amazing. We were able to learn about the history of Memphis and the work of many talented people who made a difference in the civil rights movement. Ms. Elaine Turner is shown here guiding our historical tour. We saw so many of the sites from the movement. It was very interesting to also learn about the slave auction markets and the origins of the KKK in Memphis. It was sad to know that people would be capable of such behavior.

We also visit St. Jude's Hospital and learned more about what motivated Danny Thomas to develop the hospital in Memphis.Miranda and Morgan are enjoying the beautiful tribute garden at St. Jude's in another picture.

We also learned about slavery and the underground railroad at Slave Haven in Memphis. The girls were able to see many artifacts from the slavery period. They also got to go in to a room used to hide people waiting for passage on the underground railroad. This learning opportunity helped to further enrich our knowledge gained at the Amistad Research Institute. We also learned about African American inventors who made many of the products we enjoy today. We also learned about modern day prejudice issues.

Then we went to the National Civil Rights Museum. It took us four hours to get through the whole museum. The girls learned so much during our time there. And, they commented when we were done about how cool it was to have been to so many of the places featured in the museum.

We ended our day with a lecture from two women who were a part of the Memphis movement. They shared their personal stories and talked about their experiences being arrested and going to jail. They both started in the movement when they were teenagers so Miranda asked herself once again if she would have the courage to do that now as a 13 year old.

This was such a wonderful experience for me to share with my girls. I think they better understand now why their mom works so hard to end racism in our community. In the future, I hope that they will be inspired to question the status quo, be brave in the face of adversity, and stand up for what is right. I'm also real proud of the remarkable young women they are becoming. Even though they had a lot of fun, they took the trip very seriously and worked to make sure they were learning throughout the experience.

And, I am grateful to Emily and Anika for sharing the trip with us. They are great young people and made the trip more fun for all of us!

Little Rock Pics

Ryan Olson hosted us at the Clinton School - he's the son of UW-Eau Claire vice chancellor Beth Hellwig

Today we were in Little Rock and we learned about public service through the Cliton School of Public Service and the ways we can make a difference. Next we went to Heifer International Headquarters and learned about hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation. The neat thing about Heifer International is it provides people with animals that they raise. Each family is then expected to pass on the gift by givine one or more of its animal's offspring to another family in need. Since 1944 Heifer has helped over 4 million families in 125 countries.

We ended the day at William J. Clinton Presidential Libary. It was really very interesting because we got to see the exact replica of "The Oval Office," and a ton of presidential memorabilia. It was a great view of an important time in our history. Now we are in Memphis, Tennessee and it's raining. We are in for the night and are ready for a long day tommorrow - we're going to see the Slave Haven underground Railroad Museum and the National Civil Rights Museum.

Great Day in Little Rock

Today was a great day. We started our day at the Clinton School of Public Service. We listened to graduate students there talk about what they are learning about how to make social change so the world is a better and more fair place. It was really interesting to learn about what they are doing now and what they plan to do in the future. I think I will be able do something like what they are doing some day.

Then we went to the Heifer International Headquarters. It was so cool and I learned so much about what Heifer is doing to help make the world a better place. We learned the importance of sustainability and how we need to take care of the earth. We also toured their green building and learned about the techniques they used to make the buildings ecofriendly. The exhibits were very interactive so we learned so much about ending poverty in our world.

Then we went to the Bill Clinton Presidential Library. It was also really cool and very interesting. We learned about the role politics play in social justice. We also got to see some cool things from the presidency. I got to sit in the president's chair in the cabinet room. I don't if I would want to be president. But, I hope that a woman will be able to be president someday. It was cool to sit in the chair and think that someone like me could be president some day! The best part about the day was that my grandpa drove up from Texas to spend the day with us. He learned new stuff and had fun too. It was great to see him!

Clinton stuff in Little Rock

Today was a great day. My grandpa drove from Texas to see us. It was so fun to see him. First today we went to the Bill Clinton School Of Public Service. It was so awesome to hear all the stuff that they do. So I learned a lot and hope to get to be able to some day be able to do what they do. After that we went to Heifer International and got to see the village. It was very interactive. We learned about poverty around the world and how we can work to end world hunger. We learned the things the Heifer is doing to make a difference. And it was cool to learn how we can help too. Also when we were there we got to go on a tour of there Eco friendly headquarters. Then later we went to the Bill Clinton Presidential Library. It was so cool. They have a new exhibit since last time I was there. It had a bunch of the president's stuff. Plus it had the first Lady's dresses from parties. So after a long day we got on the bus and rode to Memphis.

Pictures from Little Rock, Arkansas

Spirit Trickey, daughter of Minnijean Brown Trickey, who works at the visitors center

The monument @ the state capitol

Today, we drove about 7 hours then arrived in Little Rock, AR. We first toured the Visitors Center (which is across from Central High School) then listened to Spirit Trickey (Minnijean Brown's daughter) and Thelma Mothershed. It was very interesting to hear what Thelma's experiences at Central High School and Spirit tell about her mother's story. After that we toured around CHS and walked up the same steps the Little Rock Nine did. It was very cool to walk up the same steps that the 9 did 53 years ago, it was like you could feel history in the presence. We then went to the Arkansas Capitol and saw the Little Rock Nine statues (which are located right outside the governor's window. Whoever made the statues did a very good job because they looked very realistic, except for the color. We have just finished having dinner and are now all in the about to go to bed in our hotel room. Goodnight!! -Emily

Hi- today we left from New Orleans really early in the morning to go to Little Rock, Arkansas. We drove on the bus for 7 hours. After lunch we arrived at the Little Rock Central High School Visitors Center, which is a national park. There we met with Thelma Mothershed-Wair, who is one of 9 Black high school students who integrated the Little Rock Central High School in September 1957. When these Black students tried to attend school at this all white high school, the governor of Arkansas called out the Arkansas National Guard to prevent them from attending there. After a lot of national debate and discussion, President Eisenhower called in national troups to protect the students. Because of the governor having his troups prevent these students from trying to go to school, this focused the nation's attendance on the whole issue of segregation (keeping white people and black people apart). It was really hard to see the pictures and tv footage of these students just trying to go to school. A lot of angry Little Rock people threatened these 9 students, spit on them and said they would kill them. These students were between the ages of 15-17. The governor of Arkansas was so focused on not having his schools integrated that he closed all of Little Rock's public high schools the next year. Thelma said that she wanted to go to a good school but that it was very difficult being ignored by all the white people at the school for a whole year. I don't think I would have that kind of courage to walk up the steps of the school in front of people who hated me and ignored me all day, just because of the color of my skin.

After we left the high school we went to the Arkansas state capitol, which looks just like the US capitol but on a smaller scale, to look at the monument to the Little Rock 9 -- it is statues of the 9 students looking as they did the day they tried to enroll. They wanted the statues placed outside the windows of the governor's office so every governor would be reminded of their struggles to get an education.

I'm excited for tomorrow - we are going to learn about Heifer International and also tour the Clinton Presidential Museum. Then we're going to Memphis, which is the last stop on our trip before we head for home on Sunday night. I am having an amazing time, but i can't wait to be back in Eau Claire.

Meeting with a member of the Little Rock Nine

Today we woke up at 5 and got on the bus to drive to Little Rock, Arkansas. We got to Little Rock about 2:30 and then we looked through the Little Rock Central High School visitor center. Then we got to talk with Spirit Tricky, Minnijean Brown's daughter. She is a Park Ranger at the National Historic Site. She talked about what her mom went through. Then we talked to Thelma Mothershed Wair and see told us about what see went through during the crisis at Central High. She told us that all the LR nine are still alive and live all over the world. We got to ask her questions and she signed my book. She inspired me to be nice to people! Then we got a to go in side the high school. It is really big and it is still a school now and they have 9-12 graders that attend. Today was the hardest day as far as it goes for emotions just thinking what would of happened if I had to have done that. It still has the same look on the inside as it did 55 years ago and longer than that from when it opened it in 1927. It cost 1.5 million to build the school and it is really big but they said it would cost at least 16 million to build one like it but it would not be as sound and sturdy as it is now.

Little Rock Nine

Today we left the hotel really early and were on the bus in till we got to Little Rock. When we were in Little Rock we went to the Little Rock Nine Museum. And to Central High School where they went to school and talked about how important access to education is.The school was so big-they have 2400 kids attending in present day. When we were there we got to meet Spirit Trickey one of the little rock nine's daughters. We also got to meet Thelma Mothershed-Wair she was one of the little rock nine. She told us about what it was like to integrate the school. She was very nice to us and signed my book for me. When we were done there we went to the capital building where we got to see the Statues of the little rock nine. It was a really good day.

See New Orleans

Hello -- today we saw a lot of contrasts. We saw parts of New Orleans that still show the impact of Hurricane Katrina - it was hard to imagine just how high the water was, especially in the 9th Ward. One of the pictures I'm posting is the Hurricane Katrina memorial. The blue posts show how high the water got in that area - over 16 feets in many places. Then we drove over the bridge and headed toward Tulane the street leading there was lined with huge mansions.. It's hard to imagine these two areas are both in the same city. We also got to see the section of the 9th Ward where Brad Pitt and his foundation are building new energy efficient homes. The red house is one of the homes that has been built

Also one of the pictures here has writing on it - this is the markings used by the people who came to help right after the hurricane - they show the date they came to check on the house to make sure people and pets got out. It was a sad reminder of just how bad the hurricane was.

We are driving to Little Rock tomorrow morning - very EARLY. I can't wait.

More Pictures New Orleans

Thursday in New Orleans

Today we did a lot in New Orleans. First, we toured around New Orleans in buses while the bus drivers told us about the history and events that had happend in the city. Some parts of it were sad though, because we went through the 9th ward (which are like city districts) where a lot of damage was done in Hurricane Katrina. After that we looked around a library on Tulane University where they had a lot of objects from the slave trade. We had lunch, then went on a swamp tour. The swamp tour was very fun because we got to ride around in a swamp boat and it was 60 degrees f. We also got to see a lot of wildlife (no aligators though, they were hibrinating) such as birds and snakes. Then, we went to the French Quarters and did a little shopping. We then went to Preservation Hall, which is said to be where jazz music was born. We got to see a jazz band perform, who were really good and sounded just like they had come from the past. There was a trumpet, trombone, saxophone (baritone), tuba, bass drum and snare drum player, and they were all excellent. Overall today was one of my favorite days so far! -Emily Way

Great Day in New Orleans

Hey its Miranda. Today was so fun. And I learned so much about history, nature, and music. I also learned about different kinds of architecture. Today we went on a rebirth tour. On the tour we got to see the damage of hurricane Katrina. I couldn't believe that at least 50% of the houses are still vacant. You could see how high the water was on the houses form water marks on the sides of the houses from going the lower to the upper 9th ward. Habitat for Humanity were building new houses and they were painted all different colors and were very colorful. It was really cool. We also got to see the first integrated elementary school. The little girl that integrated the school was Ruby Bridges. We watch the movie about her on our way to New Orleans so it was interesting to see the real school. Then we went to Tulane University. It was a very pretty campus we went to an exhibit on Amistad. I didn't know anything about this slave uprising so I learned lots of new things. Then we went on swamp tour. It was too cold to see alligators but we saw a lot of cool other things like a house that was took off its foundation and floated down the river where it took out a shoreline and made a new swamp and that is where it sits today. I couldn't believe it. Then we learned about bird and animals in the area. We also learned about trees and grass and other stuff in the swamp. It was really interesting. We ended the day in the French Quarter. We ate at Cafe du Monde and then went to Preservation Hall. I loved the jazz music and had such an awesome time.

New Orleans Day

Today we did a lot of things. First thing this morning we went on a bus tour of New Orleans. We got to see the school that Ruby Bridge's integrated. Plus we got to see where Homer Plessy was arrested which led to the Supreme Court Case that legalized segregation. Then we saw the church where Martin Luther King Jr. started the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. We also saw what happened because of Hurrican Katrina. It was so sad to see that about half of the homes are still empty.


After the bus tour we went to the Tulane University to see the Amistad Research Center. We learned about the Amistad slave uprising. I did not know about the Amistad so I learned some new things. I was happy that the slaves were able to go back to Africa. In the picture we are reading a copy of the letter that some of the freed men and children wrote President Adams to thank him for freeing them. One of the children on the slave ship was my age. That made me sad.




Then we went to lunch. After lunch we went on a swamp tour it was so fun. When the swamp tour was done we went to the French Quarter and went shopping. Then we went to preservation hall, to see a old time jazz band. The bass drummer was 79 and was awesome. Mr. Wells would have loved it! Mrs. Huston would love it too.

Gulfport and NOLA

Yesterday was so fun eating in Gulfport, Mississippi right across from the beach. It was so fun playing in the water even if it was not very warm. But it was a lot warmer than at home! Then we got on the bus and drove all day until we got to New Orleans. In New Orleans we went to eat at a restaurant in the French Quarter. I had Jambalaya and tried some of my mom's crawfish and gumbo. It was really yummy! Then I went on a haunted history tour. It was really interesting and a little freaky too. Then we went back to the hotel to go to bed to get ready for our busy day today. I'll write about today in my next post!

It's about economics

Hi - this is Anika - we traveled yesterday - we did get to walk in the Gulf of Mexico - driving into Gulfport, Mississippi made me realize how major events we read about impact real life. Gulfport was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and a lot of it hasn't been rebuilt. Along the ride we saw many places where houses were - you could see foundations and event empty swimming pools but no homes.

I know Mrs. Look's class is going to read and write on the blog tomorrow. One of the main points I've learned on this trip is that many of the issues related to the Civil Rights were connected to economics. The large planatation owners needed cheap labor so that's a main reason for slavery. It's also why it was so hard for the Blacks in the south to break free from the Jim Crow laws and segretation. People here needed to keep others down because they needed cheap workers and they didn't want a majority of the population in the south competing for their jobs.

It also made me realize that many of the issues we are studying now still exist throughout the world. There are groups of people who are kept from realizing their full potential because economics drives so much. This is not isolated here in this part of the country and at a set time. There's still much to do.

Today we're going to tour New Orleans and see many of the areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina. More later.

Last night we went to the french quarter. Then we ate the food was great. But my mom got craw fish, they were so gross because I hate seafood. Then we went on a cerage ride. It was realy fun. He gave us a tour of the city.

Thursday in New Orleans

HI - yesterday was a travel day - we did get to see the Gulf of Mexico. I'm posting pictures from there as well as last night on a carriage ride around New Orleans.

Today was a bus day for the most part but we stoped on the gulf of Mexico to eat. The food was great it was italian. After we ate we got to go and play in the water. The gulf was so much fun. We walked out on the sand bars and found crab holes. Plus there were tons of sea shells so we got some. We watched the movie Ruby Briges and I read from my Warriors Don't Cry book.

Photos

Posing outside of the first Confederate White House. We learned that Montgomery was the capital of the Confederate States for four months.

We also went to the Civil Rights Memorial at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

A day of memories

The girls with Ms. Joanne Bland and her granddaughter, who is a 6th grader in Selma, AL

The girls have given you a good summary of today. If one's head could spin around from experiencing so much, today would be the day. From seeing the capitol and hearing a rather different view of the history we've been studying to then hearing the first-hand experiences of Ms. Joanne Bland and her sister it was history alive and very personal. All I could picture was students the age of DeLong students learning how to protest for their freedoms, bravely marching, getting thrown into jail and going right back the next day for more. Ms. Bland's sister talked movingly about getting beaten on the first march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and wanting to march several days later to Montgomery so she could show the governor what his people had done to her and that she was going to succeed despite him. Thanks for reading.

This is a pic of Anika at the Civil Rights Memorial typing her name to go on the wall.

The girls in front of the Civil Rights Memorial

Best Day So Far

Hey everyone! It is Miranda. Today I had a lot of fun. First we went to the capital of Alabama we had a tour. It was very very pretty in the dome of the capital. There were 11 huge murals. Then we walked past the first Confederate White House it was very cool to see were the confederacy started. Even if I don't believe in what they stood for, it was interesting to learn about the history and be able to say I saw it. Then we went to the civil rights memorial at southern poverty law center it was a very sad place and very moving. I am going to make sure that something like this is never to happen again. It was hard to see all the people that died in the movement. At the monument there were 40 people acknowledged on the sundial monument but many others were killed in the movement. It is so sad that people can just go out and kill people. But this problem is not gone. People are still getting hurt and killed and not being treated equal.
We went to Dexter Ave Baptist Church. It was the only church that Martin Luther King Jr had been the pastor. It is just down the road from the capital on Dexter Ave. I got to stand by the pulpit that M.L.K preached from. That was an amazing feeling. Then we drove to Selma. We went backwards on the route that they walked from Selma to Montgomery for the voting rights march. The 54 mile journey helped us to know how long they walked for the right to vote. Then we talked to Joanne Blackmon Bland and Lynda Blackmon Lowery. They are sisters and they marched on bloody Sunday and turnaround Tuesday and were put in jail nine times. They also marched in the Selma to Montgomery march. One of their stores they told us was about what happened to them on bloody Sunday like when they came across the Edmund Pettis Bridge. They were met by police men on foot and on horseback. They told them to turn around and they didn't so they shot off tear gas and started beating people. Lynda told how they got down on their knees and then a policeman grabbed Lynda in the front and back. She bit his arm and then he hit her across the face two times. Then she got up and ran as the police man punched her in the head. The whole time she ran back across the bridge then she saw her sister in some one's arms and she thought she had died because the way she looked so she started to cry even more. She still has the scars from being beaten on the bridge.They told us so many other stories too. It was so cool and I learned a lot of information. They were both very very funny. They are writing a book with all their stores in it. My mom bought the small version of the book for me so I could read more about her story.
They challenged our group to work hard to make our world a better place. They were very inspirational.
Miranda

Today, we started our day out in the Alabama State Capital Building. It was a beautiful building and we learned a lot about Alabama and some of the governors. One of the governors named George Wallace was the governor who was in office for 4 terms, and was actually who the protesters were marching to on Bloody Sunday. After that we went to Civil Rights Memorial, which is just a block away from the capital. This memorial honored 40 people who died in fighting for the Civil Rights. 5 of the 40 were woman (four of the woman were the girl who died in the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church bombing) and all of the ages of the forty ranged between 11 and 67. In the museum we watched a 15 minute video on the Movement and then we walked into the room the name-wall. I call it the name wall because there are all the names of the people who visited the Memorial, movie type screen. You would type your name in the touch screen board and then it would appear digitally on the movie screen. But you couldn't just sign you name, you had to agree with a statement saying that you will help fight against discrimination. We then toured the Dexter Baptist Church which was the only church the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached at. A lot of the meetings where held here before they were going to do a big march or a boycott in Montgomery. The church is over 120 years old and it felt very historical. We then had lunch and continued our way to Selma, Alabama, which is where Bloody Sunday took place. For all of you who don't know what Bloody Sunday was, here is a brief summary: On Sunday January 30, 1972 people walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the right of African Americans to vote, but were met buy the police and attacked. The people who were marching knew that the police were waiting for them at the end of the bridge, but didn't know it was going to turn out like this. Our group walked across the bridge just like the people did in 1972. And we were privilaged to meet a lady and her sister who were 11 and 13 when they marched on Bloody Sunday. We also toured a museum on the voting rights for the African Americans. The sisters told amazing stories about the experiences of growing up where they did, and we also bought a booklet written by them which included their stories. It is one of the more fun days on the trip and also educational. -Emily

P.S. Some of you asked about the bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church. Well it was some of the members of the Ku Klux Klan who bombed the church. There isn't a lot of information about the people who bombed the church but one thing I learned is that the person who put the sticks of dynamite under the steps of the church wasn't put in jail until 2000! The bomb went of right by the window of the girls restroom in the basement; where the girls were getting ready for church in. If you have any more questions just ask, I'd be happy to try to answer any of them!!

Another great day.

Another awesome day we had today. It was so cool to get to go to the capitol and take a tour and get to learn the history of the building. The we went to the Civil Rights Memorial at the Southern Poverty Law Center. We learned about all of the people who died in the movement. It was very sad. Plus after that we went to Selma, there we got to walk across the bridge like they did on bloody Sunday. Then we got to talk to Joanne and Lynda. They told us their story. And how they both marched, and both went to jail. It was so amazing to get to hear there stories. Also they wrote a book together and it is just so amazing. So that was it for today i hope tomorrow is as great as today.

Hello its Anika once again talking about our trip about the Civil Rights Movement. We loaded the bus in Montgomery, Alabama in go to the State Capital. Once we arrived at the Capital we got a tour. The woman who gave our tour of the Capital told us that slavery lasted for 20 years. That was the "Interesting Comment," for the day and it showed that there are many different views on the Civil Rights Movement. Atfer the tour of the Capital we got yet another tour but at the Civil Rights Memorail Center. In the Memorial Center were honored the 40 "martyrs" of the Movement. The best part of the center was when we all signed our names on a wall and commited to stand up for justice. It was really moving to see my name up there with hundreds of other names.

Next we headed for Dexter Baptist Church. We also had a tour of the church. I thought that this was the best part of the day because Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached at this church! I stood right at the lectern in the pulpit were he preached. After the church we went on a bus tour in Selma. Our guide was Joanne Bland. Joanne took us all around Selma. As a teen Joanne was in involed in the Civil Rights Movement. We walked over the Edmund Pettus Bridge where people were beaten for marching for their freedom. Her sister, who actually had scars from being beaten, talked to us. It was hard to imagine that they did all of this at the same age I am now.

Ms. Brand's sister talked about going to jail many times for marching for the freedoms like the right to vote and be treated like humans.

It was a long day but very memorable.

My Day in Birmingham and Montgomery

Yesterday we went to the University Alabama-Birmingham. We talked to two professors about the civil rights movement. We talked about racism today and what we can do to make sure that we are making progress from how things used to be. Dr. Huntley told us it is important to get to know people on a personal level so we don't make judgements that are not fair. We got to interview students and ask them questions. I liked getting to know know new people. We rode to Montgomery and watched a video on Rosa Parks. She is an amazing woman. It was good to see her Museum and Library. Even though I have been there before I learned some new things. It is set up really cool and is easy to follow. We also went to an art exhibit and it was awesome. I loved the way the artist used different techniques. Last night we had really good food at Dreamland BBQ. Then we went to the hotel and went swimming. The college students have been so nice to us and I am having so much fun. I am also learning a lot. Talk to you tonight.

Some of you asked about who the K.K.K was and the answer is "The Ku Klux Klan." They were a hate group organization that fought to protect the rights and interests of white americans. They used threats and violence especially against blacks. They started in the southern state and were most widely known for wearing white robes and burning crosses on the lawns of black people. They also hung black men for very minor offenses.

Rosa Parks

Hi it is Morgan and today we went to Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama. It was so much fun this morning we listened to a professor talk. Then we ate in there food court on campus. Then we went on the bus we went to Montgomery. Plus we went to the Rosa Parks museum. It was very interactive. I learned that Rosa had been yelled at by the same bus driver many years before. It was weird to know that it wasn't the first time that Rosa had been treated badly by the bus driver. I also learned that Rosa wasn't the first one to get arrested for not moving on the bus. People were arrested for boycotting. The boycott lasted 382 days. Then we went to eat. The food was great,and the waitresses were so nice. But then we had to go to the hotel. There is a pool so we went swimming. Something I learned today is that don't give up cause if you don't everyone else won't. The people in Montgomery all worked together and didn't give up.