Day 24

Each one of us woke up in Memphis on July 2nd, day 24 of our transformational journey, excited, energetic, and exhausted, all at the same time. We were eager to spend our morning at the Lorraine Motel, also known as the National Civil Rights Museum, which served as an excellent culmination to our trip. After breakfast, we boarded the bus and headed out, notebooks in hand. From 9:00 AM until around 11, we toured the museum, soaking up every bit of knowledge we could. By this time we had visited many of the sites mentioned in the exhibits, such as Atlanta, Selma, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Little Rock, and it was amazing to look at the pictures and know that we had stood in those same spots. From the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the hallways of Little Rock's Central High School, we had literally been standing on history, and it had never felt so powerful. As we saw and read primary accounts of the events which had taken place throughout the Civil Rights Movement, we remembered what it had felt like to stand in their footsteps 40 years later and feel the remnants of their struggles. There was also new information in this museum which we enjoyed, such as the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the North, especially Chicago. Next, we had the incredible opportunity of hearing our very last speaker, Reverend Samuel "Billy" Kyles, who spoke of how he spent Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s last hour with him. He urged us to “take over the world, not just your town or community,” and to make use of a valuable tool: the Internet. Rev. Kyles spoke of how his own children were some of the first to integrate the elementary schools of Memphis, and how they were escorted by the police to the schools each morning. When asked about being there for Dr. King’s last moments, Rev. Kyles explained that for many years he didn’t know why God had put him there to experience his friend’s assassination. But now he understands that it is so he can be a truthful witness to the events which took place. Rev. Kyles really inspired us when he said that “You can kill the dreamer, but you can’t kill the dream, and the dream is still alive. But it’s a work in progress, and every generation has some contribution to make.” He summed up the sentiments of the entire trip perfectly, and we left knowing that we, as participants in Cultural Leadership, will be change agents in our communities working towards a better world. After a 4.5-hour bus ride, we were home! At Temple Emanuel, we were greeted with love by our families and some members of previous Cultural Leadership classes. We had each prepared a 45-second speech about a particularly inspiring place or person we had visited, and we shared these with our loving audience. Finally, we hugged each other, our fantastic trip leaders, and the amazing Karen Kalish, and went home to relax with our families. We all embarked on this journey knowing that it would be inspirational, but we had no idea how truly life-changing it would be. I am truly thankful for my Cultural Leadership family and this opportunity to live history. We are now equipped with the knowledge, contacts, and courage it will take to be change agents, and we couldn’t be more ready. Look out world, because here we come!

~Meredith Stoner

Day 23- Jenny Harris

We began our day with the Rock N Soul Museum in Memphis. The museum is filled with information about the emergence of music through the mixing of black and white culture. The two music styles, blues and country, merged in the great city of Memphis because of the northern migration. The entire museum showcased the evolution of music through the twentieth century and had a wide range of song samples to listen to while moving through the exhibit. Every single one of us enjoyed the music, the information and could be seen tapping our feet throughout the entire visit. After a quick lunch, we met with Judge D’Army Bailey, a civil rights leader and an integral part of the creation of the National Civil Rights Museum. He left our students with two gems. He told them that, “students by their very nature should be rebellious,” and that, “your days of youthful innocence are gone.” Our students, over these past three plus weeks, and the six months prior, have gained too much knowledge and information to go about their lives quietly as bystanders. They have the responsibility to rebel against the social ills they witness and no longer have the luxury, as ignorant kids, to overlook them. If knowledge is indeed power, they are well equipped to fight the injustices in this world.

Day 22- Jenny Harris

We arrived late last night in Little Rock, AR still dressed in our church clothes from that morning in Jena, LA. After a good night’s rest and a yummy breakfast, we headed to Central High School, site of the 1957 mobs incited by the integration of their all white high school by the Little Rock 9. We walked the halls of this high school on a wonderful tour led by Christian of the National Parks Service. He relayed appalling stories of the struggles these nine students suffered during their time at Central. The humiliation, torture and harassment these nine students endured must have been unimaginably horrific. One student, Minnie Jean Brown eventually pushed back. After being tripped by a classmate in the lunch room, probably for the hundredth time, she turned her bowl of chili over on his head, then calmly marched up to the principal’s office to receive her punishment—expulsion. We later heard from her daughter, Spirit Trickey, who now works as a park ranger at Central High School. Spirit relayed that her mother kept her story largely private – even from Spirit – until explicitly asked about her experience. Nevertheless, she undoubtedly learned the invaluable life lesson of perseverance through her mother.

We then headed over to the Clinton Presidential Library to hear from Skip Rutherford, Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service. Hearing about their program gave many of our students ideas about the future and who knows, perhaps we’ll send a few CL graduates their way in the coming years. Finally, we visited Heifer International, an organization dedicated to lifting families and communities worldwide out of poverty by organizing the donation of animals to families across the globe. These animals provide families with the means to earn an income. The most compelling piece of this organization is the agreement by families who receive animals to “pass on the gift” to others in their community by donating one female offspring to another family. By this means, Heifer International creates a movement that is self-propagating. Similarly, Cultural Leadership hopes its students will “pass on” their knowledge and understanding to their own circles of influence creating a similar wake of influence and ultimately positive change in our world.

Day 21- Jenny Harris

At 7:30, we left Jacob’s Camp to make our way to Jena, LA. On the way, we stopped in Natchez, MS to find the synagogue that houses the oldest Jewish congregation in Mississippi, Temple B’nai Israel. We asked multiple people for directions. No one knew where it was—few even knew it existed. We eventually found an address in the phone book. Sadly, a gorgeous temple – in the heart of downtown – goes largely unnoticed and is an illustration of the past vibrancy and current dwindling state of Jewish communities in many small southern towns.

Around 11 a.m., we arrived in Jena and headed to Trout Creek Baptist Church for morning services. We were, as always, welcomed into their church with open arms. After services, we had an unbelievable opportunity to meet with John Jenkins, father of Carwin Jones of the Jena 6. We also met with Justin Purvis, a black student at Jena High School being charged for an arson crime he did not commit. We were all held captive by their stories and it stirred up anger and resentment at the prevalence of racism. The students felt a little powerless, desperately wanting to find a way to help Justin through this time. However, I noticed Justin’s expression go from timid and a little wary to open, smiling and hopeful. Just making the trip to Jena, listening to his story, giving him a hug and truly wishing him the best lifted his spirits. In showing their genuine care and support, CL students were far from powerless, they became his allies.

Fired up, we then headed to the other side of town, feeling it was important to hear all sides of this story. At First Baptist Church, we spoke with Reverend Dominic DiCarlo. Out of this session, our students learned the important lesson of tolerance. The Reverend did not share our opinions or our rage at the situation. He denied the existence of racism as a factor and truly believed that justice in this small Louisiana town was color blind. Tolerance, as our students learned, means hearing out the opinions of everyone, even those you would spend a lifetime refuting.

Before leaving Jena, we stopped by the high school. It quickly became clear why the infamous tree was such territorial ground. The front courtyard of Jena High School is scorching hot and that tree undoubtedly provided the only shade. In an attempt to “uproot” the problem, the tree has been removed. Perhaps they truly believed removing the tree would solve the problem. Seems like a waste to me. All they really removed was some perfectly good shade under a perfectly good tree in the middle of an otherwise barren and depressing landscape.

Day 20 - June 28

Today, all of us woke up at Jacob's Camp expecting an easy day. After all, we were told that we had a free day. What we didn't expect was to plan and prepare a Christian Church service for the Jewish campers who had never experienced a Christian service.
Our morning was spent planning, practicing, and praying. In the afternoon we took a break to visit the Museum of Southern Jewish Experience, where we learned about life for Jews in the South. Many Jews had a hard time, both emotionally and physically as they received the same anti-Semitism in America they had left in Europe. After touring the museum and asking questions, we were free to once again prepare for our service, which was to take place in the synagogue in the museum.
I must say it was truly moving. Every group was doing its job; the ushers were ushering, the choir was singing, the preachers were preaching, and the dancers were dancing. Everybody, especially the campers, really enjoyed it. In fact the campers enjoyed it so much that we were invited to spend the rest of the night to fellowship with them. Everyone had a great time and learned a lot at the same time.
Erik Mills Class 4

Brittany Campbell - Day 19

Day 19 of our transformational journey was amazing! We began our day by going to the Medgar Evers home museum where I found out so much information that I did not know. Our tour guide informed us about the many precautions that people who were in the NAACP and other Civil Rights groups had to take in order to be safe. One ritual that has a significant purpose in the Medgar Evers story is what he did when he came home at night. When Medgar Evers would come home, his wife would turn off all the lights and he would drive into his car port, slide over to the passenger’s side (the side closest to the door) and exit from his car. He performed this ritual every night except for the night of the assassination. See the irony? Of all the things that I learned from the Medgar Evers museum, this stuck out to me the most.From the museum we went to Beth Israel, a synagogue in Jackson, where we learned about Jews and their history throughout the south. The most memorable part of the day was when we drove from Jackson to Utica, Mississippi to go to Jacob’s Camp. When we walked into Jacob’s Camp, I was so excited to meet and interact with the other campers. Everyone including the staff welcomed us with open arms and dazzling smiles. My favorite part of the first night at Jacob’s Camp was when we sang songs and danced around the stage. Everyone was so willing to teach us the dance moves that went with the songs and included us when they would join hands to make a circle. Never once did I feel like an outsider or a foreigner. At Jacob’s Camp, the color of my skin served no purpose in the way the campers and staff treated me. I remember being asked to sit at a table for dinner and feeling so happy that people who didn’t even know my name were enthusiastic to invite me to eat with them. I will always remember walking into the dining hall and being asked to sit with people who I did not know. I will never forget going to the home of Medgar Evers and learning about Jews in the South. Day 19 of our trip was one of the best days that I’ve had and I am looking forward to sharing this information with people who are willing to learn.

Baron Ross- Day 18

Our first meeting began with Jimmy Travis and Hollis Watkins, to very soft spoken, yet powerful civil rights activists. Mr. Travis first got involved in the movement in 1961 by going various sit-ins. He later moved on to registering African Americans to vote, a very dangerous job at the time. It was in doing this that he met Mr. Watkins, who got involved in the movement via SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee). Voter registration served as a gateway to a friendship that has lasted 47 years. These two extraordinary men have never had a disagreement in the 47 years they’ve known each other. Mr. Watkins also founded southern Echo organization, which gives technical assistance for people of any age to help find work. After we were given their background stories, the two men taught us their freedom songs. These songs were used while demonstrating in order to keep themselves non-violent and positive. Next, we met Dr. Aaron Shirley founder of the Jackson Medical Center, in Jackson, Mississippi of course. This center was created for the sole purpose of providing free medical care to everyone, regardless of his or her current insurance status, or income. For his achievements, this man was given a Genius grant, which enabled him to better his facilities. Dr. Shirely was the first black pediatrician in Mississippi; it was 1965 when he received his degree. Last on the list was Jerry Mitchell, a small un-intimidating, investigative reporter. But don’t let size fool you. This man helped lead to the conviction of various top leaders of the Ku Klux Klan for unpunished crimes done throughout the 50s and 60s. This includes helping find those responsible for the murder of Vernon Donner, Medger Evers and the Mississippi burning case. Because of the work he has done, Mitchell has received various death threats from current Klan members. But as he said, “They don’t scare me.” This small man has a big heart and he is not afraid to let it be known. All of our speakers showed us how strong a single voice can be. They have, and still are accomplishing, many things simply because they have the will power to do so. Jimmy Travis is currently a freshman at Jackson state, working to get his degree to teach middle school history. He is 65 years old. It was great to meet such influential and inspirational speakers simply because they can get you motivated. I learned from all of the speakers today to never get intimidated just because you are facing a daunting task.