College and Civil Rights Trip 2024 – Alabama
A & M University
“ I had a good experience because we saw the band put on a special performance for us. What makes it memorable is that I now realize that a band is not just about one person, it takes a team and together they make beautiful music. It inspires me because now I can see myself a part of a team and if everyone does their part, we can do great things.” – Zuri Byrd 8th grader
“ I learnt that the band members take great pride in what they do .I loved how they carried themselves when performing for us, it makes me think about giving the band a try. I especially like the drum players, the cymbal players and flute players, because they all dance to go with the music they play. It has inspired me because I have been thinking about which instrument I can play. – Destiny Thrower 8th grader
U.S. Space Rocket Center
“What I liked about it, there were a lot of interactive things to do, also it had to with science, robotics and rocket science. I was able to use simulators and games. I learnt that astronauts get air dried and vacuumed food. And technology is getting better by the second, not by the day, not by the hour, not by the minute but the second. It has inspired me to learn way more about space than I already know.” – Maclean Jackson 8th grader
Scottsboro Boys Museum
“ I like Scottsboro because it tells us about people of my race, who were treated differently because of the color of their skin, who came from the same area as I do. I enjoyed the scavenger hunt. I learnt the boys were accused of physically assaulting two white women on the train to Memphis. Then when they went to trial, one of the ladies was missing for a month but when appeared she testified that none of the boys touched her or the other lady. Yet a jury still found them guilty. It makes me feel that not many things have changed as some of this is still happening in today’s society. It has left me wondering how I can make changes for my generation, possibly having people of different races collaborate more. -Junub Duor 8th grader
“ What I liked about the Scottsboro Boys Museum, is the sculpture that they had of all the persons involved in the Scottsboro Boys Trial. They were even able to show us where the nine boys who ate in the jail were after they were arrested. I learnt that the boys had hopped on a train trying to get to Memphis to get a job. Then two women accused them of physical assault. The experience gave me a better perspective of what life was like then, it showed me as a young African American boy back then, opportunities were very limited. It taught me not to judge people by their ethnicity, speech or looks. – Her’mare Watts 7th grader
16th Street Baptist
“ At 16th Street Baptist I learnt so much, four girls were killed, three were fourteen years old and one was eleven years old when burnt down by the Klu Klux Klan and this happened September 15, 1963. The whole information scared me because I never thought that people would die at Sunday school. It has taught me to be more aware of my surroundings. – Mariyah Faison 8th grader
“ I learnt that 16th Street Baptist was a part of the Civil Rights Movement. -Jacaria Ingram 7th grader
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
“ I had the opportunity to connect what I learnt at 16th Street Baptist Church to a visual because I viewed one of the little girl’s from the bombing shoe ,pocket book and a piece of the rubber they took from her head. I read a quote from one of the parents who said my baby, my baby whose child was in the bombing and that made me sad. This made me realize what people went through for us to get here today. -Willoh Willimas 7th grader
“ I loved that I was able to walk through this museum and feel as if I went through a time machine. When I saw the Klu Klux Klan Outfit it was a wow moment for me. It really got me thinking about what my ancestors went through; they did a lot for me so I can sit at a dinner and not be told to get out. I also saw a hot comb and I was surprised to see it looked like the hot comb of today. Also, the differences in a black classroom versus a white classroom. This has made me more grateful for what I have and more appreciative of my education. – Hannah Manuel 7th grader
“ I liked how everything came alive in the museum. I felt like I went back in time. I learnt how things were before but today I learned so much more about my history. I really appreciate the effort they put in building this institute. The videos, voice activated displays, they were very creative.” Tori Pennington 7th grader
“ I like how the museum gave us a flashback of how things used to be. I learned that persons of color had to work at the railroad. I didn’t like how kids my age were getting sprayed by hot water guns, I can only imagine how scary that was. I liked the interactive displays, there was one when a child asked her mother what segregation is and the mother did. The child can be heard after saying, ’mom I’m scared’ and that sank my heart. This experience taught me to be more grateful for how I’m living now. To be more thankful for the things I have because kids during that time could not do what I’m doing now. – Jaselle quarterman 8th grader
Rosa Parks Museum
“ I like that it simulated Rosa Parks’ experience very well. The museum not only taught us about Rosa Parks but also the Jim Crow laws, I learned how they came about. It impacted me in a way because we should not have this history repeated. Also it showed me how we should change and be better people overall.’ Josiah Dawson 7th grader
Tuskegee University
“ I like learning about the fact that it was the students from the architecture building who actually made the bricks and built their department. It impacted me by learning how creative the students there were, and how students of color even got that opportunity to build something for themselves. That just showed me how much they cared about the future. – Ja’El Shadrach 7th grader
Samford University
“ I loved the size of their campus,there is always something for students to do. We were able to meet an alumni and he showed me that if I work hard, I will get there someday. I also learnt that at their recreation center they have programs where students can sign up with their friends. It is also a space to complete work from class or even just train in preparation for games. Samford inspired me to work on my time management skills because all students move around campus in a limited time period. – Preston Harris 7th grader
Auburn University
“ I really loved that school, it is simply amazing. That is my dream university, I want to go there for academics and I would love to play football for them. One thing that amazed me was we visited a building that was burnt down twice and now with technology the new building is ready for any problems there may be. I met two students who received the Harold Melton scholarship. Their talk inspired me because it showed me if they can do it, I can also do it. I just need to work hard, do my practice, and be consistent. – Bryson Lipford 7th grader