By Maddy Feiner

Today we had an eventful day in Alabama. It is very hot down here but very beautiful and rich in history.  First stop was the Rosa Parks Museum. The thing that affected and stood out to me at this museum was the holography movie that recreated the exact moment that Rosa Parks made history. I felt like I was there and discovered what it was like to be a bystander of the event.

at the spot where Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat

After this museum we went to a very Southern style restaurant and many of us had fried chicken. This was a new experience especially for a New York girl like me.  Once we were done with lunch we went to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Outside of their building was an amazing memorial that remembers the lost souls and martyrs of the Civil Rights movement. This is very special in a way that no one will ever forget the names and stories of the important, as well as unknown, martyrs and events of our past.  Inside the center we learned about the work that the Southern Poverty Law Center does. They deal with various hate groups around the country. They monitor and report on them.  Sometimes they take legal action against them.

Civil Rights Memorial

We then traveled to Birmingham and arrived in a major lightning storm. This made us change our plans from meeting Reverend Woods in a park to finding a space in a meeting room at a hotel. We had a very special meeting with Reverend Woods. He told us his story of being at the center of the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham. He also got us on our feet and singing many of the songs from the Civil Rights era and taught us about the importance of music in the struggle. It was very enjoyable!

After dinner, Billy spoke to us about the history of rock and roll and how it developed and was an important part of bridging the gap between whites and blacks. It was incredible how each band and genre of rock and roll influenced the next. Billy linked how we moved from good old country music in the 1950s to Lady Gaga today. Now that takes some skill!

Finally we headed to our hotel but ended up at the wrong hotel! We thought Billy was joking when he told us but 15 minutes later we were at the right one! Touching on the social aspects of the trip, the time on the bus really allows me to get to know my new friends better as well as making even more new friends. For now, I have to go to sleep and work on my Southern accent to fit in….good night y’all!