December 27, 2012. Montgomery

Upon beginning a tour of the Rosa Parks Museum I was taken back in time to  Montgomery, Alabama in the 1950's, a time when for no other reason than the colour of their skin, black Americans were treated unfairly and often cruelly. Segregation was the law...separate schools, separate water fountains and separate seats on the bus. In fact, Blacks had to sit at the back of the bus and if the bus was full and another person got on, they were expected to give up their seat it that person was white. 

Rosa Parks did something that started a movement to change all of that. Although many history books would have us believe that she refused to give up her seat to a white man because she was tired from a long day at work, such is not the case. She refused to give up her seat because she just couldn't take the injustice any longer. Her subsequent arrest, trial and fine ignited the simmering embers of the Civil Rights Movement and changed the course of history. I bought a t shirt with the inscription,"women who behave rarely make history".

After this very moving experience we headed for the Hank Williams Museum which houses a massive collection of memorabilia. Hank Williams was a country and western singer/songwriter and considered one of the most important country artists of all time. While browsing this enormous collection and hearing Hank's songs playing in the background I realized that most of those songs were familiar. This museum was well worth the price of admission.

On our way to the Civil Rights Memorial and Centre we stopped at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pastor here and it was from the pulpit of this church that he began his quest for civil rights. Unfortunately the church was closed for the day. Just up the street we could see the steps of the capital building where the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march of 1965 ended.

The Civil Rights Memorial and Centre honors the achievements and memory of those who died during the Civil Rights Movement. Reading the stories of these innocent men, women and children who lost their lives during the period from 

1954 - 1968 brought tears to my eyes. These people were murdered, many of them tortured first, because they were black or because they were white people who supported the Civil Rights Movement. 

Sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Centre, this organization is dedicated to fighting hate and seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society. Before entering the Centre you are screened for security. Pockets must be emptied and bags are put through a security scan. This because in 1983 the KKK firebombed the center's office. Outside, the memorial bears the names of 40 people who died fighting for civil rights. Above the memorial are inscribed the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. which were the inspiration for the design of this memorial, ".. we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

All of the above are "must sees" if you visit Montgomery, Alabama.