Atlanta Post-Trip Reflection

I am really happy that I decided to go on this trip. Not only did it expand my connection to the civil rights movement, which had a direct effect on how I live today, it also made me a lot closer with a few Bonners that I did not talk too much before. One of the best moments from the trip was the diner counter simulation at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. It was just so surreal and chilling. Even as I write this entry, thinking about what was said through the headphones and into my ear still moves me. Another one of my favorite moments was walking through Martin Luther King Jr.’s. As aforementioned during our in-person reflection, this tour really humanized MLK Jr. Obviously, he was human just like the rest of us, but his presence throughout history makes him seem so otherworldly. This made me realize that change really can start with a few, normal people and their supporters; a belief that I had lost touch with in the past few years.

Bringing back my experiences from this trip to my upcoming service at PEI KIDS may be a bit difficult. Ideally, it would be beneficial to take the probation students on a trip to various farms to take them out of their surroundings, allowing them both an escape from their daily life and a lesson on sustainability/life skills. Unfortunately, it is difficult to take my students on such trips because of their disinterest in the trip or dissatisfying behavior in the program.

However, if given a chance by our community partner, it would be beneficial to talk about some of the black historical figures (other than MLK Jr.). During one of our Saturday group conversations, many of the students expressed that they see the color of their skin and their culture as a curse. By having serious conversations about the civil rights movement outside of a school setting, it is possible that the students will have an awakening moment, similar to myself, where they realize that what they learned about the civil rights movement actually happened and is not the equivalent of a fairy tale or story. It may even help them feel a bit more empowered in their voice and have faith in societal change.