Pride and Prejudice

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Today brought me another mix of respect for the civil rights heroes and disappointment in those that opposed the movement in a variety of ways. As we traveled to Birmingham, we listened to MLK's Letter from a Birmingham Jail, where he too expressed disappointment, this time in the white clergymen of America who failed to properly stand up for civil rights, instead staying on the sideline and even criticizing the demonstrations. We stepped out of the bus directly in front of the 16th street Baptist church, and was reminded of the more violent means of resistance taken against the movement. The most glaring image for me, however, was the empty KKK suit up-close, housed in the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham. I had never seen it with such proximity, and for some reason I couldn't take my eyes off of the haunting image. What occurred to me when staring into the blank holes where eyes should be was how cowardly these people were, hiding behind masks and hoods in contrast with the civil rights activists who braved dogs, hoses, and death threats from the KKK itself, all while proudly showing their faces, personalities, and heritage. We met more of these activists today, particularly Mrs. Catherine Burks-Brooks and Mr. Roscoe Jones. Both shared acute observations on the movement's relevance and the important to be proud of one's self and heritage. Another lasting image of the movement for me is that of Mrs. Burks-Brooks' mugshot, which we saw again today in a new context. Her smirk after being arrested embodies the unique pride felt by her and so many protesters, as they knew what they were doing was just. 

 -Gabe

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