Mostly today was a driving day and we ended up in the Montgomery Alabama suburbs. But on the way we wanted to stop at the Selma, Alabama, one of the major locations and confrontations of the Civil Rights Movement with what was called Bloody Sunday and led to the march from Selma to Montgomery, leading to the passing of the Voting Rights Act. To learn more about that struggle which we saw at the museum in Jackson and I'm sure we will see more of in Montgomery, go here.
But a visit to Selma is to be reminded that despite all that has changed, how little has changed. There is a French saying, "Plus ca change, Plus ca rest la meme chose". It means the more things change, the more they stay they same.
Selma is a community that is in deep poverty as is the area around it. There is anger about how recent political changes have been chipping away at the Voting Rights Act. This article that was published in the Nation a few years ago, captures in detail the feeling that despite all the struggle, not much has changed in terms of race relations and opportunity. It was hard to leave here and not be depressed.
So not much in the way of pictures.
Selma is a city that in the middle of the 19th century was prosperous and had many buildings of note
But today the downtown area is filled with unoccupied buildings and seems like it is on its way to being a ghost town
There is an Interpretive Center run by the National Park Service
These lovely young women spent much time with us and convinced us to get a National Parks Passport! (You get it stamped at every National Park place you go to)
Queen E. Jackson
Is a local activist who is involved with trying to get out the vote among other things
She regaled us with stories of people she knew who were part of the Foot Soldiers
Finally we went over and back over the bridge
Looking toward where the confrontation on Bloody Sunday took place
2 comments:
It's disheartening to think how far we have to go, but important to remember these events. Thanks for sharing.
very interesting. I feel crappy that I have merrily avoiding the SE.
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