For the last two years, Emmanuel has been involved with the anti-racism project of the Alliance of Baptists called Churches that THRIVE for Racial Justice. We have read important books, watched significant movies, and engaged in heartfelt conversations. Now we are anticipating an in-person pilgrimage to civil rights sites in Georgia and Alabama, February 17-24, 2024. There is so much to see, to learn, to feel, both in terms of history and current events.

In Atlanta, we expect to visit the National Center for Human and Civil Rights. One highlight of that museum is an immersive lunch counter sit-in where you can put yourself into the seat of a demonstrator. We will also see the former Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr and his father were pastors, and worship in the new Ebenezer Baptist building where the Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock now serves as pastor. Rev. Warnock is also a United States Senator and the very first African-American to serve as a senator from the state of Georgia. From there, we will travel to Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. We will spend time with Joanna Bland who was an active participant on Bloody Sunday. Her fight for racial justice led to her being arrested 13 times by the time she was 11-years-old. Leaving Selma, we will drive the route of the March to Montgomery. Montgomery, once the Capital of the Confederacy, became the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. There, we will stand on the sidewalk where Rosa Parks got on the bus and on the riverbank where enslaved people were bought and sold. The Legacy Museum, the National Memorial of Peace and Justice and the Rosa Parks Museum are only three of the compelling opportunities for exploration in Montgomery. On the way back to Atlanta for our return flight, we will stop at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.

The cost per person will be about $1400. That covers air fare, ground transportation, admission to museums, lodging in hotels/motels and meals. Scholarships, grants and fund-raising will help defray those costs. Driving time should not exceed 2 hours at any one stretch. Participants should be prepared to walk a good bit every day. Those in fifth to eighth grade must be accompanied by a responsible adult. High schoolers and adults may participate on their own with an agreement to abide by the group expectations. Do not let financial concerns keep you from going. If you want to go, please speak with Jean Burton, Jim Wilkerson or Pastor Kathy very soon. A deposit of $200 and a commitment form are due no later than September 17.