Birmingham City Schools student Jonah Tate (left) was one of more than 20 students who traveled to Selma this weekend with the nonprofit organization Growing Kings. Photo by Amy Roberts.
Editor’s note: The nonprofit organization Growing Kings, which works to provide enrichment opportunities for underserved boys, took more than 20 middle school students from Birmingham City Schools to Selma this weekend for the commemoration of the Civil Rights marches and Bloody Sunday.
Students and staff members of the organization shared their impressions from the trip with Weld:
Daniel Rickett, 8th grade Wilkerson Middle School
I learned about Selma in school. I know that people were marching for their rights. ‘Bloody Sunday’ was one of the worst days in the Civil Rights Movement because so many people were hurt.
I couldn’t believe so many people came on Sunday. I didn’t expect that many people to be there. I really liked the tribes who were dressed in costumes and singing and dancing. The lady who was leading them kept encouraging all of the younger people to keep moving forward to get over the bridge. A lot of people were trying to cross the bridge and come back over, and she was really motivating me to keep going when it was so crowded. There were a lot of people rejoicing.
After going to Selma I feel really motivated. Once I learned about how people had to fight for their rights to vote and get jobs, it made me think about what if that was me. Going back to school on Monday I feel like if I work really hard and do my school work I can do better in life.
Kendall Blue, 7th grade Wilkerson Middle School
I’ve seen the movie Selma and I learned a lot about Martin Luther King and his family. He was working for freedom and helping his family survive all this madness. A lot of people were being killed for no reason and Martin Luther King was working to make it so people could have equal rights. There were so many people there yesterday trying to go from one side of the bridge to the other and that made it really hard to walk anywhere. It made me think about Martin Luther King 50 years ago and all those people trying to fight for our rights and find a way to keep moving forward.
Jonah Tate, 8th grade Booker T. Washington K-8 School
I’ve been to Selma for the ‘Bloody Sunday’ weekend, and I’ve also seen the movie Selma. I wish there would’ve been a reenactment so I could’ve seen how it went down. I really liked Selma on Sunday, it was really fun. I went with a group named Growing Kings.
Martin Luther King Jr. has inspired me to work hard in school to become what other blacks couldn’t become, be nice to other people, and also be nonviolent.
Keyon Calhoun, 7th grade Booker T. Washington K-8 School
I’ve seen the movie Selma and I learned about Selma when Martin Luther King walked across the bridge. There was a lot of people there Sunday. A lot of people were dancing around us. I really didn’t think there would be so many people there.
I liked the big screen TV where they were showing what happened on ‘Bloody Sunday’ and playing the speeches. I thought it was a little interesting, but also a little sad. Coming back from Selma I feel like I know a lot more about what happened and what people went through.
Growing Kings program manager Justin Sims described the opportunity to share the history of the Civil Rights movement with students as “nothing short of amazing.” Photo by Justin Williams.
Justin Sims, Growing Kings Program Manager
The trip was awesome to say the least. Having a chance to speak with the students about our past history is one thing, but the ability to have them take part in history breaks down all the walls needed for productive exposure.
Fortunately or unfortunately the students aren’t fully aware of the evils that went on in their own neighborhoods or state, so to be able to see the emotions on the elders and have them ask questions was nothing short of amazing. Especially coming from a history person’s perspective.
India Allen, Growing Kings Operations Coordinator
The spirit of courage, strength and emotion illuminated the street leading up to the historical Edmund Pettus Bridge on Sunday! It was truly humbling to witness the young men of Growing Kings participate in such a monumental day in history. As I witnessed the young men of Growing Kings walking the exact path of those who fought tirelessly for equal rights, I was inspired. I envisioned them one day being the educated and influential leaders of their generation that will one day bring about positive change in the world. It truly is because of the sacrifices of 50 years ago that “we can” and the younger generation, will.
Marcus Nix, Growing Kings Volunteer Coordinator
The experience was absolutely breathtaking. For our young men to be able to witness a mass of people, from all different backgrounds and races, pay homage to “Bloody Sunday” was priceless.
