Day 10 - Memphis and The Lorraine Motel

June 22, 2011 

In Memphis, we were hosted by The Pilgrim House, a hostel in midtown Memphis that is operated by First Congregational Church.   First Congo, as it is called, had a rich history of social justice.  It was an  founded 140 years ago as an integrated church by people who believed that slavery was wrong and that women should be able to preach.  One of the interesting features of the hostel was that it was also the home of Revolutions Community Bike Shop - a non-profit bike shop that uses recycled parts to create bikes just like the reCYCLEry in carrborro, NC which provided our bikes for the tour.

After our stay at the hostel,  we connected with Dr. Charles McKinney, a friend of my parents and a professor of African American studies at Rhodes College in Memphis.   He talked to us about how the image of African Americans has changed throughout history, and how even after Reconstruction, there was still a battle to obtain equality. His lecture really gave us a unique perception of the black struggle, and allowed us to have a greater historical context later on that day when we visited the famous Lorraine Motel, now known as the National Civil Rights Museum.  For all of those whom are unaware, the Lorraine Motel was where the assasination of Dr. Martin Luther King took place - on the balcony of room 306.

The motel has now been converted into a national museum focused on the historical events of the Civil Rights movement, including the Sanitation Strikes of Memphis and the bus boycotts of Montgomery. Unfortunately, due to copyright laws, I was not allowed to take any photographs; however I can tell you that the museum was one of the most informative visits along this trip. It was incredible to see how many sacrifices had to he made by my parent's and grandparent's generations. The museum really opened my eyes to the brutalities that MY family had to go through so that I may go to an integrated school. Or even something as simple as talking to one of a different race in a candy store.

Thank you to all our conductors  who made this leg of the journey possible -- First Congregational and The Pilgrim House, Dr. Charles McKinney, Revolutions Bike Shop and The National Civil Rights Museum.  Your generosity and support will always be remembered.