Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Marshall Lewis

Marshall Lewis

22
this night we stayed a local pilgrim house, a place which houses teens on nightly basses. One of the interesting features of the hostile was that it was also the home of a local bike shop, which used recycled parts to create bikes. Just like t he reCYCLEry in carrborro, NC.After our stay at the hostile we meet, or in my case revisited, Charles McKinney. A professor of African American studies in Memphis. He talked o us about how the image of African Americans has changed throughout history, an 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 infamous Loraine motel, now known as the national civil rights museum. For all of those whom are unaware, the Loraine motel was where the assasination of mlk took place. On he balcony of room 306. The motel has now been convited into a national museum filled with the historical events of the civil rights movement. Such as the Sanitation strikes of Memphis or 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 moments of 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 a integrated school. Or even something as simple as talking to one of a different race in a candy store.

Thursday 23
Today was a normal day, besides the fact that I crashed going about 40 mph downhill. All I can say is that there was a sharp turn that I couldn't make and I flew head over heels into dense brush. Lucky for me the bushes and twigs broke fall from the ensuing cliff, which actually saved my life. I walked away with a couple of scars on my face and now my hand looked like wolverine went H.A.M on me But other than that today was an average day. We finished the ride and rested at a local camp ground with our host "uncle Phil"

June 24

Tonight SNR camped out at the piney campgrounds in Tennessee. Even though we had camped out before, this was the first time where we were surrounded by other teens and had the opportunity to swim and play basketball. This was also the first and only night where we started a campfire. Throughout this trip this was SNR's first"real" camping experience, and by real I mean hot dogs s'mores and the whole 9. We explored the grounds for all their worth, ate some hotdogs, roasted some s'mores; hooped it up on the court, and ended the night with all of the boys sprinting into the lake. Shout out to Mahlique Keith to being the first one to dive in. It was really one of those nights where we could unwind and enjoy ourselves. However, our happy go lucky façade was broken when we were encountered by to little girls while exiting the lake. At once we were greeted by the same word by which many of our parents and grandparents have been: the n word These two little girls; born and raised in Tennessee, were not a day older than 8. In fact the exact quote was "I'm seven and a half now shut your f-ing mouth." this was one of those situations where we are reminded of why we are embarking on this journey, not to bike across the country, but to understand the hardships of the enslaved people running towards freedom. When we are use to a certain type of people, such as the many privileged and open hearted people in my town Chapel Hill, NC, we often forget that not everyone is the same. It is this reality and security which damages our ability to perceive the upbringings of others. In this instance I realize that these two little girls are not necessarily bad people. In a sense they are no different from me. The are, how there were raised. There parents have instilled racism into there bones just as mine have made sure that I am never judging one by their outward appearance or their interpersonal beliefs. It is simply by the luck of the draw that I was on that side of the line. In conclusion this experience easier reminder that can not forget that there still are dangers on our route and that not every was raised by the same morals.

Saturday 25
Today was Houston's birthday. He turned the big one seven (17). An age where young gamers can finally buy M rated games, and when teens can finally watch r rated movies without there ever-loving parents present to buy the tickets. For his birthday we camped out at the land between the lakes in Kentucky. Also as a special treat Suependa bought pizza and ice cream for dinner. But mayor one or the memorable moments if the day came when we met a local camper named Kirsten Herndon. All of the guys met her on our way to the basketball courts. Born and raised in Kentucky, she gave us a tour of the campground and later Invited Houston and the gang back to her RV for s'mores. This only being the second time ofthe trip we had s'mores we all kept burning the marshmallows, but it didn't really matter because we were too busy having fun telling Kirsten and her family about the trip, while simultaneously cracking jokes on one another. In my olinik. This was the funnest night of the trip because we met some really cool people who were willing to feed us s'mores and hotdogs and hear our story. We all loved hanging out at their campsite and when we finally had to leave, (which ended up being around 12), we promised to keep in contact, which we still do. Needs as to say that calm and chill night at the campsight with our new best friend from Kentucky Kirsten was a birthday to remember





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