We didn't plan our winter trip to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery. We didn't even plan to go through Montgomery. But because of weather and other considerations, we ended up here at Gunter Hill Campground between Montgomery and Selma for six days, the longest we have stayed anywhere. It was a happy accident. Or more appropriately, a meaningful one.
After spending time in Selma on Wednesday and seeing all of the preparations for the President's visit on Saturday, we opted to go to Montgomery yesterday to the Rosa Parks Museum. This is different from most museums we've been to because it focuses on one event. They have done an amazing job of using media and technology to present the events leading up to Rosa Parks' act of civil disobedience and the immediate results. In one section, a time capsule looks at the treatment of Black Americans before 1955 through a ride on a time-traveling city bus. At the other end, visitors stand on a sidewalk as spectators to the history changing event of Mrs. Parks refusing to give up her bus seat. It is very well done and I'm sure especially effective with kids.
We finished our visit to Montgomery with lunch at Dreamland Barbecue, a sports bar with several of the TVs actually tuned to the President's speech and the observance in Selma. It was very moving as was the reaction of the crowd at the end. A big change in fifty years. We are proud to have a very diverse family and I am so glad that circumstances led us to experience this event.
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