Cole Longcor
cwl002@marietta.edu
During fall break over 30 students had the opportunity to travel to Montgomery, Alabama on the Exploring Black Slavery 1619-Present Trip. The trip took students to historical sites such as the Edmund Pettus Bridge and Dexter Avenue. Centers such as The Legacy Museum, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Southern Poverty Law Center Civil Rights Museum were also explored. Throughout the trip not only were students able to here from professionals such as a lawyer from the Equal Justice Initiative but also from multiple people who were involved in the Civil Rights Movement and the Selma-Montgomery March.
This trip was funded by an anonymous donor who discovered how powerful the history of Montgomery is when she traveled there herself. Working Marietta College staff including Dr. Josh Jacobs, Dr. Richard Danford, and Tony Mayle went down to Alabama in March to begin planning the trip. The goal of the program was to be able to take as many students as possible to learn about the history of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement as well as contemporary social justice issues such as mass incarceration.
The trip was a successful program for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion with over 30 students, 3 staff, and guest faculty Dr. Alicestyne Turley attending the trip. The student body was also quite diverse as international and LGBTQ+ students attended, as well as students across all classes and majors. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion hopes to have the opportunity to sponsor the trip again in the future.
To take a look more into this trip check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-zJJLCdfyI&t=1s
