The American South: History and Civil Rights

Fly into Atlanta to begin your new journey of history and civil rights! Your Global Works leaders will be eagerly awaiting your arrival at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and will drive you to Montgomery to begin your program. As you settle in, you will start to learn about what makes the American South so unique. We will do orientation activities and get prepped for what the week ahead holds.

We spend these days visiting landmark civil rights sites. Must-sees there include the National Memorial For Peace and Justice, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. We delve into discussions about how this history is still relevant in today’s world. We also get the opportunity to enjoy some delicious southern food.

We drive to Selma, Alabama to dive deeper into the history of another southern city. When we arrive, we walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge, while reflecting on the powerful stand people made there back in 1965. We engage in discussions with local residents on the impact the Civil Rights Movement still has on their lives. We then drive the route of the Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery. 

We head up to another important part of the Civil Rights Movement- Birmingham, AL. While here, we visit the 16th Street Baptist Church, volunteer at a local community kitchen, and catch a favorite American pastime – a minor league baseball game. We also make sure to reflect as a group on the importance and relevance of everything we have seen and experienced on this program. We drive to Atlanta for our last night and wrap up with a final celebratory group dinner! 

Before flying out, we explore Atlanta and visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Though it is sad to leave, we have gained a new perspective on the Civil Rights Movement. We have many new tales to tell of the people and history that made our experience memorable!