Civil Rights Trip: Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, Jackson, and Memphis

I chaperoned a trip to the south to go on a civil rights trip from Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma, AL and then to Jackson, MS, and ending in Memphis, TN. There were 14 people in our group and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.

Our United Airlines flight from SNA to IAH on a 737-700W

This was my legroom in my window seat near the back

We connected to United Express in Terminal B at IAH

The EMB-145 that would take us to BHM

Legroom in the exit row of the EMB-145

We had to take a shuttle to the economy lot where our bus was waiting. The shuttle driver told us that 3 of the 4 girls who were killed in the 16th St Baptist Church bombing were buried in cemetery next to the parking lot.

We went to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and across the street was Kelly Ingram Park that has a lot of statues and monuments dedicated to the civil rights struggle.

It's a very powerful walk around the park and it is incredible to think that the marches and violence happened right there.

This is the inside of 16th St Baptist Church where a bomb killed 4 little girls. They show a movie during the tour.

On the outside of the church, where the bomb was, is a plaque and memorial.

This is the rotunda in the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery. The building has a very interesting history.

The Southern Poverty Law Center runs the Civil Rights Memorial and it is an amazing museum honoring those that gave their lives for civil rights.

The memorial was designed by Maya Lin, who also designed the Vietnam Memorial in DC.

This is a mural in the Voting Rights Institute in Selma, AL. It's a small museum, but well worth seeing.

This is the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge where the march from Selma to Montgomery started.

The other side of this bridge is where Bloody Sunday occurred.

Hawaiians were part of the march too.

On the campus of Jackson State University in Mississippi, there are a couple of gems including The Margaret Walker Center and COFO, both are definitely worth a visit.

Jerry Mitchell, an investigative reporter, spoke to our group on campus at Jackson State. He is responsible for helping to bring to justice the killer of Medgar Evers.

The infamous Lorraine Motel is an incredible and solemn place. It is now the National Civil Rights Museum and is one of the best museums of any kind I have ever been to.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was killed right outside room 306.

Just steps away is Central BBQ, which is amazing.

This is the view of the Lorraine from Central BBQ.

On the way to the airport we stopped at the famous Beale St. with all of the Blues bars and shops.

Our flight back home went through Houston on an EMB-145XR, which are recognizable by the winglets.

Changing terminals at IAH from term B to term E, I spotted the Singapore A350.

The final leg was on a 737-700W again.