Memphis to Montgomery- an uneventful travel day for us which is just want you want. It is Aleana (my wonderful cousin) and I doing the SOUTHERN leg on the way back to Tampa). She is writing now on the blog too- so you will get more detail than when when it just me (Ms. Net it out)... so enjoy
Montgomery was very quiet in Oct 2011, unlike most of the decade of the 1960s. It is a very special city which can touch you deeply, perhaps even more so because of today's sharp contrast with the turbulent 60's . The current and historic Civil Rights movement comes alive through the Southern Poverty Law Center's must see Civil Rights Monument and Interpretive Center (check out the ongoing wonderful work of this organization at
http://www.splc.org/); Dr. King's church and parsonage (sites of incredibly impactful moments in our country's history); and home of the brave Rosa Parks who, by NOT moving to the back of the bus, ironically sparked an unstoppable movement that was too long in coming.
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The Civil Rights Monument outside of the Southern Poverty Law Center was designed by Mia Lin, creator of the Vietnam Veterans memorial. Like the Wall, visitors are encouraged to honor the achievements and touch the names of those who died during the Civil Rights movement. Water flows evenly over the understated black granite table which stands in front of
the fountain wall engraved with Dr. King's paraphrase of Amos 5:24, "[We will not be satisfied] until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a might stream"
The church where Dr. King began his ministry at age 26, now known as Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, is open to visitors. There were 4 of us, perfect for quiet reflections on the life and times of a man who changed the Nation during our lifetimes. Standing at the pulpit where Dr. King preached so many memorable sermons you get a sense of calm and passion simultaneously!
We visited the parsonage with Mrs. Margarite Foley who was one of Dr. King's parishoners during his 5 years at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. There is nothing like hearing history in the first person, and Mrs. Foley is very special! Dr. King received hundreds of death threats from the start of his ministry and throughout the movement.
One night a bomb was thrown through the front windows of this home. Mrs. King, their only child at the time, and a neighbor were there but not injured; the concrete porch still bears the scars. (That same neighbor, elderly but still alive and next door today, secretly sheltered Freedom Riders during the violence and death of that next summer.) Some of you may have heard a sermon Dr. King delivered in Chicago which recalled a night of prayer that changed his life. After the bombing occurred and, having been awoken from his sleep with yet another death threat against himself and his family, Dr. King went into the parsonage kitchen. He found no peace nor answers from his great intellect or his theological brillance. So, at this kitchen table he went deep into prayer about what to do; whether to abandon his Civil Rights leadership role to protect his family, just how to proceed. As Mrs. Foley related, Dr. King gave his troubles to God and clearly received God's answer. He received comfort and clarity: there was no turning back. Both of us were moved by the simplicity of the kitchen and the weightiness of the decision made sitting there.
OK, the Blog is NOT complete without our comments on the local food. For SURE the BEST Southern cooking we found was clearly at this cinder block building. Aleana tried it all, chicken gizzards and livers, greens, squash cassorole, etc. I admit to being a bit more cautious in my selection of fried chicken. Bottom line is that it was great food in a truly local environment - a MUST TRY in Montgomery! FARMERS MARKET CAFE - breakfast is suppose to be beyond awesome too.
We move on to Macon GA from here........
