by Dan Zelenski
As a high school social studies teacher, I teach my students to be lifelong learners, to question all that they read and hear, and to examine historical events and actions through multiple perspectives. I also use history to help students understand that they have the power to create meaningful change. This seminar has already provided me with deeper insights and richer context that will help me be a more effective teacher and more intentionally inspire my students to create meaningful change.
After only two days on the trip, I have gained a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of the major events and leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. The Montgomery Bus Boycott, sparked by Rosa Parks’ courageous refusal to give up her seat, helped propel Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. onto the national stage as a civil rights leader. King’s commitment to nonviolent resistance later inspired John Lewis to become one of the movement’s most influential figures. Lewis not only helped organize sit-ins and Freedom Rides, but also demonstrated extraordinary courage by enduring brutal beatings and numerous arrests. Each of these leaders inspired countless others through their consistent demonstration of selflessness and their willingness to place others before themselves.
This seminar has also highlighted how leaders must be persistent and strategic to create meaningful change. The exhibit at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights shows that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. regularly corresponded with both supporters and critics, and those exchanges influenced how he shaped his messaging, allowing him to gain support through his passionate speeches. Rosa Parks’ decision to remain seated on the Montgomery bus was also tied to a broader network through her involvement with the NAACP, which helped trigger organized action like the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
This experience has reinforced the idea that meaningful change often begins with talented people who have strong convictions and choose to take action through courage and selflessness. I look forward to sharing these lessons with my students and hopefully inspiring them to recognize their own potential to create meaningful change