Beginning at Clark Atlanta (a little disappointing because we couldn’t get onto the campus really as they were filming a Different World reunion show -although that is exciting). But the point being that Clark Atlanta, Spelman, and Morehouse students organized and joined the movement despite on-campus activities being unwanted by administration. Makes me think that gains and losses in social justice and social position often influence were people stand regarding what voicing displeasure looks like. Additionally, I think of how our current president oppresses any voice in opposition of him. There have been some online clips of Obama welcoming that criticism and voicing a need for it. That is not a threat. Who are leaders who see voicing opposition as a threat versus an opportunity for understanding?
The Covenant story was profound, especially with the reading from Rabbi Rothschild. He stated the bombing was not because their involvement with the Civil Rights Movement but a direct message to them as Jews that they were just as disliked by the White supremacists.
Two questions arise for me from this: 1. What initiates a response from the community where they would not accept this type of behavior and violence? 2. What would have happened if most of the community recognized and accepted this behavior?
Rosa Parks Museum was interesting with the narrative to tell the story. Feels more real because of the firsthand sources who explained what was said that day. I struggle with how inhumane people can become or are socialized to be.
This question permeates: Do all of us have the capacity to teach others inhumanely if the social context is right? We are talking about the majority of White society that was okay with the mistreatment. Is being humane our natural state of being or is being inhumane the natural state of being?