By Ricky Tyus, Owner of Tyus Tours & Travel
The Truth Travel Consultant
Today, as Black history is being removed from many school systems in America, it is crucial to recognize that true history can still be found along the Civil Rights Trail.
The Civil Rights Trail preserves and commemorates the monumental efforts and sacrifices made in the fight for equality. It provides invaluable insight into the struggles, triumphs and pivotal moments in Black history that have shaped America.
By embarking on a journey along this trail, individuals have the opportunity to delve into a transformative period of American history, gaining insights into the struggles and triumphs of those who fought for equality and justice. The trail offers an immersive experience, allowing visitors to walk in the footsteps of the brave men and women who paved the way for civil rights advancements, ensuring that their stories and sacrifices are not forgotten.
The U.S. Civil Rights Trail is a collection of churches, courthouses, schools, museums and other landmarks primarily in the Southern states where activists challenged segregation in the 1950s and 1960s to advance social justice. Famous sites include the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama; Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas; the Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth’s where sit-ins began; the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee; and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace in Atlanta, Georgia, to name a few.
The people, locations and destinations included in the Civil Rights Trail provide a way for families, travelers and educators to experience history firsthand. For details about the sites and stories from civil rights pioneers, visit CivilRightsTrail.com
Some notable sites on the trail include:
16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama
The 16th Street Baptist was a large and prominent church located downtown, just blocks from Birmingham’s commercial district and City Hall. Just before 11 o’clock on September 15, 1963, instead of rising to begin prayers the congregation was knocked to the ground.
The 16th Street Baptist Church was a key meeting place for civil rights leaders and activists, making it a target for white supremacist violence. The bombing on September 15, 1963, was a tragic event that resulted in the deaths of four young girls and marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.
Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama
Is now a Historic Landmark and was the site of the brutal Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965
On this day in 1965 some 600 people began a 54-mile march from Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery. As the marchers proceeded along U.S. Route 80, State and local law enforcement officers attacked them with billy clubs and tear gas, forcing them to retreat into Selma. “The brutal attacks on peaceful marchers shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation, highlighting the urgent need for change.”
Finally, after a federal court order permitted the protest, the voting rights marchers left Selma on March 21 under the protection of federalized National Guard troops. Four days later, they reached Montgomery with the crowd growing to 25,000 by the time they reached the capitol steps. These events in Selma galvanized public opinion and mobilized Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, which President Johnson signed into law on August 6, 1965.
Today, although the bridge still bears the name of a white supremacist, it stands as a powerful symbol of civil rights progress and a reminder of the sacrifices made for voting rights.
Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas
Rock Central High School in Arkansas: This school became a national symbol of the struggle for desegregation when nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, faced violent opposition as they integrated the school in 1957. The courage and determination of these students played a crucial role in advancing civil rights and challenging segregation in public schools.
National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee
Where were you when Martin Luther King was shot? This tragic event took place on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, now home to the National Civil Rights Museum.
The U.S. Civil Rights Trail is a collection of churches, courthouses, schools, museums and other landmarks primarily in the Southern states where activists challenged segregation in the 1950s and 1960s to advance social justice. Famous sites include the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama; Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas; the Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth’s where sit-ins began; the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee; and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace in Atlanta, Georgia, to name a few. The people, locations and destinations included in the Civil Rights Trail provide a way for families, travelers and educators to experience history firsthand. For details about the sites and stories from civil rights pioneers, visit CivilRightsTrail.com
You can explore the trail through an interactive map and even plan your own itinerary to visit these historic sites. It’s a powerful way to experience the history and legacy of the Civil Rights Movement firsthand.