I'm vacationing in Memphis, just left the Civil Rights Museum

[EnergizedLib]

And I would recommend literally every single person in America visits - all of you, everyone I know, complete strangers, legislators in red states and everybody working in this abomination of this administration and those for voted for and against their atrocities.

I knew Dr. King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968. What I didn’t know was Room 306 and about the sanitation strike.

I knew who Fannie Lou Hamer was, but I didn’t know her entire story.

I knew about the Tulsa Race Riots in 2021, but I learned more about its backstory.

I didn’t know who Baynard Rustin was. I didn’t know who Elbert Williams or Irene Morgan were. Now, I know both.

It has a video board where you can play several clips of civil rights, and of course, being a sports nut, I had to play the clips on Hank Aarron and about Tommie Smith and John Carlos in Mexico City.

But I learned so much other stuff I wouldn’t have known, including about some of the struggles and the importance of Motown during that period, too.

I feel inspired. This White House brings out the worst in people. The Civil Rights Museum, in my opinion, brings out the best in others.

And it made me angry when I saw about Emmett Till, when a juror came forward and most thought the defendants were guilty, but thought life in prison or death was too harsh of a sentence for white people to receive for doing that to a black person.

Or no justice for Fannie Lou Hamer or no prosecution against the instigators of the Tulsa Race Riots or compensation for the victimized.

Maybe instead of teaching the Big Lie from 2020, Ryan Walters can teach the Tulsa Race Riots.

Maybe instead of teaching the benefits of slavery, Florida can teach the UF protests during the Civil Rights Movement.

And maybe, just maybe, a national curriculum would be good in this country so people would learn actual history instead of the whitewashed history ‘people’ like Stephen Miller want to teach.

It makes me so angry with not only the injustices that occurred back then, but what’s going on now - how those in power want to curtail the rights of others and erase history, including wanting to get rid of Juneteenth. I learned about Wilma Webb and how she tried to get MLK’s birthday a law in Colorado before it became a federal holiday. She was denied many times because people thought Colorado had enough holidays. It reminded me of MAGA talking points about Juneteenth.

Yes, it’s okay to be straight, it’s okay to be white, it’s okay to be male - I happen to be all three. It is not okay, however, to think you’re better than someone else just because you’re any or all of those things.

I feel woke, and I’m proud to be woke.

Keep fighting the good fight, keep protesting, keep fighting the uphill battle. Remember, whites disapproved of Dr. King in his lifetime.

And one more thing - history doesn’t remember those who caved, it remembers those who dug their heels and fought against injustice and oppression.

[SheltieLover]

1. Awesome! Stay safe out there!

[kimbutgar]

2. I went to that museum years ago

And you care correct the history is astounding and I’m glad they turned that motel into a museum. And seeing the room where MLK jr stayed before being assassinated was heartbreaking.

The most memorable thing that my husband and I had was getting on that bus and getting abused by the driver for being black. My husband had never heard of that harassment and got really emotional.

[EnergizedLib]

3. I'm so sorry that happened

You and your husband didn’t deserve that. No one does.

Shame on that bus driver, who should have known better and would do well to learn other people, empathy, cultures and could use a trip there themselves.

[kimbutgar]

4. Oops this was an exhibit they had in the museum where you get on a bus and the driver tells you to got to the

Back of the bus n word. I guess they don’t have that exhibit anymore.

[EnergizedLib]

5. Oh, I didn't see that

Well, I didn’t see it. It sounds like you had a good time, and I did, too. I know more now than I did when I woke up this morning.

[Docreed2003]

6. If you're still near the museum and hungry for lunch

Gus' Fried Chicken is amazing and just a short walk from the museum up on Main

[EnergizedLib]

7. I just had lunch

I had Plant Based Heat - vegan BBQ, so good.

[Docreed2003]

10. 👍 sounds great

[MIButterfly]

8. That sounds like a place I would like to go. I just might add that to my bucket list.

Several years ago, my mother and I went down to Cincinnati to see the Cubs play the Reds. During the day we went to the National Underground Freedom Center. I highly recommend it.

I'm old enough to remember the day Dr. King was assassinated. It was a sad day.

[EnergizedLib]

9. First of all, Go Cubs

Second of all, absolutely go. I didn’t even see everything, but it was such an experience - so much I learned and so much more to go.

Some of the problems described in the videos I saw there parallel some of the nonsense going on today, if not the same situations, then the same reasoning.

[okaawhatever]

11. I've been there. It was an eye opening and emotional day.