Appreciation... Yet not Completed

Today I woke up in Germantown, Maryland with great anticipation about the day ahead of me. I am a teacher at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, in Baltimore, Maryland, and African American history is my passion, especially the civil rights movement. That being said I was fortunate to attend a week long civil rights trip with students and teachers from three other Baltimore schools (City Neighbors, Baltimore City College and the Park School). Today we embRked on our journey. The plan was to leave from Baltimore ,and travel to various states and cities in the Deep South.
It felt ironic to me to board the bus, mainly because nearly 50 years ago the Freedom Riders (Black and White students who challenged racial segregation on buses) did the same thing we were setting out to do today.
Therefore, taking this trip made me even more appreciative for those who have endured years of inequality and injustice. It is because of their efforts that we are even able to take such a trip!
Upon leaving Baltimore, we drove to Greensboro, North Carolina to visit the International Museum of Civil Rights. It was at this site where the Greensboro Four (the first four students to organize sit-ins at restaurants) made their history. While at the museum we actually were able to be in the same exact room where this historic event transpired. It was truly a remarkable feeling.
I was lost for words, and again my feelings of appreciation were alive and well.
After leaving the museum we went to NC A&T (The school where the four young men attended). While there we listened to Civil Rights activist Lewis Brandon speak about the injustices African Americans are still facing today.
After hearing Mr. Lewis speak I realized he is certainly correct, and that the movement for civil rights is not over! So after day one on this journey, I gained more appreciation and have started soul searing for other issues we as Americans still face. I realized the struggle for civil rights is still fighting through the trenches. However, the below quote from Frederick Douglass leaves me with hope that one day we will have no more issues:
"Without struggle there is no progress"


Jerome Bailey
Civics and World History Teacher
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School