Tracing the History of American Civil Rights: Past, Present, and Future

The Male Development Institute sponsored a Man 2 Man spring break immersion trip, March 10 -14, 2019, the theme: “Tracing the History of African American Civil Rights—Past, Present, and Future.” The purpose of the Man 2 Man Civil Rights Historical immersion tour was to provide participants with culturally and educationally responsible and accurate knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement. The trip included visits to sites of historical importance in Montgomery, AL; Tuskegee, AL; and Atlanta, GA. 

"Students gained an increasing awareness of the international struggle for universal human rights the world over. The tour shed light on the enormous opportunities for post-graduate education and professional careers and allowed students to view the lessons of the past as crucial to understanding the basic issues of morality, law, justice and responsible citizenship necessary to become future leaders," said Director of Male Initiatives Jermaine McKinney. "It is our greatest aim to imbue students with the knowledge that silence and indifference to the suffering of others can only perpetuate social problems and divisions." 

Students traveled to Selma across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and visited the Lowndes Interpretive Center and Brown Chapel AME Church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. launched the voting rights march. In Montgomery, students toured the Rosa Parks Museum and had the opportunity to stand in the pulpit at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached. 

In addition, the young men visited Tuskegee and Moton Field, home of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site and Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, which includes The Oaks, home of Booker T. Washington; the George Washington Carver Museum; and the historic Tuskegee University campus. While in Atlanta, students spent time viewing artifacts at the historic King Center, Ebenezer Baptist Church, CNN, and Morehouse University.