Today was a day full of learning experiences. Atlanta, Georgia is a beautiful place to visit if you are looking for a historical tour. We went to the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Museum. It is one of the most beautiful, calming places there is. In the museum you can find Dr. Luther's body along with his wife, Coretta Scott King in the  middle of a water fountain. Next to it is the Never Ending Flame, which is there to represent the continuance of Martin's Dream. We also visited another museum in which we can see what is going on around the whole world. There is a simulation that basically takes us back in time to show us how bad segregation was. Afterwards we went to eat at CNN. CNN is gigantic and has many diverse backgrounds/cultures. Then we went to Spelman College which is a all women school, located in front of Morehouse College (an all male school). The College is full of so many different opportunities, and is also very diverse. Women from all over the world attend Spelman to pursue an equal treatment career. The college over all is very nice and welcoming. It was nice getting to go into a college where there are just women. I enjoyed it.
Erika O. 7/29/15

Four Little Girls - Birmingham

We Walk Across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL

Joanne Bland tells her heroing story of her March as a child from Selma to Montgomery - her March for Voting Rights - her March for Freedom to sit at the counter at a "cool" looking diner as she recalls

Seniors and their technology!!

Writing blogs

Playing a game

Twins by choice!

The Montgomery, AL house that MLK Jr. lived in when a bomb was thrown in. His wife and baby were in the parlor on the right. They escaped to the back before the bomb flew in. A close look shows different windows on the right side of the house from the left side.

Rosa Parks - The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement

The flyer's language that led to the bus boycott:

I Would Do it All Over Again

 What I most appreciate from this trip was the college tours. It open my eyes and made me realize that, that will be in a couple of years. It got me thinking more about the future. I gained a lot of information. The one I enjoyed the most was the Spelman College tour. Going on that tour, I could see myself going there. I love the traditions they have and they will be one of the colleges I'll apply to. I had fun on this trip and I would do it all over again. 

Destinee G.

In this trip, I learned a lot of things; like when we walked in to the Rosa Parks Museum, it really touched me when they showed us when she wouldn't give up her seat and how disrespectful the white people and the bus driver were to her. The crazy thing is that she was where she was allowed to sit at and the bus driver ignored her rights. 

What really touched me was when we went to the Civil Rights Museum and they were showing videos of what the white people were saying on live television back then. It was just really mean, nasty and disrespectful. It's truly amazing what our ancestors had to go through for the world to be like it is today.

Dariyon G.

Hope, Strength, and Courage

As we took this journey, through history, through the life of hope, strength and courage it made me realize the hurt each and every one had trying to get their freedom. 

As I walked in the doors of the Civil Rights Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, I felt the courage, of everyone who fought for their rights. Doing a sit-in exhibit, putting on head phones and closing my eyes changed my whole view on life. Hearing threats, name calling, and the laughs going in my ears took me to stepping in the shoes of a young African-American getting bashed at for standing for their rights. My chair rattled, my head filled with the harsh words. That 1 minute and 15 secs changed everything. It opened my eyes to strength, to hope and to be thankful for the freedom I walk every day.

Paige M.

I want to Do More Things in My Community

This trip was a great experience for me. I never knew how bad things for people in the South until I watched videos and did sit-ins. This experience made me want to do more things in my community to help them. I didn't know how it would feel to have to give up my seat until I actually sat down and felt what they felt. This trip couldn't have been any better for me. I know I would have not done all the things that Upward Bound did with us this week, it was really an honor.

Alleen G.

We are equal

     I am so grateful for the opportunity given to me to experience this wonderful beauitful trip with Upward Bound. I have seen and learned so many things along my journey. Our nation fought a bloody civil right war 150 years ago over the issues of slavery.I I am not just proud of the change that was made all through out our nation, but those who believed in what was right. That racsim was not right at all and that everyone of us are equal - regardless the color of your skin.

Erika O.

We have made stops in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Our first stop was at a space center. At the space center, we learned all about what astronauts had to go through in order to go to space, and there were people who actually were at space camp. Sam and I went inside this space ride with graphics and shocks that made us feel as though we were on Mars. Then we went outside and went on a ride that was terrifying. The ride shoots people straight up into the air super high and fast, then back down and repeats. I was personally afraid because I do not like heights. When the ride shot down, I honestly thought I was going to hit the cement and die, but it was amazing. When I got to the top I looked out, the view was amazing, even the trees were really small. After that, we went on a ride that spins you around really fast to where you feel your own body weight on yourself and you cling to the wall. Most people screamed, but I found it very relaxing and all of us on this trip went on the ride together. 

Amongst the many things we did, my favorite things were the space center, viewing Martin Luther King Jr.'s house where he was born, and the one that was bombed, seeing the memorial, learning about Rosa Parks, seeing Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver's graves, and I was extremely privileged the have a real life experience of what people had to go through during sit-ins. 

I also enjoyed touring the colleges and I'm now excited to know I'm interested in Spelman College. 

Andrea T.

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church

Fountain of names...

Tuskegee University

Not only did the Tuskegee Airmen go to school here, but it's a top HBCU and beautiful campus!

We stayed overnight on campus in their Kellogg Conference Center and Hotel

Rosa Parks Museum

Today was a great day and a great day to learn, I learned so much at the Rosa Park Museum. The Rosa Park Museum was an incredible place. There was a room where you sat and watched a video of Rosa Parks and how significant she is, then there was also a room displaying a bus with her in it and how she got arrested. Which was really cool.

I was amazed. In my life, I never imagine how Rosa Parks got arrested, but thanks to the show displaying the bus and how she got arrested, I felt more connected. Now, I understand better that what Rosa Parks did was what was needed to be done (as regarding of refusing her seat).

Maria Martinez

Experiencing a Sit-In

An important thing I learned throughout the trip was what Rosa Parks did was not illegal and she shouldn't have gotten in trouble. I'm wondering how it would feel if I was there and experienced it myself when Rosa was arrested. It makes me think what if I was in that period of time how I would have acted.

 I'm very grateful that we had the opportunity to do so much and learn new things on this trip from going to all the different museums to different colleges. My favorite college was Alabama A & M. I loved the little chant they say. My favorite museum, I can't remember the name, but they did what it would be like to be in a sit-in and it felt so real. I could just sit there and listen to it over and over but we had a time limit. I felt like it was happening to me. I was so scared and I wanted to cry. It was so eye opening and very frightening. It was so moving and not so much in a good way. I wish they'd never been treated that way. I'd never let that happen now a days. I'd be standing up for everyone and do my best to stop it. 

Life is too short to let injustice stand in the way of our freedom. 

Samantha K.

These are my Roots!

The Civil Rights Museum and the Rosa Parks Museum touched me the most. The museums did not just make me feel like I was actually there but it was more interesting to the youth's eye. Being able to also walk the streets and be in the same buildings that my Black heroes once were made me feel more connected to them in multiple ways. I am so thankful for Upward Bound for giving me this opportunity, because these are my roots. 

Aleah S.

The Sky is the Limit

"You have the opportunity and the sky is the limit" that was my favorite line in the Tuskegee airmen documentary. The quote is something I would always have with me because sometimes when there's an opportunity, I would always miss because my shyness always gets in the way. And this time, whenever there's a great opportunity, I'm going to make sure I got this quote with me. 

The Tuskegee airmen tour was phenomenal. I was sincerely speechless of how these extraordinary African-Americans fought in the air in WWII during the segregation and how they served for us. I just wanted to say Thank You to the staff members for taking me on this adventure. 

Na D.

Our Vlog

We have our first three videos up on our vlog... Here is our newest one. The videos will be posted probably well past out trip ends!

http://youtu.be/vDP0AvYs0Xg

What stood out to me the most was the Army exhibit at the space center and the Tuskegee Airmen. They both stood out to me because they both have something to do with the service. My dad was in the Army and as well as the National Guard. I am also thankful for being on this trip as well, despite all of the bus break downs, but not everyone will get this opportunity. It's a great way to travel. 

Mary B.

This trip has advanced my knowledge and made me understand things I did not before. Before this trip I was in AP US History and I remember hearing about the civil rights movement, the Tuskegee Airman, World War 2, Carnegie, Rockefeller and etc but throughout this week History came alive for me. Everything I read in textbooks applied this week and it was astonishing seeing it all in real life. It has been an amazing experience. Even the university's we have visited have been nice. I learned I would not like to attend a university where the temperature is hot, even though Michelle said its not like that all year round. :-)

One of the best tours this week was Spelman  College, an all girls college. The traditions were so cute, I wish there was one like that in Michigan. This experience has been great, I am so thankful for such an amazing week.❤️

Xitlali G.

Dexter Street

This whole trip has been a new learning experience for me. I have had so much fun and have learned so many things. One thing that stood out to me was the Dexter Street Baptist Church in Montgomery. The tour guide, Wanda was so exciting and joyful, she made the room and everyone in it have a great mood. Dexter church was the only church that Martin Luther King Jr preached in and it was a great tour knowing that he left a mark on EVERYONE, especially in the community he was best known.  

  I enjoyed all of the trip, even though mishaps happened and people were irritating. Going to all of these places has

opened my eyes a lot more and made me realized that if you have Hope and Strength, deep within, no matter what happens, God will be with you and

 you can make it through any situation. 

Kiara K

This trip has been good and I've really learned a lot about history. I got to visit different colleges and learn about them and famous historical people that went there. I went to the museum and the best things that I learned was about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks on how brave they were. This trip gave me a lot of experience and taught me to never give up on what you want to achieve.

Dan M.

Thank You Upward Bound

To me this trip has been very exciting. I like how we went to different  colleges because the experience was really great. I like the tour guides who guided us throughout the college which was cool. But what I really thought was great, was the Tuskegee college. I liked how the campus was set up and I enjoyed almost everything about it, EXCEPT the heat.

     But besides the college touring, I loved being out the house and hanging out with my friends. I really enjoyed this experience. So I thank Upward Bound for giving me a opportunity that I will remember for a lifetime.

Steven B.

The past two days for me was fun and interesting. I got to learn to many historical things, especially about Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks. I got to go to museums that was about them. Beside learning about the historical things, I was touring around a couple colleges. It was alright because the weather was extremely hot. But other than that, it was a fun experience for me. 

I would love to go out and learn more about the historical things again because you get to have more experience about it when you go out instead of sitting on the computer and looking at pictures and reading it. 

 Cuong D-L

Today was not as hot as usually. THANK GOD. But today we went to a lot of new places as usually but my favorite today was MLK's church were he pastored. It was so much fun. The tour guide was so bold and full of joy. She had us sing, give hugs, and hold hands. Now I know that sounds a little kiddish, but everything she had us do she had a great reasoning behind it.

Zariah H.

Over this trip with Upward Bound, I had a really good time. I learned so many things that I never knew over this time. If I wouldn't have went with Upward Bound, I wouldn't have learned any of these things. We went to Moton Fields where the Tuskegee Airmen were trained at. We also went to various HBCU colleges that were very, very nice. We ate at a lot of resturants that I never even heard of. I am grateful that the directors take time out of their everyday lifes just to help us teenagers with a better future. 

Andrea K.

We started off our day at the moton field tour, it wasn't that hot out. We learned about the P-51 mustang plane and who flew the planes. When we went to Tuskegee Universty after it was way warmer. My favorite part of of that tour was their chapel and the history behind it. After that we went to a church tour. There we learned about Dr. King and when he was a pastor. We learned a whole bunch of his history. After that we went to the mall, it was huge there, but I had a blast. By that time is wasn't very hot any more. That was how our day went today. 

Maribelle H.

One of My Best Experiences

This trip has been one of the best experiences I ever had a chance to do. I really liked how we all walked in groups to the museums and MLK Memorial. The best part of today was when we went to the mall and Tuskegee College. I learned about all the President's wives at the college and, also, we saw the Lost Ones Cemetery. It was really fun but really hot!! I learned so much about Martin Luther King that I Did not even know about. It was really fun. I can not wait to learn more tomorrow :) !!! 

Alyssa M. 

Moton Field - Home of the Tuskegee Airmen

First, if you have not seen the movie The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) with Lawrence Fishburn, Cuba Gooding Jr., and many other great actors, rent it!!! You will learn a lot about what we saw this morning - well, at least the Hollywood version. We watched the movie as our bus took us from Atlanta to Tuskegee and so our arrival at Moton Field just after it ended was pretty amazing. The field was home to an "experiment" to train the first non-white Army pilots for the U.S. Army. Many did not want to see them succeed, but the Tuskegee Airmen were some of the most decorated pilots of WWII.