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Civil Rights History Tour

 

Explore some of America’s most prominent Civil Rights history with the Peace and Justice Institute, May 5th to 9th, 2025. We invite you to join us for a healing and introspective journey into our country’s past and current struggle for racial equality. We will be traveling to Memphis, Tennessee, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Mississippi. In Memphis we will experience where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “Mountaintop” speech and the Lorraine Motel, site of his assassination. Little Rock High School was the site of the 1957 integration struggle, the first time a President used federal powers to uphold and implement a federal court decision regarding school desegregation. Memphis music tradition is a legacy across the nation. We will visit the birthplace of soul music, Stacks Museum of American Soul Music, as well as Sun Studio and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. We will have a full day of learning, dialogue and reflection at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner, MS.  In the spirit of PJI, this trip will offer thoughtful challenges, support authentic reflection, build our sense of community and foster a commitment to peace. Please note that the photos on this page are from our 2024 trip, and in 2025 we will visit new destinations.

 

Tour Details

May 5th: MONDAY Memphis, Tennessee     The Lorraine Motel/National Civil Rights Museum – site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mason Temple – Where MLK gave his “Mountaintop” speech on April 3, 1968,  Clayborn Temple – “I Am A Man” Sanitation worker’s Strike.

May 6th: TUESDAY – Little Rock, Arkansas   Little Rock Central High School – site of the 1957 integration struggle. Visitor’s Center at the Little Rock Central High School. The Daisy Gates House, Leader of the NAACP. The President William Jefferson Clinton Library. The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.

May 7th: WEDNESDAY – Memphis, Tennessee
Music : Stacks Museum of American Soul Music. Sun Studio. Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. Live music in the evening on Beale Street.

May 8th: THURSDAY – Money, Glendora, Greenwood and Sumner, Mississippi
Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner, MS., Tallahatchie River site and Emmett Till Historical Intrepid Center (ETHIC) in Glendora, MS. Visit the site of Bryant’s Grocery Store where the story of Emmett Till begins in Greenwood, MS. All of these communities are important to the story of Emmett Till, a 14 year-old teenager who was murdered on August 28, 1955.

May 9th: FRIDAY – Memphis, TN.
Lichterman Nature Center Memphis Museum of Science and History, Memphis Botanic Gardens

About the Tour Guides

Valada Flewellyn

is an author, poet, historian, and storyteller. Valada is the author of seven books, her latest: “For the Children: The History of Jack and Jill of America Incorporated” (2018), the oldest African American family organization founded in 1938. Valada serves on the board of the Crealde School of Art in Winter Park, FL. She is a founding member of the Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ) an affiliate of the Equal Justice Institute (EJI), a member of Bridging the Color Divide, a lifetime member of The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and serves as historian for the Dorothy Turner Johnson Branch. She is a member of the Seminole County branch of the League of Women Voters. Valada is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and is a member of the Washington Shores Presbyterian Church. Valada is a graduate of Marymount College, BS in Marketing. Poetry by Valada can be found at the Alliance for Truth and Justice (ATJ).

Paul Chapman

is Professor of Humanities and Peace Studies at Valencia College. He attended Florida State University where he received a BA in Humanities and an MA in International Affairs. His study of human and civil rights began in high school and continued through college. From 1995 to 1998, he engaged with the complexities and nuances of many social issues while working at Capital City Youth Services, an emergency youth shelter in Tallahassee, FL. These experiences, among others, led Paul to Valencia College where he has been teaching courses in Humanities since August 1998 and Peace Studies since 2011. On the twentieth anniversary of his teaching career, in 2018, Paul took a sabbatical to study civil rights history. He spent 4 months reading books and traveling to several Southern states, going to some of the most significant cities, museums and historical sites related to our history of segregation and the struggle for civil rights. His most recent adventure took place in Rwanda (July 2023) to study the country’s colonial past, the genocide in 1994 and reconciliation, forgiveness and peace efforts over the last 30 years. He continues to listen, read, speak, and learn about these topics out of a genuine need to know and understand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cost of the trip?

The cost of the trip is $2,700.

Fee includes hotels for 5 nights, single occupancy, breakfast for 5 mornings, dinner for 4 nights, ground transportation, fees for exhibits and museums, tips, group facilitation, and a pre-trip dinner gathering. Fee does not include transportation to and from Memphis, Tennessee where the trip begins and ends.

What's my application status?

Due to limited spaces on the trip, we are accepting applications from those interested in joining us. Applications are currently open for general admission. 

The application closes February 28, 2025. 

Payment will be due upon notification of your acceptance. Payment installment plans are also available.

Are there scholarships?

Partial scholarships are available. The funding pool is limited and would ideally go to people who need it the most. Please reach out to Celena Ziems at Celena@peacejusticeinstitute.org for details. 

Are there any age restrictions?

The age requirement is 16 years old. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Read about 2024's trip!

The inaugural 2024 Civil Rights History Tour was featured in the current edition of the PJI Journal. Read it here.

Trip Application

Contact Information

Please email Ann Hoff, PJI’s Operations Manager, at ann@peacejusticeinstitute.org with any questions.

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