For three impactful days, 11 members of the Washtenaw community – five Jewish and White, six Christian and African American – set out to experience the history of Civil Rights, Jim Crow and slavery in the South by visiting Atlanta, Birmingham, crossing over the Edmond Pettus bridge from Selma on the way to ending the trip with two days in Montgomery. The mission was sponsored by the Washtenaw Black-Jewish Coalition and the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor and its Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC). The mission included State Rep. Jimmie Wilson, Jr., NAACP Chair for Ann Arbor Andrew Watson, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor Eileen Freed, and Sydney Powell, the Constituent Services Director for State Senator Sue Shink. The trip was organized by leaders of the Black-Jewish Coalition: Pastor Carnel Richardson of the Metropolitan Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Ypsilanti, and Rabbi Asher Lopatin, JCRC Director. Joining the local group as scholar was Professor Riggins Earl, who lived through the era of Jim Crow and the struggle for Civil Rights, and spent time in jail with the legendary Civil Rights fighter, Rep. John Lewis.
“The trip to the Deep U.S. South with the Coalition of Black and Jewish Unity of Washtenaw County was both refreshing and sobering. My life, ministry, and personal perspective has been permanently impacted by this meaningful experience,” said Rev. Richardson, who was also joined by one of his Assistant Pastors, Renee Hampton. Throughout the trip, Pastor Richardson was called up to say several prayers after participants heard from eye witnesses in the struggle for freedom and justice for African Americans in both Birmingham and Selma, Alabama.
“It was inspiring to be able to hear directly from different folks that were in the heart of the civil rights movement and how everyone’s story plays a small part, but collectively adds up to a movement that has inspired generations forever,” Representative Jimmie Wilson, Jr. reflected.
Jewish Federation CEO Eileen Freed has long wanted to have a mission to the South where African American and Jewish American participants could reflect together on the struggle for freedom and equality. As she writes:
“One of the most impactful experiences of the trip was hearing directly from people who were at the center of the struggle for civil rights. Sarah Collins Rudolph, who survived the 16th Street Church bombing in Birmingham in which her older sister and three other young girls were killed, shared her story and impact of the bombing on her life. In Selma, we were entranced by the story of one of the children – now 76 years old – who were present on Bloody Sunday, when law enforcement attacked marchers on the Edmund Pettis Bridget. And throughout the three days, we were accompanied by Professor Riggins Earl, a classmate, friend, and fellow foot soldier of John Lewis, C.T. Vivian, and other luminaries of this important fight. Professor Earl’s insights and stories added richness and context to understanding the sights we were seeing and stories we were hearing.
“The opportunity to witness these sights and stories together with members of the Black-Jewish Solidarity Coalition was particularly meaningful. Our honest conversations resulted in new understandings of what drives and challenges each of our communities and the need for us to work together against those forces that seek to divide us and marginalize us further in our society.”
This mission will hopefully be only the beginning for the Black and Jewish communities to work together for freedom, justice and equity for all, while also respecting the values of each community and being supportive of each other – ushering in a new era of allyship that can transform America.
Crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge to feel the power of the great marches of the Civil Right era.
Sarah Collins Rudolph addresses the group in Birmingham, Alabama.
The itinerary included several museums and powerful outdoor spaces created by Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, which helped bring home, in a powerful and tragic way, the horrors of slavery, Jim Crow and continued efforts to keep the Black community down and disenfranchised. The sad, bloody history in this country deeply touched everyone on the mission.
Rabbi Asher Lopatin with Prof. Riggins Earl, who lived through the era of the heroism of Rosa Parks and other fighters for equal rights.
At the Monument to Freedom, over 100,000 last names of newly freed formerly enslaved people are listed from the 1870 census. Guides help visitors, such as Ypsilanti’s Rev. Renee Hampton, find where her family’s name is on the huge memorial.
Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, with trip participant Andre Watson.