Selma 50th

Photo courtesy of The White House

When I first started to hear about the celebrations for the anniversary of the famous Selma to Montgomery march, I was not sure about going. However, it did not take me long to make up my mind. Yea, I would have to take off from work, but you know that I decided a long time ago to not allow my job to control me. So, I booked a flight and the rest is history....

Great nephew, mom, and me waiting in the security line!

We got up early to head over to Selma from Mongomery and that distance is about 54 miles. On that drive, I thought about the Civil Rights Giants making that journey that must have been completing exhausting, physically and emotionally, but I sure hope it was empowering. I would love to hear the conversations that took place on that journey; I sure hope that they laughed a bit....

Arriving in Selma and seeing a sea of people, caused my heart to flutter. We patiently waited in the security line and made it through the gates just as The President was starting his speech:

"Fifty years from Bloody Sunday, our march is not yet finished, but we’re getting closer. Two hundred and thirty-nine years after this nation’s founding our union is not yet perfect, but we are getting closer. Our job’s easier because somebody already got us through that first mile. Somebody already got us over that bridge. When it feels the road is too hard, when the torch we’ve been passed feels too heavy, we will remember these early travelers, and draw strength from their example, and hold firmly the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on [the] wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.”  (Read the entire speech here!)

After the speech, there was nothing like seeing the Presidential Motorcade and The President of The United States crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

After the speech, there was a huge street festival with tons of food, vendors, and even a concert. You know that I love crowds, and this did my heart good.

Ran into the mom of a childhood friend!

Later that night a few of my friends dropped by my nephew's house, and we just happened to get our hands on FREE tickets to see Patti LaBelle in concert. Now, you know that we had been up all day walking, standing, and fellowshipping, BUT how could we pass up a Patti LaBelle Concert?  We figured that this was part of the whole Selma 50 experience.

Patti LaBelle

The day that the President spoke, people were not allowed to cross that famous bridge, but you know that a whole bunch of people and I got up Sunday morning, to go back to Selma, to climb that bridge to pay homage to people who I thought I could not love more, but after this weekend, I do love them more....

I know that Dr. King, Congressman John Lewis and all of the other Civil Rights Giants did not think that they were doing something that would draw thousand to Selma, including The President of the United States. However, they persevered, endured beatings, dogs, and fires hoses... and left an imprint on American History!!! (The following photos were taken from the great world wide web!)

After this incredible weekend, I recommitted myself to soar on wings like an eagle, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint."

It is good to read history, but sometimes it's important to live it!!!