Chase visited the National Civil Rights Museum with his grandmother Dr. Antoinette Harrell

National Civil Rights Museum
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

"A visit to the National Civil Rights Museum was the perfect way for my grandson Chase's homeschool history class to learn about the Civil Rights Movement. As part of his studies, he was studying Plessy v. Ferguson.  A mixed-race man named Homer Plessy purposefully boarded a whites-only train car in New Orleans. A citation was issued for violating Louisiana's Separate Car Act of 1980, which requires railroad accommodations to be equal by separate." 

Several discussions about Jim Crow laws were sparked by this. He learned a lot about that period from reading and viewing short films about the movement. On board the bus that reenacted Rosa Park, he was told to move to the rear of the bus. He was captivated by this history field trip. As he read the historic signs in front of the Lorraine Hotel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, I watched him.  He stood watching and reading instantly. He stood watching and reading intensely. His intense focus indicated a deep engagement and concentration. It was as though Chase desired to fully immerse himself in the experience. Whatever the reason, his desire to fully immerse himself in the experience revealed a hunger for connection and understanding of a difficult time in our history. While driving home, he expressed some of his thoughts and asked questions. As he pondered these questions, he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility to learn from the past. He also wanted to contribute to a better future because of all the sacrifices others made for him. Not to mention those who gave their lives so he could live a better life. 

Chase at the National Civil Rights Museum
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

During our visit to the Freedom Rider Bus, he learned how the bus was targeted by a mob targeted against
civil rights activists protesting against racial segregation. This history field trip helped him learn many history lessons that he was not taught in class. The history field trip to the National Civil Rights Museum had a profound impact on Chase's understanding of the Civil Rights Movement. Through immersive experiences, such as reenactments and exploring historic sites, he gained a deeper appreciation for the struggles and sacrifices made by activists during that time. This hands-on learning experience brought the history lessons to life and left a lasting impression on Chase's education.