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July 28, 2003 "Walking up and down aisles of a church once shaken by a minister who changed the course of history…
Today I was
reminded that Dr. King was a human. Yes, that is a simple revelation,
but as a young child, like many other American children taught in
school that King was the best Black American to have ever lived,
I was instilled with a misplaced sense of pride. You see, I was
proud because I thought that he possessed some kind of superhuman
power that caused him to transcend the perils of life in America
during the civil rights era. As I get older, I realize more and
more that in actuality it was the fact that he did not soar over
the problems but faced them head on and was forced to confront them
as any other human that makes Dr. King such a great human. He is
revered because he acted as many other unknown people all over the
world. Treading in the very footsteps once taken by Dr. King reminds
me not only of his humanity but of the fact that in every life there
is endless possibility and great value. In a discussion aboard the
bus today, some students discussed, despite the functional nature
of social stratification, the importance of the genuine interaction
between groups of people in different walks of life. While the complications
that come along with social stratification may not be easily eradicated
from a given society, seeking understanding about people in other
cultures, socioeconomic levels, races, etc. can help to remove the
complications." "Wow! What a day! Today I believe that everyone learned flexibility is the key in getting the most out of this once in a lifetime experience. On the bus, we watched our first movie: Antz, and to my amazement, the movie was a great introduction to our class. Stratification can be seen in so many ways; however, as we discussed today, I never realized how many different ways there are to approaching social order and its functions in society. When we arrived in Atlanta, a group of us went to Ebenezer Baptist Church, the home church of Martin Luther King, Jr. After listening to several of his powerful speeches, we walked to the Visitor’s Center, which depicted the life and accomplishments of Dr. King. It was here where I realized that this will be a very moving and emotional trip. Watching documentaries of the marches, the mobs, bombings, etc. made me wonder how anyone could feel such hatred for another person without actually knowing them, primarily on the bases of race, class, or gender. I hope this class will help me to be more tolerant of other people, no matter our differences. "
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