I remember this and I was about the age of my oldest grandson. I grew up in an all white town on the Mississippi River in west central Illinois, a town that had sundown laws. I remember my mother watching the news and talking to us about the terrible unrest afoot in the nation. She worried so much about her good friend from her hometown five miles up the highway. Her friend's family was the only black family in the county. As far north as we were, you could feel the tension in the nation at large and among local people who were starting to recognize the injustices they had contributed to without question for so long. It was events like this which shocked and shamed people into changing their views. That county and town is vastly different now.

We cannot go back. Sometimes I wonder how much young people understand about how close in time they are to the struggles of the civil rights and feminist movements. It wasn't so long ago. And we still fight the injustices and prejudices that bubble just below the surface. We cannot go back. We must hold ground and push forward so that the suffering on the way is not rendered meaningless.

There are times that I feel we have made so much progress and at other times that we have not moved forward an inch.

I have to say that I have some very bright and powerful young people in my family. They are aware and I know that they are not the only ones. We all know them and they are our future. I don't believe that they will let us slip backwards.

the three civil rights workers went missing in Mississippi. Bless their hearts.

I cried my way through The Butler last night and have been talking about it since with my sister.. referring to the last part when Obama wins the Presidency Cindy said.. "I don't think people understand the spiritual healing that goes on because a black President who is smart, eloquent, and has integrity is in charge."

Mahalo from your link, she~

I love Cindy's quote, smart lady.

is very wise.

Feel free to comment.

LA TIMES REVIEW OF "ROAD TO FREEDOM"



Bill Eppridge: Mrs. Chaney and young Ben, James Chaney funeral, Meridian, Mississippi, 1964

http://monroegallery.blogspot.com/2009/11/la-times-review-of-road-to-freedom.html

It was not very long ago at all.

May they rest in peace and may their families find healing.

whom I called my brother and still do, was a recent graduate of Tufts University. A white kid from the Nebraska sticks, at Tufts he became involved in the Civil Rights Movement and was among the volunteers who went to Mississippi to help with voter registration. He was jailed twice and also harassed and beaten, but it only made him more determined to stay and continue the work.

Because of his efforts – and the efforts of many others, both black and white – a spark was lit. When James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were murdered, the spark became a flame.