Month: March 2020

Spring Break 2020 – Atlanta, GA

This is a continuation from my “Spring Break 2020 – Savannah, GA” post.

Wednesday, March 11th – Advancing to Atlanta

Our lovely MUNDO advisors waited in line an hour before Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room opened for the day. There is always a line. Meanwhile, students explored the area. My small group of friends looked in shops and actually came across SCAD, Savannah College of Art & Design. We went in to see what was accessible to the public, and found out that they had an experience for visitors! It felt like a Disney attraction as we were led through rooms and watched the story of SCAD’s beginnings in animation all over the walls and decorations.

When the entire group was sat down for lunch, we soon discovered why it was so highly reviewed and hailed as one of the best comfort food establishments in Savannah. The meal was phenomenal and filling.

This was the spread for lunch! Refills were available. Dessert came out later: a small dish of peach or apple cobbler with ice cream.

MUNDO departed for Atlanta shortly after lunch and we arrived at our hotel just before 5 PM. That evening, two friends and I ate dinner at Baja Fresh before exploring Georgia Aquarium. This aquarium was worth the price, and I was able to acquire the cheapest possible tickets by purchasing online for the “after 4 PM time slot.” Sometimes, attraction prices change based on the time of attendance! Having spent nearly three hours there and admiring the wonderful aquatic life, my friends and I walked around the Olympic Park nearby. The last activity of the night was a ride on the Skyview Atlanta ferris wheel.

Thursday, March 12th – The Ongoing Fight for Civil & Human Rights

This full day consisted of little free time but involved immense information to be retained and discussed with the rest of the group, as well as beyond. It turns out that Atlanta is the First City of the Civil Rights Movement. Well-known leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Lonnie King Jr., grew up in Atlanta. Activists from all over moved to the area as well, and Sweet Auburn was one of the most prosperous black business districts in the U.S.

In the morning, MUNDO explored a little of the Atlanta History Center. This large institution itself, however, could take an entire day or more to go through and digest, since it is 33 acres. Not only is it a history museum but a research center. Most of us were able to go into a few rooms in the main building.

I first went to “Gatheround: Stories of Atlanta,” to learn more about Atlanta’s past, present, and future. There were stories from individuals hailing from different communities and walks of life. There were sections on immigration (15% of metro Atlanta residents are foreign-born), politics, Southern foodways, transportation, religion, and more. This space acknowledged that humans have been on the land for thousands of years; the Muscogee Creek village of Standing Peachtree called the land home by the mid-1700s. European American settlers forced the indigenous peoples’ removal.

It was interesting to learn that Atlanta has tried to present itself as a city “too busy to hate.”

I learned about fires that destroyed parts of Atlanta neighborhoods. I learned about washerwomen strikes in the 1940s that won the women higher pay and more bargaining power. The strikes marked the first American labor movement for service workers. I saw an interactive screen showing the Atlanta metro area’s growth and various statistics. One of the students was looking at income in the area and comparisons demonstrated by the size of bubbles/circles. I did interact with a voting machine that asked “Does your vote matter?” I pressed the button for “Yes” and lifted the flap to see the scores. At that time, 49 people had voted “Yes” while 40 chose “No.” This was a little surprising to me but I can understand because despite people voting and voicing concerns, structural and systemic change is very difficult to achieve. It is incremental and painstaking at that.

The next exhibit I went to was “Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow.” The exhibit chronicled Black efforts for full inclusion into society from 1865 through World War I. I took on a more somber mood as I read about race riots, lynchings, and countless struggles. I did feel uplifted reading activists’ quotes, such as “Up, up, you mighty race! You can accomplish what you will,” by Marcus Garvey in 1920. This exhibit had information about W.E.B. DuBois, the Great Migration, interracial cooperation, and the contrasts between segregation and Jim Crow in the North and South. It also included artifacts (sheet music, cartoons, post cards) that reinforced stereotypes about Blacks/African Americans. Even to this day, stereotypes are present in different forms. Furthermore, even though Black people won the right to vote, struggles to make it to the ballots exist. In recent news, a Black man had to wait for about seven hours to vote. This is unacceptable.

The states in blue were part of the Union while the red states were part of the Confederacy. Border states is a new term to me, actually. These states did not join the Confederacy and did not declare secession from the Union. For more information on the border states, here is a handy resource:
https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-border-states.htm

The whole group went outside to the Tullie Smith Farm grounds and into the farm house to view the rooms. We saw a magnificent and massive loom. Elsewhere on the grounds were a smoke house, a detached kitchen, blacksmith quarters, and a garden. A shelter for sheep and goats were also nearby. We heard about the difference between a farm and a plantation; farms have less than 19 enslaved people, but in reality, actual numbers can be far greater than the ones reported.

We all walked over to the Swan House, a mansion built for entertaining guests. Affluence was apparent by the building design and furnishings.

After lunch, MUNDO wandered through the World of Coca Cola, which was incredibly fun. Upon entrance, each visitor received a small Coca Cola can. We learned about the history of this iconic brand and how the secret formula is safely guarded. We saw different bottle shapes and the different brands that encompass Coca Cola Co. We even saw the process of bottling the beverage. The best part was getting the chance to taste 100 flavors of Coca Cola beverages from around the world! I could not get to every continent and sample every one of their drink choices. I did try all of the ones from Asia, Latin America, and Europe and left with a few favorites in mind. Some drinks were very carbonated. I liked the fruity ones the best. This experience was fun but hectic because people darted around to get drinks into their cups. The group exited by entering the gift shop, where I picked up a few souvenirs.

This mural faces the entrance of the museum.

Following that experience was a self-guided tour of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Some people in the group engaged with the lunch counter activity. I sat on a stool and slipped on headphones. According to the counter instructions, I placed my hands on the counter and closed my eyes. I could not finish hearing the full audio clip, because the voices coming from the headphones felt like the people were right by me in real life. My hands moved away from the counter and the sounds disappeared. It was very distressing to me. Others in the group did complete it and reported that the chairs shook and that they heard glass breaking. When sit-ins happened, mean onlookers would actually physically touch and verbally harass the peaceful protestors. Opponents of equality would shake the chairs and intimidate the protestors, many of whom were students. As I went through the museum, I learned of new people involved in the Movement.

 

This installation allows visitors to turn the blocks and view the story of the individual pictured. These are some of the people who died (were killed) in their work towards equality. Many of the perpetrators did not face consequences, or if they did, it was lenient. Law enforcement also could not be counted on to uphold justice.

 

This wall displayed different features of civil and human rights: security, democracy, justice, education, fairness.

This is a map of political freedom. At a glance, the yellow means free, orange means partly free, and red means not free. The content is from Freedom House, from its annual report on “Freedom in the World.”

I liked the section about human rights and how information was displayed. I watched short videos of people talking about their experiences with human rights violations and oppression. I glanced at the current dictators in the world. I read stories of activists. I learned about ethical footprints – where do the items and foods I use come from? I want to use more fair-trade and ethically sourced products, even if that means paying more for them. An idea I had from this section was that MUNDO could have a meeting/workshop on the digital world and what freedom looks like, such as censorship, dissent, misinformation, and disinformation.

My friend and I were the last ones to leave the museum since we took time in the gift shop. We returned to the hotel to change our attire for the alumni dinner. We bussed to Mary Mac’s Tea Room. MUNDO happily hosted two Ohio State alumni. The alumna had graduated in 2015 with a Public Health degree and currently works for the Center for Disease Control & Prevention. She had earned her Master of Public Health at Emory. The alumnus had graduated in 2004 from Fisher College and has been in Atlanta for over a decade now.

 

We had a lovely time talking with the two alumni over a meal.

Friday, March 13th – Serve, Learn, Lead

Our morning was spent at The King Center, a resource center and community institution established by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. This National Historic Site offers history and contemporary information and activities to challenge people to think and reflect. It is not just one building but multiple, so this center can also take days to absorb.

Several people, myself included, toured MLK Jr’s childhood home for about 30-40 minutes. I learned that for his upbringing, his parents encouraged him to talk about matters such as race at the dinner table. The park ranger who was our guide informed us that young Martin did not like doing the dishes, but enjoyed scooping coal in the cellar.

Six of us had the wonderful opportunity to tour the home of MLK Jr. Sadly, tours are first come first serve the day of and tickets are not reservable.

The group had to grab lunch in a hurry because we followed with volunteering after the King Center. We participated in community service at Open Hand Atlanta for three hours. The organization’s meal programs serve vulnerable low-income clients and deliver fresh, medically/nutritionally-tailored meals to homes.

To prepare for this volunteer experience, we discussed Open Hand Atlanta and food access in the group Pre-Travel Meeting. We all adhered to the requirements of wearing closed-toe shoes, long pants, and long sleeves, and no jewelry or piercings. We also put on hair nets and those of us in the group who scooped food also had face nets and sleeve protectors. Others helped gather meals for individuals. I also placed the appropriate number of requested beverages (milk and juice cartons) by each meal pile. A few individuals were tasked with working in a cooler. Near the end of the shift, we boxed the meals and taped them off; they were then ready to be sent to people! While I do not know how many people we helped, I am sure that it makes a difference. Open Hand staff stated that many volunteer groups had canceled with them, so they were appreciative that we could help out. Likewise, we were thankful to learn about this organization and aid their efforts.

 

MUNDO was thankful to serve the Atlanta community and help provide meals to seniors.

We discussed these reflection questions on the bus ride back to the hotel:

-MLK is a prominent figure in American history. Did you learn something new about him? If you did, do you feel like that should have been taught to you in school? Why or why not?
-MLK was criminalized and not as revered as he is now during the time that he was alive. Did you learn anything about that today? Why do you think that changed? What does this change mean for accountability of our past as Americans?
-What is the difference between voluntourism and actual service? Do you think that this service actually benefits the community of Atlanta?
-Why is this community service necessary in addressing economic disparities in Atlanta? What did you observe at this site, in terms of visible race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status? Does this reflect the general population of Atlanta?
-Pair & share: Research or recall a person who played a role in the Civil Rights Movement who has not been widely recognized.

Saturday, March 14th – This is Just the Beginning

Our group checked out by 11 AM and we stored our luggage and bags on the bus. We had the morning to explore Atlanta for the final time before we left for Columbus at 2:30 PM. A majority of the group traveled via ride-share to Ponce City Market, with plenty of shops and food stalls to satisfy us. I purchased from a sustainable home goods store that supports fair-trade and hand-made items. I also supported another local, small business by buying candles. After buying some pork dumplings at the market, I went with friends to The Varsity for lunch. The Varsity was recommended to us by the MUNDO coordinator, and it was a great last meal in the city. The food is very affordable and I got my food within a minute of ordering; that is how fast it is!

https://thevarsity.com/

After lunch, my friends and I joined the rest of the group on the bus, and we made our return to Columbus, Ohio. We made a stop for dinner, and then one more stop to use a public restroom.

Reflection questions:
-How will you use what you learned in the future? What can you take back to Ohio State?
-Do you feel as though your schooling has taught you enough or prepared you enough to have these conversations? Why do you think that you haven’t had these conversations?
-How has this experience changed you?

Sunday, March 15th –
We dropped participants off at Ohio Union and Archer House. I asked in the group chat for people to ‘like’ my message if they made it to their homes/residences safely. I wanted to make sure that they all were safe.

Overall, I appreciated my experience planning and participating in this spring break trip! I continue to add to my knowledge, which I will use to be a better advocate and ally. I learned firsthand the additional duties of an Action Team Leader and enjoyed it all. In fact, I will continue as an Action Team Leader for MUNDO for the 2020-2021 school year. Soon, a feedback form will be sent to the spring break experience participants to get their insights on the trip. I can already think of changes and considerations for future trips: making sure that we email students with their @buckeyemail.osu.edu (just using @osu.edu might not get through to them), supporting the action team members more, and starting and/or ending on campus at times that will make everyone feel safer (arriving back at midnight can lead to anxiety and uneasiness regarding how to get home, because buses may not run at that time, and some students may not want to use ride-share services). This was a great spring break experience, and we were fortunate enough to get to see attractions right before they closed down to keep people safe and healthy during this public health pandemic.

Spring Break 2020 – Savannah, Georgia

I went on my last undergraduate trip with the amazing student organization MUNDO. We took a road trip down to the South for spring break 2020. Our group of 15 people (12 students and three staff mentors) went to Savannah, Georgia for a few days. For the second half of the week, we explored Atlanta. The purpose of this entire experience was to expand our awareness about the history of colonial cities and their role in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the continuous struggles for equity in the United States. We became armed with greater knowledge and greater confidence in ourselves to create social change, which can start by holding space and conversations. Our group examined social justice issues and engaged in critical thought and discussions throughout the week. It was truly fascinating and as some of us say in colloquial terms, “mind-blowing.”

Saturday, March 7th – The Road Trip


Everyone arrived at the three campus pick-up locations on time. The group was able to depart for Georgia before 8:00 AM. The drive down South was peaceful. I worked on an assignment the whole time and was pleasantly surprised and thankful that the bus WiFi was very cooperative. It allowed me to listen to music too! We made a stop for lunch in Virginia and I tried Bojangles for the first time. I did not try their famous chicken and biscuits, but I ate a grilled chicken sandwich with deliciously seasoned fries. We continued and arrived in Savannah, Georgia around dinner-time. Several of us got food at an Asian take-out restaurant called Tokyo Café. I was excited to support a small business that is not only locally-owned, but also run by people of color. The area we were in had a plethora of hotels and restaurants, both chain and local. It was interesting to see Spanish moss trees everywhere. That night, I flipped through several brochures in the hotel to help me determine what I wanted to do in my free time.

Sunday, March 8th – Settling into Savannah

People ate breakfast in the hotel before we met up outside in the hotel parking lot around 9:35 AM. Breakfast options included make-your-own waffles, sausage patties, fried eggs, sliced cheese, and boiled eggs. Fresh fruits (apples, oranges, bananas) along with a few cereal options and oatmeal were also available. We addressed the indigenous peoples of the land we were currently visiting: the Muskogee (Creek), Guale, and Yamasee tribes. One of the staff mentors said to the group, “These tribes continue to thrive on this land today, but we acknowledge the genocide experienced by their ancestors in the past and the emotional labor necessary to continue the legacy.”

We boarded the bus and made our way towards the Historic District of Savannah. Lining the sidewalks on each side were trees of Spanish moss that draped down towards us. The air felt fresh and less polluted while the atmosphere felt more relaxed and carefree. When we reached Chippewa Square, we were given about 20 minutes to roam the streets before our Savannah Walking Tour would begin to give us an orientation to the area. Some of us stopped into a bookstore to peruse the books. Not many shops were open at 10 AM. Our tour guide was an older man with a well-rehearsed script and the willingness to answer any questions. We learned about how Savannah was founded and other neat facts. This laid down a foundation for us about how Savannah came to be about and events that took place there that shape life today. I learned that Georgia was named after King George. I also learned that churches and bars are usually in close proximity to each other. This tour was about two hours long and we went through a handful of the 22 squares in Savannah.

A peer shared her thought out loud about how these stories of the individuals (often military-involved men) who get honored by monuments can be glorified, and a staff mentor felt so proud from hearing this analysis. Why are certain individuals displayed and remembered in a city’s history? What traits do they have in common? I appreciated hearing my peers think about anything and everything.

We did not really have time for a sit-down lunch. Some people brought snacks with them. This is an important tip for MUNDO experiences: pack a snack. The guided tour of the First African Baptist Church was incredibly impactful. It was constituted in December 1777 and is the oldest continuous Black church in North America. As visitors sat in the pews, a young man in his 20s was our guide and he did not explain everything explicitly to us but allowed us to make the connections for ourselves.

Students and two staff mentors (far right) proudly pose in front of the church. Our hour-long tour transported to us through history and transformed our thinking.

Our guide told us the story of George Leile, an African American man who was enslaved and later freed, and who baptized fellow enslaved individuals. Reverend Leile established Baptist churches in Jamaica and people in his Congregation established FABC in Savannah. Words that came to my mind from the tour information: intentionality, purpose, foresight, and vision. It dawned on me how resilient and resourceful enslaved and free African Americans were and their intentionality behind the church design and objects: stained-glass windows, pews, floor, etc. They were more intelligent than they were made out to be by their slave-holders and the public. 

For more of the history, please see this site: https://firstafricanbc.com/history.php

Additional information that made an impression on me was that the church had a barrel roof; the walls and ceiling met in rounded corners to allow sound to travel so that someone’s voice can be heard anywhere in the room without a microphone. In the basement, a small part of the floor had holes, to let the Georgia pine wood breathe due to moisture, and to allow people resting underneath breathe as well. The FABC housed people fleeing to freedom as part of the Underground Railroad. The people associated with this church also resisted white supremacy and colonist forces in that the cross symbol used was an Ethiopian cross, not European. Subtle, but significant.

It was also interesting that the church’s 17 pastors have all been black men, and a number of them were mixed race and light-skinned. An important conversation matter is how lighter skin complexion can come with greater privileges and acceptance; colonialism and colorism are part of the equation.

We often hear the expression that knowledge and/or consciousness is power, and this rang true for me because of this tour. Enslaved peoples were seen as threatening to the status quo if they knew how to read and write. They were not allowed to read or write or even possess writing instruments or learning materials. The guide drew correlations to world history, when during the Holocaust, books were burned. A culture is at risk of dying if materials such as books and artifacts are erased. Still, people learn how to resist and persist. African Americans picked up English throughout the years.

The tour guide ended his time with us by imparting the phrase and African-American proverb, “Each one, teach one.”  The message here is to not sit and stew with newfound knowledge, but share it with others. Sometimes ignorance or lack of knowledge about a topic does not mean that someone is unintelligent or uninterested. Rather, it can be because no one is willing to tell somebody else. Taking the time to teach somebody something new can pique their interest and spark that desire to learn more.

After the tour, the group met up outside to reflect on our experience. Some of us shared that we did not expect to learn so much from a tour of a church. It actually opened our eyes to a lot regarding enslavement and the legacy of enslaved African American ancestors. We had two hours of free time in the area, and a group of us ate pizza right by the church. We were at the edge of the Savannah City Market, which is a great tourist spot. I enjoyed sampling pralines.

MUNDO opens space for everyone to see and hear each other.

Back at the hotel, I took a quiz for my online courses. Then I went with two friends to walk around the area. We stopped by Walgreens, ate mini glazed donuts at Krispy Kreme, walked past Yamaha, explored Publix, almost went into Staples but found it closed, stopped into Amigo’s Latin Grocery (actually a small family-owned restaurant, not a grocery store), and went straight into Carey Hilliard’s for dinner.

I will carry a backpack with me to hold more items and prevent my one shoulder from being overburdened and sore. Additionally, I will keep my journal on hand to jot down the information provided and insights developed from the tours!

Monday, March 9th – Tours Galore

In the morning, MUNDO had some free time for us to explore. I ate leftover fried rice for breakfast. Then several peers and I took ride-shares (Lyft, Uber) to the Savannah Botanical Gardens. We spent close to an hour looking at trees. One of us had wandered off into the hiking trails so the rest of us went off to find her. This excursion aided my mental well-being since it was a peaceful environment that felt secluded from technology.

Half of us decided to immerse ourselves in nature. Not many flora was in bloom but it was still nice to see and be around the grounds.

In the afternoon, the entire group went on a Juliette Gordon Low birthplace tour. Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts in 1912 to encourage girls to discover, lead, and be their best selves. Being in Girl Scouts would also promote girls’ confidence, character, and courage. We learned about Gordon Low’s upbringing and her family. Basically in every room, there was a painting and/or sculpture of a family member; some were created by Gordon Low herself, or by her relatives. She married a multimillionaire, and the privilege and resources that come along with that did play a role in her later success.

We interacted with the table in the library room of the house.

Find out more at: http://www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org/en/about/about-girl-scouts-of-the-usa.html

Free time was scheduled for the rest of the afternoon. Many of us went to Tybee Beach, about 20 minutes away. We took Lyfts and Ubers to get there, and we spent a few hours frolicking on the sand and dipping our feet into the water. One student read a book and another took the time to look for shells. Later, the beach group ate dinner in the area before ride-sharing to the Ghost Tour location.

As evening set in, MUNDO did a Ghost Tour, which was thrilling yet terrifying. We rode on a trolley with a narrator/storyteller who shared some stories/legends. We stopped at the Andrew Low house and then Perkin’s and Son’s Ship Chandlery. The latter stop was truly something different.

We traveled via trolley and made two major stops. The seating was comfortable. The gnats in the air were not.


Tuesday, March 10th – Power of People

In the morning, the group did a small discussion before exploring the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum. I learned that Savannah’s Civil Rights Movement differed from other movements in Southern cities. According to the museum, “…the movement in Savannah was fueled with home grown passion. It was fully organized and implemented by local African American citizens, the victims of the laws which gave people of color second class status. Outstanding leadership in the local adult and youth branches of the NAACP, the courage and eagerness of Savannah’s youth and the wisdom of local elders combined to make the quest for equal rights in Savannah, truly, a movement from within.”

From the museum’s welcome documentary and displays, I learned more about Savannah’s store boycotts that endured for 16 months! The substantial economic effects included a six percent decrease in retail sales and ultimately resulted in white business owners to start integrating their workforces. Slogans used during the 1960s included, “Don’t Shop Jim-Crow! We Will Not Shop Jim-Crow! We Must Not Shop Jim-Crow!” I learned more about the role of the Savannah branch of the NAACP. It also became clearer to me that sit-ins escalated into extreme discomfort, emotionally and physically. People would yell at the brave individuals who sat down and asserted that they deserved to be served and treated with equality. I also found a list of sit-in rules to follow. The last rule stated, “Remember love and nonviolence,” and I cannot imagine how hard it must have been to practice back in that era, which does not feel so far behind us.

Sit-in participants follow these rules while at lunch counters.

MUNDO had a few hours of break for lunch and free time. Four peers and I had a conversation over Wendy’s and then walked over to a cat café, where we made reservations. After that relaxing time, we joined the rest of the group for the museums.

For about 10 minutes, in two subgroups, we reflected over a few questions/prompts before proceeding into The Telfair Museums and Jepson Center, which contain a vast collection of artwork. There was artwork made by enslaved individuals. One of them was David Drake “Dave the Potter” (American, c. 1801-1870s). We looked at his alkaline glazed stoneware, just one of the thousands of vessels he made as a potter. “He signed hundreds of them and inscribed dozens with poems and verses.” The description also read that he was a “rare literate man,” which did raise some thoughts by members of our group. We also looked at impressionist paintings and sculptures.

We then had a special tour of the Owens-Thomas House estate. The tour guide did an excellent job at explaining the history of the house, which had a separate building designated the “slave quarters.” We saw what it was like, and how about a dozen people had no other choice but to live in such a cramped space. We learned about haint blue, which was painted around the quarters to resemble the sea that ghosts cannot cross, in Gullah culture. The Gullah are African Americans who live in the Lowcountry region of the U.S. states of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. They have their own language as well.

These are some of the names of enslaved peoples that were recovered, and the empty planks are for those whose names could not be recovered. George Owens enslaved almost 400 people on his plantation, according to the plaque text.

This plaque informed of the power behind words and suggests that people choose wording carefully because of the meaning(s) and context.

The text says:
Words have power.
They express meanings, ideas, and relationships. They impact how we relate to the past and to one another.
As we share this history, we strive to use words that are empathetic to those whose history has been marginalized. For example, we use phrases like enslaved woman, rather than slave. The noun slave implies she was, at her core, a slave. The adjective enslaved reveals that though in bondage, bondage was not her core existence.
Furthermore, she was enslaved by the actions of another. Therefore, we use terms like enslaver, rather than master, to indicate one’s effort to exert power over another. You may hear other phrases, like slave labor camp or escapee, rather than plantation or runaway. These reinforce the idea of people’s humanity rather than the conditions forced upon them.

To end the evening on a more comforting note, the group headed to the famous Leopold’s Ice Cream. This place has seen patrons for over 100 years, and is one of the best ice cream parlors in the city.

Please see the next blog post to read about what happens next for the MUNDO spring break experience group, in Atlanta, Georgia!