Holiday’s

Civil Rights Memorial

“But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”

~ Amos 5: 24 ~

It was dusk when we arrived, at our day’s destination.  For some time, I had wanted to see this Memorial in person, and worried with the setting sun would deny me the opportunity.  The downtown streets were close to deserted and we worried about where to park; as I got out of the car, a policeman smiled at me, and waved me over, he must have felt my hesitation, due to the hour.  But this Memorial is always open, and visitors are welcomed.

Located in Montgomery, Alabama, across the street from the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Civil Rights Memorial is “ A circular black granite table records the names of the martyrs and chronicles the history of the movement in lines that radiate like the hands of a clock.  Water emerges from the table’s center and flows evenly across the top.  On a curved black granite wall behind the table is engraved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s well-known paraphrase of Amos 5:24 – We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

The Memorial was designed by Maya Lin, who also designed the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, in Washington, DC; and is as effectively executed.

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church

Organized 1877

“The second black Baptist Church in Montgomery.  First pastor was Rev. C.O. Boothe.  Present structure built in 1885.  Designed by Pelham J. Anderson: built by William Watkins, a member of the congregation.

Many prominent black citizens of Montgomery have been members.  Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as pastor (1954-1960).  Montgomery bus boycott organized here December 2, 1955.”

The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church

Alabama State Capitol, where the voting rights march ended in 1965; earlier, on February 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis took the oath of office, becoming President of the Confederacy

http://www.splcenter.org/civil-rights-memorial

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

This entry was posted on January 19, 2015 at 12:01 am and is filed under Holiday's, SlideShow. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.