By Joanne Chung
Pancakes, bacon, and eggs were a delicious scent to wake up to as I rapidly downed breakfast before boarding the bus at 6:30 am this morning. The smooth road and dark sky soothed my mind as I patiently sat on a cushioned seat and fell asleep for approximately 3 hours. Waking up, to my disbelief, I was no longer in Virgina and I was able to sink in the piercing sun and blue skies in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Outside what felt like a casual, retro diner, were the bolded words, F. W. Woolworth Company, in gold – contrasted with a warm red. This was the International Civil Rights Center and Museum which has been, by far, one of the most eye-opening museums to get a tour of simply due to its effectiveness in amplifying empathy of visitors in America’s ongoing injustice in politics, events, and in human lives. The engaging tour guide elaborated on the myriad of de jure and de facto segregation, from sundown towns to the partitioning of “whites” and “colored people” on public transportation. I was lucky enough to get a full glimpse of the famous lunch counter from the Greensboro sit-in in addition to seeing one of the mere dozen vintage Coca-Cola machines that are on display in the nation – with two distinguished sides for whites and non-whites to purchase separately, at different costs. Heavy in activism, historical information, and emotion, our tour group stared at a wall of arrested citizens, with people of various backgrounds and races, towards the end of the tour. As my time at the interactive museum came to a close, my group parted from the tour guide, who was extremely knowledgeable and moving, and I smiled at the Richard Wright novels in the bookstore (I love his work).
My morning in North Carolina was enlightening and the transition to a warm, sunny afternoon in Atlanta reminded me of the shifts from the spring to summer seasons. Hitting the road, I ate a delectable sub in addition to completing some work and sleeping on the bus for approximately 6 hours until we arrived in Atlanta, Georgia. Waking up to the bus parked next to Paschal’s Restaurant, I saw a lively group of adults and kids stepping out. The food at Paschal’s Restaurant was tasty and I grabbed a plate with chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, salad, salmon, and pasta. Speaking with Dean Livingston, the people at my table and I reflected on our time at the museums and memorials.
After spending approximately an hour talking with my roommates at the hotel, all the students gathered at the lobby to get to the SkyView Atlanta ride. It was so exciting to get on the ferris wheel with Manouka, Nia, Todd, and Dak! Seeing the view of Atlanta at night was incredible and I was elated at the sight of such a vibrant city.