By Blythe Tyrone
In March, 25 OLLI members embarked on the Civil Rights Journey to Montgomery and Selma, an immersive travel experience that brought participants face-to-face with places central to the struggle for civil rights in America. Through visits to the Equal Justice Initiative's (EJI) Legacy Sites, historic churches, museums, memorials, and the Edmund Pettus Bridge, travelers explored not only the history of racial injustice but also its enduring relevance today.
While each participant brought their own life experiences and perspectives to the journey, several themes emerged again and again: the power of place, the importance of confronting history honestly, the value of learning together, and the responsibility to carry those lessons forward.
For many travelers, the EJI's museums and memorials reshaped their understanding of American history. Marilyn Piper and Craig Costello, retired educators from Washington state, reflected that "the depth of the information learned on this trip showed us how limited our learning up to this point had been. Visiting Montgomery and Selma on this tour expanded and deepened our understanding of American history incredibly."
Others found themselves returning home with a renewed sense of personal responsibility. Patti Rieser, who was making her second visit to the EJI sites, shared that this time she was able to move beyond absorbing information and instead "took in more of the weight and magnitude of this pivotal piece of our country's history." She left, she said, "even more aware of my responsibility as a privileged white woman to work for justice, peace, and equity."
For John M. Robinson, who grew up in nearby Tuskegee during segregation, the journey became unexpectedly personal. While he initially thought of the tour as something primarily for his wife, the experience "brought back vivid memories and an overwhelming appreciation for the sacrifices and bravery of those who paved the way for the changes that eventually came." His reflection also underscored the urgency of the present: "The tour is a wakeup call and a trigger for me and each of us to find a way to do our part in this day and time to stand up for equal justice."
The trip's visits to Selma also left a lasting impression on many participants. Wanda Rushing described walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge as "following the footsteps of those whose bravery on Bloody Sunday convinced Congress to enact the Voting Rights Act of 1965." She wrote that the experience "brought us closer to each other and reminded us that the arc of the moral universe continues to be long and bending toward justice."
For Chris Abrons, one image has remained ever-present since returning home. "There has not been a day since our trip to Montgomery that I have not taken time to think of the frightening kidnapping of Africans from their homes," she reflected. Remembering the unimaginable suffering endured during slavery, she concluded simply: "The courage, strength, resilience and endurance of the enslaved people have made them my heroes."
Participants also spoke about the value of experiencing history together. Joe Woolley praised both the trip leaders and the group's size, noting that it "retained the opportunities to process and share in a doable way, even for an introvert like me." Others highlighted the sense of community that developed over the course of the journey. Marilyn Piper and Craig Costello recalled that the trust fostered by the trip leaders allowed the group to engage honestly with difficult topics while also sharing moments of laughter and connection. By the end of the trip, the journey had become as much about learning from one another as learning from the places they visited.
The Civil Rights Journey to Montgomery and Selma demonstrated the power of lifelong learning beyond the classroom. By engaging directly with history, participants returned home with new perspectives, lasting friendships, and a deeper commitment to understanding our shared past and shaping a more just future.
If this journey inspired you, consider joining a future OLLI at Duke travel experience. Whether exploring history, culture, art, or the natural world, OLLI travel programs offer opportunities to learn alongside fellow members, engage with expert guides, and return home with insights that last long after the trip has ended.
Learn more about OLLI at Duke and become a member at learnmore.duke.edu/olli