Power of Music

I have never doubted the power of music to connect and inspire all of us. This morning, in the Ebenezer Baptist Church, the chorus of students from Paine College not only sang their hearts out, but truly immersed themselves in the altruistic and genuinely happy feelings that come with singing heavenly praises. Though I am not Christian, I am a singer and I believe that hearing beautiful music and possessing the ability to sing is Godly in its own way. Just as singing "We Shall Overcome" while walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma was an act of communion for civil rights leaders, I felt a bond to each and every person in the room as we linked arms and sang that very same song in memory of Martin Luther King. Learning about The Civil Rights Movement in this way is so special because I have the opportunity to break down the barriers between myself and those on the trip with me. I am already feeling a sense of security and closeness with my newfound friends and I'm so grateful to share this educational endeavor with them.

Jordyn Seidman

12th Grade, The Park School