The best night

Remembering history. We started off our day at the place that started the civil right movement in Money, Mississippi. Money, Mississippi is were a 14 year old name Emmett Till was killed. Once we arrived in Money Mississippi it was a very quiet and it look just like a zombie town. It was like the left over of a once vibrant city. Our while purpose of this to Money, Mississippi was to visit the store that Emmett Till went to. When we arrived to the site there wasn't much to see. Trees and weeds consumed the store if it wasn't for the sign that was outside of it I would have thought that it was just old building. Seeing this site was very sad and heart breaking. It was sad and heart breaking to see a historical place like this was to not even to protect from the outside elements. But then next door there was a house and gas station in perfect condition. Seeing these two places made me wonder why one was better then the other? What does that tell about the community? I came to the conclusion that this part of history is something that the community didn't want to have the same reminder of this low part of history. After, leaving this sad place we went to a more up beat place. We want to Simmons high school. Compared to Cristo Rey high school this school is bigger but is not up to date. When I walked into the school is was somewhat dirty. I began to observe the lobby there were cameras everywhere. Also, in the lobby along with their awards and trophies there were posters that were talking about pregnancy prevention. After seeing these things I had all these preconceived ideas that the students most be horrible and ratchet, but when I walked and into the the library to greet the students they were just like us kind and nice. After greeting the students we took a tour of the school. All along the the walls were picture of graduating classes before. Every classroom door had been decorated and had a quote on each one. And it just wasn't a high but a middle class too. Two of my tour guides told me that there mother works at the school. When they said this it made me think that their school community is just like a big extended family and that's how they act towards everyone. We bonded with the students there we taught them dance and words that we use too. This part of the day thus far was the best. Later that day we arrived in Memphis, Tennessee. Once we was there we went to the Lorraine motel museum. Here I learned more about the Martin Luther King Jr. in his life and more of what he did in the civil rights movement. Also in the museum it also tells about other activist like Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, etc. Across from the museum was another museum that how's into detail about MLK killer. I found out a lot of things about the shooter, James Earl Ray. We ended the night on Beale St. When we first arrived there the street with melodies of blues. It was full of bright lights that you could see from a mile away. As I was walking down the street I didn't know which way to look because of the shows and different places. I really enjoyed myself with my new friends. This was one of the best nights.

Amber Smiley

12^th grade, Cristo Rey