Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, America had failed to make good on its promise of equality to all citizens. African Americans had been discriminated against and segregated from whites, and in many parts of the country they were subordinate to whites.

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee pays homage to this part of our history.

Students in the US/World History II class were given the chance to go and see the National Civil Rights Museum and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis. US/World History II teachers Mark Bayles, Paul Hoelscher and Rick Kordenbrock helped plan the trip.

The US/World History II class studies the civil rights movement in the classroom, and the teachers believed students would learn even more if they could visit museums on the topic and crucial sights that shaped the movement.

“It was really cool to see the National Civil Rights Museum after having studied the civil rights movement in class,” sophomore Bianca Vannucci said.

The experience also allowed students to gain more knowledge than they otherwise would have by just sitting in the classroom.

“I feel that this trip was more in-depth than what we learned in class because we got to physically see things that happened fifty years ago,” sophomore Kendal Freeman said. “And the way the museum was set up, it almost felt like you were there.”

The National Civil Rights Museum and the vast amount of information it covers impressed many of the students and teachers.

“I think the museum itself was very educational because it covers a lot of African American history,” Kordenbrock said. “The focus being the civil rights movement, it has so much information it’s almost overwhelming.”

The museum on civil rights was able to give the students a much more knowledge on the civil rights movement, but it also touched and moved them emotionally.

“[The Civil Rights Museum] was such a moving experience because you got to stand and look at the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. fell when he was shot, and you can imagine back to that day,” Kordenbrock said. “I mean, if you’re not moved by that you’re probably not human because that was a powerful experience.”

The students were also able to visit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and learn about the history of soul music. The small record studio changed the world of music, and it also changed the role of African Americans in music.

“It was really cool to see the Stax Museum because it was where so much music started,” sophomore Isabella Jacobs said.

Although students loved the trip and the knowledge they gained from it, many felt that the 24-hour voyage was too short.

“Looking back at the trip now, it feels like I was on the bus the whole time,” Jacobs said. “It was just so short. But it was still was very fun.”

Others felt that the trip should have incorporated more activities to further their experience.

“Maybe next year they can have another museum lined up because we finished early and got back really early,” Freeman said.

Students believed a great part of the trip was the culture and style of Memphis that you can only learn about if there, and wanted even more time to understand it.

“I wish we got more time to walk around Memphis and get a feel for it on our own,” Jacobs said.

The teachers planning the trip have already begun to think of ways to change the trip for next year. They hope to lengthen it and add more educational experiences.

“We may make it an additional day next year,” Kordenbrock said. “And maybe go to Graceland.”

Although students and teachers would make changes to the trip, they enjoyed it and believe it is a great trip and that students should continue to participate.

“More people should go next year,” Vannucci said. “Because I think that if more people went it would be even better.”

The trip was a great way to see an important part of our history’s past and partake in it being remembered.

“It’s a great out of town trip, and you get so much history,” Kordenbrock said.  “And you get the sense that you are somewhere where something really, really important happened – because you are.”