Confronting the Past and Building the Future in Montgomery, Alabama

Journey to Montgomery (Part 1 of a Series)

My daughter, Annie, and I just spent two days in Montgomery at the opening of the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum:  From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which covers a small hilltop above Alabama’s capital city. It is an extraordinarily uplifting name for what is, in fact, a heartrending tribute to the more than 4,000 African American victims of lynching in America.  

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice | Equal Justice Initiative (Photo by Annie Blaine)

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice | Equal Justice Initiative (Photo by Annie Blaine)

Annie and I were often overwhelmed by the brutality that confronted us at both the museum and the memorial, but the message that we took away with us in the end was – in ways I will try to express in my next few posts – one of resilience, of generosity and of hope.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice | Equal Justice Initiative (Photo by Annie Blaine)

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice | Equal Justice Initiative (Photo by Annie Blaine)

 The Legacy Museum:  From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration | Equal Justice Initiative (Photo by Annie Blaine)

 The Legacy Museum:  From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration | Equal Justice Initiative (Photo by Annie Blaine)