Experience the Movement at: The National Civil Rights Museum
ASSI – Walter Lane Bailey, a minority business owner purchased a motel on the south-end of downtown Memphis, and named it The Lorraine Motel after his wife. From the moment I read: The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., and watched the Eyes on The Prize Documentary series, I have wanted to visit the Lorraine Motel. Standing on the grounds of the Lorraine Hotel, I noticed viewers previewing the rooms, and thought. “This will be quick.” From the outside looking in, I thought the rooms were the only thing available for viewing. Little and I mean little did I know that the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) would be a mind blowing experience, no disrespect to Dr. King, his family, or legacy. NCRM is a museum that evokes emotions, the information is extremely powerful, and literally blew my mind. An inscribed marble plaque attached to the room door where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. often stayed now sits on the grounds so everyone can read the inscription. I have seen hundreds of images of the oversize reef adhered to the rail where Dr. King’s slain body lay. Mr. Bailey’s wife Lorraine died two hours after Dr. King was assassinated from a brain hemorrhage. To honor their lives the two previewed rooms were enshrined. 
Capturing the moment with personal photos is an altering experience, but the journey begins when you enter the NCRM. The museum open its doors to the public September 28, 1991, after a group of prominent Memphians purchased the foreclosed property at an auction for $144,000, to preserve the historic site. Black folks overcame one struggle after another, injustices were popping up around every corner it seemed, and the NCRM encapsulates that era. NCRM is as well thought- out-as any Award Winning documentary, autobiography, or directed movie treatment. The path to civil rights begins with strategies of change. A crisp white hooded shield worn by the Klu Klux Klan was on display that raised my contentiousness. It also remembered when my cousins and I happened upon a burning cross while driving to Opelika, Alabama. NCRM outlines the turn-of-events that shaped civil rights with why and how the movement was started, who were the players that formed organizations, and their motivation to unite for civil rights. If you are unaware become aware at the National Civil Rights Museum. If reading story boards disinterest you, audio recording is available, walking is required; however, the facility is wheel chair accessible. To place a spot light on what was happening in the South, southerners protested for and against change in Topeka, Kansas for the notable case of Brown V. The Topeka Board of Ed. Teenagers in Little Rock, Arkansas were courageous enough to step forward and put themselves on the front line for an equal education. One step-at-a-time I walked onto a Montgomery, Alabama city bus, the driver was turned in the direction of a woman seated about four rows back, on the left. I passed the driver, looked over the various ads, and just as I approach Rosa Parks. The bus driver says, “Move, get up from there, I need that seat. If you don’t move, out of that seat, I will have you arrested.” Although the seated figure of Ms. Parks was made-of- stone, I was compelled to lay hand upon her shoulder, and give thanks for her willingness to stay seated for change. She did not sit alone; there were others, who were daring, and staged a sit-in, at a lunch counter, at a Woolworth Department Store. As I approached the exhibit, I had a moment of nostalgia. I was unaware of the freedom rides, but as soon as I approached the display, I immediately felt for the people who were on board the Gray Hound Bus, which had obviously been engulfed in flames. I am familiar with the stories of “Ole Miss”, so I schemed past the Project C exhibit; however, the Cell in Birmingham caught my attention. The phrase “walk-the-walk” must have been originated in 1963 because Black people marched, marched, and marched all the way to Washington for jobs and freedom. The March on Washington exhibit was exciting, I could feel the energy of the day, and the life-like stone figures body language, banners, and cameras made it oh so real. 
The National Civil Rights Museum is an excellent resource to visit and learn your civil rights history, everything you need and want to know is covered, and I was able to revisit information regarding the march on Selma. The March against Fear was covered and nicely done, you learn how Chicago was affected during the civil rights era. NCRM brought the sixties and the struggles indoors, a Memphis garbage truck, and loads of trash was on display. Two or three sanitation workers died in the back of the truck while shielding themselves from the rain, they were accidentally grind to death. The sanitation workers were also fighting for equal rights. Last and most appropriate is the introduction of Dr. Martin Luther King’s purpose for visiting Memphis. His last and final speech contained various premonition references, his choice to speak from his heart instead of his prepared speech, suggested he knew the end was near. NCRM is an experience everyone must have, if you are interested in knowing more about James Earl Ray, who was arrested for the assassination for Dr. King. All you have to do is walk across the street, to see a replica of room 5B rented by Earl Ray, the bathroom where he stood in the tub and fired the infamous shot, and if you question who shot Dr. King you can read all about the conspiracy theory. As eye see it, everyone and I do mean everyone, must visit the National Civil Rights Museum, it is worth the $25.00 admissions fee, and be sure to purchase a souvenir. The NCRM was a five blink experience.
ASSI – Walter Lane Bailey, a minority business owner purchased a motel on the south-end of downtown Memphis, and named it The Lorraine Motel after his wife. From the moment I read: The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., and watched the Eyes on The Prize Documentary series, I have wanted to visit the Lorraine Motel. Standing on the grounds of the Lorraine Hotel, I noticed viewers previewing the rooms, and thought. “This will be quick.” From the outside looking in, I thought the rooms were the only thing available for viewing. Little and I mean little did I know that the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) would be a mind blowing experience, no disrespect to Dr. King, his family, or legacy. NCRM is a museum that evokes emotions, the information is extremely powerful, and literally blew my mind. An inscribed marble plaque attached to the room door where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. often stayed now sits on the grounds so everyone can read the inscription. I have seen hundreds of images of the oversize reef adhered to the rail where Dr. King’s slain body lay. Mr. Bailey’s wife Lorraine died two hours after Dr. King was assassinated from a brain hemorrhage. To honor their lives the two previewed rooms were enshrined. 
Capturing the moment with personal photos is an altering experience, but the journey begins when you enter the NCRM. The museum open its doors to the public September 28, 1991, after a group of prominent Memphians purchased the foreclosed property at an auction for $144,000, to preserve the historic site. Black folks overcame one struggle after another, injustices were popping up around every corner it seemed, and the NCRM encapsulates that era. NCRM is as well thought- out-as any Award Winning documentary, autobiography, or directed movie treatment. The path to civil rights begins with strategies of change. A crisp white hooded shield worn by the Klu Klux Klan was on display that raised my contentiousness. It also remembered when my cousins and I happened upon a burning cross while driving to Opelika, Alabama. NCRM outlines the turn-of-events that shaped civil rights with why and how the movement was started, who were the players that formed organizations, and their motivation to unite for civil rights. If you are unaware become aware at the National Civil Rights Museum. If reading story boards disinterest you, audio recording is available, walking is required; however, the facility is wheel chair accessible. To place a spot light on what was happening in the South, southerners protested for and against change in Topeka, Kansas for the notable case of Brown V. The Topeka Board of Ed. Teenagers in Little Rock, Arkansas were courageous enough to step forward and put themselves on the front line for an equal education. One step-at-a-time I walked onto a Montgomery, Alabama city bus, the driver was turned in the direction of a woman seated about four rows back, on the left. I passed the driver, looked over the various ads, and just as I approach Rosa Parks. The bus driver says, “Move, get up from there, I need that seat. If you don’t move, out of that seat, I will have you arrested.” Although the seated figure of Ms. Parks was made-of- stone, I was compelled to lay hand upon her shoulder, and give thanks for her willingness to stay seated for change. She did not sit alone; there were others, who were daring, and staged a sit-in, at a lunch counter, at a Woolworth Department Store. As I approached the exhibit, I had a moment of nostalgia. I was unaware of the freedom rides, but as soon as I approached the display, I immediately felt for the people who were on board the Gray Hound Bus, which had obviously been engulfed in flames. I am familiar with the stories of “Ole Miss”, so I schemed past the Project C exhibit; however, the Cell in Birmingham caught my attention. The phrase “walk-the-walk” must have been originated in 1963 because Black people marched, marched, and marched all the way to Washington for jobs and freedom. The March on Washington exhibit was exciting, I could feel the energy of the day, and the life-like stone figures body language, banners, and cameras made it oh so real. 
The National Civil Rights Museum is an excellent resource to visit and learn your civil rights history, everything you need and want to know is covered, and I was able to revisit information regarding the march on Selma. The March against Fear was covered and nicely done, you learn how Chicago was affected during the civil rights era. NCRM brought the sixties and the struggles indoors, a Memphis garbage truck, and loads of trash was on display. Two or three sanitation workers died in the back of the truck while shielding themselves from the rain, they were accidentally grind to death. The sanitation workers were also fighting for equal rights. Last and most appropriate is the introduction of Dr. Martin Luther King’s purpose for visiting Memphis. His last and final speech contained various premonition references, his choice to speak from his heart instead of his prepared speech, suggested he knew the end was near. NCRM is an experience everyone must have, if you are interested in knowing more about James Earl Ray, who was arrested for the assassination for Dr. King. All you have to do is walk across the street, to see a replica of room 5B rented by Earl Ray, the bathroom where he stood in the tub and fired the infamous shot, and if you question who shot Dr. King you can read all about the conspiracy theory. As eye see it, everyone and I do mean everyone, must visit the National Civil Rights Museum, it is worth the $25.00 admissions fee, and be sure to purchase a souvenir. The NCRM was a five blink experience.
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