About The U. S. Trip
SankofaNow USA is a comprehensive 8 to 12-session racial healing and unity program tailored for churches and Christian institutions, which encompasses colleges and universities. The program culminates in an impactful 4-day journey through the Southern United States. Through a blend of films, lectures, dialogue, and discussion, we explore diverse dimensions of racial reconciliation, human wholeness, and flourishing – from historical and scientific to theological, psychological, sociological, and artistic perspectives.
This transformative journey includes visits to significant historical sites and pertinent educational institutions. Participants engage with local educators and other stakeholders, fostering insightful discussions. Notable destinations comprise Selma, AL, the poignant site of Bloody Sunday, and the National Voting Rights Museum. Memphis, TN brings a visit to the Lorraine Motel, where the revered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was tragically assassinated. The Underground Railroad Network is represented by Jacob Burkle’s home. The journey further extends to The National Museum of Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL, among other sites.
Each trip is meticulously tailored to cater to the unique requirements of individual groups, ensuring a truly meaningful and impactful experience.
DEPARTURE
Friday | 16th St. Baptist Church
Birmingham, AL
Historic Baptist Church, situated in Birmingham’s Commercial District, was the site of a heinous crime Dr. King later labeled “one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity.” This incident involved a bombing that claimed the lives of four African American girls: 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and 11-year-old Cynthia Wesley. Additionally, the blast permanently blinded Susan, Addie’s surviving sister.
Today, following restoration efforts, the church stands as a powerful symbol of hope and renewal.
Friday | Tuskegee University
TUSKEGEE, AL
The school was founded on July 4, 1881, as the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers. Now Tuskegee University, it has a storied history with famous Black educators such as Booker T. Washington, and George Washington Carver. It remains a model of Black uplift and ingenuity.
Friday| National Memorial for Peace & Justice
Montgomery, AL
Memphis, TN
Built on the very site of Dr. King’s assassination, The National Civil Rights Museum, ” is steadfast in its mission to share the culture and lessons from the American Civil Rights Movement and explore how this significant era continues to shape equality and freedom globally.” It is a source of inspiration for those who desire to make this country a better place for all.
Saturday| Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
Memphis, TN
Saturday & Sunday| Beale Street & Church Service
Memphis, TN & Ferguson, MO
No trip is complete without a stop at historic Beale Street for a chance to savor some real Southern Cuisine and entertainment. Beale Street has the distinction of being once the only place where People of Color could shop and eat in Memphis, but is now an integrated hotspot in Memphis. Wee conclude the trip with a brief tour of Ferguson and attend a church service in the area before we head back!
OUR APPROACH
This immersion trip employs inter-group dialogue strategies under the guidance of experienced leaders. Its purpose is to create a holistic impact encompassing the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of each participant.
Comprehensive Approach – This program aims to influence the entirety of an individual – mind, heart, and body. While the mental and emotional dimensions are apparent, the physical toll of enduring racism, injustice, and trauma, as well as re-traumatization, has often been overlooked. We understand that emotional trauma can manifest physically.
Diverse Exploration – The history of race, racism, and Africans in the New World is complex, with motivations spanning various perspectives. Unraveling this history demands engaging with the multifaceted arguments that have shaped existing narratives. These arguments range across disciplines like theology, science, history, sociology, and psychology, and will be explored through readings and discussions.
Immersive Engagement – This journey is meticulously crafted to bring participants in direct contact with the daily realities of life within the country. We actively seek interactions with local professionals, artisans, educators, and more. Unlike a typical tourist experience, this is an educational endeavor designed to provoke thought and transformation. While we may visit numerous locations, our intent and motivation differ – our focus is education and transformation.
REFERENCES
(1)L Comas-Díaz and F M Jacobsen, “Ethnocultural Allodynia,” The Journal Of Psychotherapy Practice And Research 10, no. 4 (2001 Fall 2001): 246–52.
(2)Allison Crawford, “If ‘The Body Keeps the Score’: Mapping the Dissociated Body in Trauma Narrative, Intervention, and Theory,” no. 2 (2010): 702, https://doi.org/10.1353/utq.2010.0231.