BWAP 2025: Underneath the Edmund Pettis Bridge ~ Axell Boomer
Underneath the Edmund Pettis Bridge,
Underneath the Edmund Pettis Bridge,
I am a member of the Episcopal Church — a Christian tradition that honors saints on an annual calendar, celebrating their lives, their faith, and how they changed the world around them. One such saint on this calendar is Martin…
During the afternoon on Thursday, our second day in Birmingham, we were blessed with a driving tour led by a local historian, Barry McNealy. Once we corralled ourselves and Barry into our hulking white van, Barry began navigating for Nii…
"Break with a purpose." For many people here at Pres House, BWAP is a time during winter break when a small group of people go on a meaningful trip. But after going on this trip and seeing our history where…
As Christians, we are taught about this radical love that God has for us and wants us to extend to others. We are told we have a responsibility to love others as we would ourselves–to treat others how we want…
Like others in the Pres House community, I am from Minnesota. I grew up there, went to school there, learned American history there, and learned about the Civil Rights Movement there. It could seem like Minnesota and Alabama do not…
I appreciate artwork. I love to delve into the meaning of a yellow stroke of acrylic paint showing joy against an eclipse or how someone’s eyes convene a sense of longing only those with heartache will understand. One afternoon of…
The fourth day of our pilgrimage took us to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Compared to where we had been in Selma and the different levels of funding different sites had, this place was pretty well taken care of. We…
When I was a child, I thought Christianity was a religion that was made up for the sole purpose of keeping enslaved people enslaved. I can’t point to a specific time I was taught this, because it was something I…
When I think about living a life of protest, I think about something exciting and adrenaline-inducing. I think of marching in the streets and yelling and large-scale mobilizations. I think of big names in history; of icons; of legacy. This…