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The collective suppression of and struggle for civil rights reverberated across the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, but its loudest chorus was in the American South. With expert guidance from The New York Times, explore Alabama to witness the sites and hear the stories of those who fought and died for equal rights. Even decades on, the echoes are still heard.
The civil rights movement is not African-American history: It’s American history, and The New York Times was reporting and photographing in the thick of it. Even today, the country wrestles with what it means to be equal. Alabama in many ways represents the epicenter, with names like Rosa Parks, Selma, George Wallace and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. occupying places in history along with the firebombings and protests. From the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church to the Edmund Pettus Bridge and the sobering Legacy Museum, explore this watershed moment; and with encounters exclusive to New York Times Journeys, learn how the paper covered a movement.
Your journey includes:
- On Tour Team: New York Times expert, professional tour leader and local experts
- Transfers: Small group transfers based on flight departure times
- Food & Drink: Most meals, all beverages with meals
- Accommodations: hotels include Wi-Fi where available
- Logistics: All on-tour transportation as outlined in itinerary
- Activities/Fees: Included for all per itinerary
- Other: Taxes and complimentary WiFi access where available
Journey highlights include:
- Participate in a private discussion with Peggy Wallace Kennedy, daughter of former Gov. George Wallace of Alabama, who has denounced the policies of her father and spreads a message of peace.
- Talk with leadership from the Southern Poverty Law Center, celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the Equal Justice Initiative, which seeks to right wrongful convictions.
- Trace the steps of the civil rights movement through the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, bombed by the K.K.K. in 1963, killing four young Black girls; and the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where civil rights marchers were beaten back by state and local police.
- Meet with former foot
soldiers and activists who participated in the 1965 demonstrations and marches. Gain insight on how The New York Times covers major events. - Immerse yourself in the history predating the civil rights movement with visits to the sobering Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Tuskegee University.
- Absorb modern-day Southern culture and fellowship with home-cooked meals and an evening featuring gospel music.