Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

The Eternal Flame at the National Historic Site

Today was a good day.  I went to church this morning before packing up my car.  I decided to go to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, which is a national park right in the middle of Atlanta.  There you can see the house where he was born and raised, the baptist church where he preached, his tomb, and a few other related buildings.  There is also an old fire station that you can visit.
It was really interesting.  I had no idea there was such a place, but I'm glad I went.
So, the house really was the place where M.L. and his brother and sister were born.  His parents didn't want their children to be born in a segregated hospital, so they hired a mid-wife and had the children at home.  It was interesting to see the church as well, familiar from pictures and videos.
I also realized that I always think this happened so long ago because it wasn't in my lifetime.  I didn't grow up in a place where those sentiments existed.  Perhaps if I had, it would feel much closer than it does.  But it happened in the lifetime of my parents.  The older sister of Martin Luther King Jr. is still alive.  The tour guide said she is 86 years old.  That is younger than my paternal grandfather.  When I think about these events in terms like that, it seems much fresher than it ever has before in my life.  And it makes sense why some people still have strong connections to the events and people.  It's just hard to grasp that because my life would be very much the same even if the Civil Rights Movement hadn't occurred.  When I say that, I mean, I grew up in North Dakota which has never been very ethnically diverse, so I wouldn't have really seen any anti-black sentiments, and my opportunities would have been the same, too.
Anyway, it's just interesting to think about that difference.  I've thought before, race doesn't matter.  And I still assert that it doesn't matter, or at least that it shouldn't.  But I think I understand better now why it DOES matter to some people.  Maybe in another 50 years or so, it won't.

Inside the Ebenezer Baptist Church

I spent all afternoon there, then headed on the road to Birmingham, Alabama.  It was much easier to make that three hour drive, so I think my previous drowsiness must just have been from being a little behind on sleep.  Tomorrow I have a long drive, so hopefully I'll be able to get enough sleep tonight to not have problems tomorrow.

I like how the light made the cross glow in
this picture.

Outside of the church

The King Home

Inside the fire station with an old fashioned firetruck

The rain was coming down so hard on the drive to Birmingham
that my windshield wipers couldn't keep up.  This was
taken while the wipers were going.

Birmingham, Alabama Temple

Gizmo riding in style . . . of sorts