This is the Shady Bunch (UTK Alternative Break Identity and Inclusion 2016 Atlanta) concluding our time in Atlanta.
Lights came on at 6:30 am SHARP! Colette was not playing any games. Today, was the last day and the most anticipated day of our trip. Today was the day we were volunteering at the Gay Pride Festival. First stop was breakfast at Kasey and Drew's house (Alumni of the UT and of the program) where we expressed our interest in the trip and educational goals as well as walked through the most romantic "How I Met Your Mother" stories there is (I mean, literally they were #GOALS!). P.S. Kasey & Drew, if you're reading this, The Shady Bunch is up for adoption! After getting the best southern welcome and feasting on some vol-tastic pancakes, we loaded in our trademarked Shade Bus and cruised to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site showcases the journey of his hand in the Civil Rights Movement in America during the 50s and 60s. One of his most potent and lasting messages was the use of non violent protest inspired by a similar movement by Mohatmas Gandhi in India. He believed that expressing love is the basis of change in society. This is pertinent to our trip's theme of Identity of Inclusion. People may have different views on things you have to show positive regard. We hope to come back as a group to finish reflecting on his life and legacy on a later date.
From there, we hopped back on the Shade Bus and cruised off to Candy Land (a.k.a. The Gay Pride Festival, the maps looked like the game Candy Land). We met our fellow volunteers at what they called "Greystone" to receive a quick training of our tasks, materials, and Powder Pink tshirts!!! For the record, WE SLAYED at this service. We walked around the festival handing out maps and pride guides to help the fabulous Pride goers get around. At the festival, we noticed protesters picketing at the festival gates. In response, many of the Festival goers picketed signs of love to negate the hate at the gates. The peaceful response opened our eyes to the correlation between Martin Luther King Jr.'s message of non violent protests to oppose hate. In this moment, we realized that non violence is truly the most powerful weapon against oppression of any kind.
10,000,000 miles of walking later (a note from the leaders: this is dramatic it was only a few reasonable miles), we made our way back to The Bus feeling woke (awake) and wanting experience a different cuisine. For our dinner, we got some Thai food and witnessed the Vols suffer a massive defeat at the hands of Texas A&M(side-note: Thai restaurant owners don't understand southern football culture as they were very concerned when we were letting out screams of frustration).
All in all, we learned that change cannot and will not be made if we continue to be complacent. We have to be willing to risk something in order to be rewarded. We must step out of our comfort zones to have those difficult conversations about various issues regarding marginalized peoples. These minor conversations can have a major impact on people's perspectives, identities, and society as a whole.
Most impactful quotes of the Day:
"Bloom where you're planted." ~ Latasia Woods
"...Non violence or Non Existence." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." ~ Margaret Mead
Shady Bunch. Out. GRRRAH GRRAH GRRAH *dab*
NOTHING SHADY OCURED ON THIS TRIP
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