History Today in 1965 ~ Selma to Montgomery

March 7, 1965, was a day that should never be forgotten. Today, I share this short piece in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for a cause that many of us take for granted.

Fifty-seven years ago, on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, hundreds of people of African descent gathered to march the capital city of Montgomery. The purpose of this march was to push for African Americans to have the constitutional right to vote, regardless of the segregationist system in which they lived.

It was the death of 26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson that took the civil rights movement over the top. on February 18, 1965, in Marion Alabama, Mr. Jackson was fatally shot by state troopers while trying to protect his mother when attacked during a peaceful march. Civil rights leaders planned to take their issues directly to Alabama Governor George Wallace by way of a 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery. As the story goes, Mr. Wallace ordered state troopers, “to use whatever measures are necessary to prevent a march.”

As instructed, state troopers wearing helmets and slapping billy clubs in their hands, there were also deputies of county sheriff Jim Clark, some troopers on horses, and dozens of white spectators waving confederate flags met the peaceful protestors. Protestors proceeded, knowing the possible dangers. The rest is history, literally….for the details please check out the following link How’ Selma’s ‘Bloody Sunday’ Became a Turning Point in the Civil Rights Movement.

In 2015, the Obamas participated in an event that reminded us of all that can get lost in history, particularly because much of what our people have experienced is not taught in schools and oftentimes not in our homes. I am including Obama's speech as presented on the Obama White House Archives website. When listenting to Obama's speech, take it in...we owe it to our ancestors to be and do better, always striving for better.

Learn more about this and other stories introducing us to the struggles of our ancestors. As mothers, sisters, aunties, and Queens in our communities, we need to step up and teach our young people about those who came before us. Sharing this piece of history, for me, is not simply about voter’s rights but it is about our rights as human beings, Queens, Kings, and tribes. It is important for our young people to know all there is for them to learn about our people from here to the continent of Africa.

Queendom rising….