Emmanuel Shawnee Youth Civil Rights Pilgrimage
Recently, the youth group from Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Shawnee took part in a transformative civil rights pilgrimage across the American South. The group, consisting of nine adults and five youth, began their journey in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a visit to the Greenwood Rising Museum. There, they explored the rich history of the African American community in Oklahoma. The museum's powerful media presentations immersed the group in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
From Tulsa, the group traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, where they visited the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Their next stop was Birmingham, Alabama, where they stood solemnly at the 16th Street Baptist Church. There, on Youth Sunday, September 15, 1963, a bomb exploded killing four young girls and injuring over 20 others. That evening, after settling into their rental home in Montgomery, the group watched Selma, the 2014 film that opens with the church bombing.
Beth Canaday, Emmanuel’s Youth Director, reflected on the emotional impact of that evening. “Some of us had seen the movie before, but this time it resonated with us differently.”
The following day, they drove to Selma and walked a portion of the route taken by civil rights activists during the Selma to Montgomery marches. One of the most powerful moments came as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Emelia Bronson, a youth member from Emmanuel shared what the experience was like walking across the bridge, “The bravery and perseverance they had to continue their protest after experiencing violence is inspiring. Crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge and knowing people were beaten up for doing the same was very emotional for me.”
That evening, they joined youth from the Diocese of New York, who were also on a civil rights pilgrimage, for a shared meal. Together, they attended a vigil for Jonathan Daniels at St. John’s Episcopal Church. The next morning, they gathered at Hayneville Middle School for breakfast with local teens and a presentation by Tafeni English-Relf of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Tafeni emphasized the power of youth voices, the importance of registering to vote, and being civically engaged with local councils, school boards, and representatives.
From there, the group walked to the courthouse to participate in the 29th annual Jonathan Daniels and the Martyrs of Alabama pilgrimage. The youth from Oklahoma and New York led the procession, each carrying a photo of someone who died in Alabama between 1947 and 1965 in the struggle for justice and civil rights. The procession moved from the courthouse to the jail, then to the site of the former Varner’s Cash Store, where Jonathan Daniels was murdered, and finally back to the courthouse square for a closing service.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry delivered a sermon, reminding the congregation that God stands on the side of justice and that our work in the fight for civil rights is not yet finished.
Emelia shared what spoke to her from hearing the sermon, “That sermon spoke to me because it made me feel empowered and hopeful for the future. Every step we take, the people of the United States will continue to fight for justice and freedom. Remembering that God is on the side of liberation is what will propel me going forward.”
Throughout the trip, each participant kept a journal to record their reflections. Every evening concluded with a group discussion and Compline. Emelia summed up the pilgrimage impact in a reflection:
“As I reflect on this pilgrimage, I feel like it has changed me as a person. The importance of history is cultivated in my heart, and this trip just fueled that completely. It has also fueled me to look to God to give me strength in the present and the future when advocating for justice.”
