For the past four years, our Doing More Today team celebrated Black History Month in a rather unique way.
We hit the road.
Yes, each February we sought out a new Good Town, looking for communities with history that tied into the tapestry of our national story.
While Good Towns is currently on hiatus due to the pandemic, we thought it was a good time to revisit some of our recent road trips. We hope you’ll take a little time to explore these stories – and, when life returns to normal – consider making an excursion of your own.
Deep in the bayou, not far from New Orleans, we explored “food for the soul,” down-home Cajun cuisine that can’t be missed. And we learned the role the food played in history at the Finding Our Roots African American Museum, a fascinating venue located in the city’s first Black high school.
Legend goes that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil where Highways 61 and 49 intersect, creating the Delta Blues. Arguably the greatest blues guitarist in history, Johnson soon spread the sound all over the world. We found it’s still going very strong today at a Clarksdale night club, which folks pack every weekend to hear a new generation carry the bass-thumping torch.
In 1965, non-violent protesters including John Lewis withstood the “Bloody Sunday” assault from state troopers in order to send a message to the world about racial injustice. This moment, captured on news cameras and beamed across the globe, proved a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. Today, Selma honors its past with the interactive Selma Interpretive Center, located at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
The history in this East Alabama town remains unparalleled. It’s the hometown of Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks and Motown hitmakers the Commodores. And it’s the setting for Moton Field, where Black aviators from across the nation trained at the onset of World War II. Known as the Red Tails, the Tuskegee Airmen paved the way for integration, while serving a nation with honor in the skies of Europe.
Keep in mind, Good Towns will return, showcasing communities throughout our footprint, soon. Until then, stay safe and see the country virtually through one of our favorite features.