Posted
on December 14, 2015
Today
Alabama celebrates becoming a state of the U.S. on this date in 1819.
Before
it was a state, it was “Alabama Territory.” It is #22 of the 50
states.
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| This amazing park statue reminds people of a time known for police dog attacks on people of color. |
It's
sort of hard to celebrate so much of the history of Alabama, because
it is marked with slavery and Civil War, and then horrible
segregation, plus disenfranchisement of, discrimination toward, and
even lynching of black people. All those long words mean that white,
wealthy, powerful people in Alabama worked hard to make sure that
most black people had a hard time getting adequate education, getting
access to jobs, being able to vote, or even staying safe. Black
people were all-too-often beaten, terrorized, and killed.
Of
course, Alabama is also where a lot of amazing and brave Civil Rights
Movement events happened. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott, in 1955,
to the Freedom Rides in 1961, and the marches from Selma to
Montgomery, there were stirring victories for peaceful demonstrations
and non-violent civil disobedience!
Aside
from these courageous Civil Rights actions, here are a few of my
favorite things in Alabama:
Russell
Cave is a wonderful archaeological site that helps us learn about
North American inhabitants from as long ago as 10,000 B.C.! And, it's
not just a super-ancient site; apparently it provides evidence about
people's daily lives all the way up to 1650 C.E. (also known as 1650
A.D.)!
Dismals
Canyon is unusual – it is a National Natural Landmark, under the
National Park Service, but it is privately owned an operated as a
Natural Conservancy. I believe that is so that it can be kept as
unspoiled as possible.
The
waterfalls are gorgeous, but the really special thing happens at
night, when the canyon lights up with bioluminescent insect larva
called dismalites.
And
of course, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, with Space Camp, which
is sometimes called “Earth's largest space museum.” I've been to
the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida – and THAT'S amazing! But I'd
love to go to Alabama's space museum as well!
Also
on this date:
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ahead:
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