“We will work to be an example of how we, as brothers and sisters on this earth, should treat each other. Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe.”
— King T’Challah, Marvel’s Black Panther (2018)
“If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl – but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
— Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Building Bridges Trips
Our annual trips, which started in 2015, emphasize the importance of shared experiences and learning about the “other” together. Previous trips have included journeys to the Balkans — Bosnia and Albania — in 2016 and Azerbaijan in 2017.
This Year’s Journey
For this year’s trip, we hoped to turn inward to the US after the first two trips abroad; travel on a civil rights and social justice journey in order to be exposed to the history, politics, and activism, including the role of women; and to empower and inspire participants to stand up against hate and create positive change in our shared world.
This year, those on our trip wanted to educate ourselves about the Civil Rights Movement and to meet people on the ground who lived and live the struggle for a just society. We also wanted to understand and highlight the particular ways women contribute, past and present and to understand how politics, culture, and religion shaped societal perceptions in the South and witness how they have been used to create positive change. Members wanted to acquire knowledge and skills to stand up to hate and prejudice of all kinds, gaining confidence and empowerment and connect and develop relationships with each other as trip participants.
“Ain’t gonna let nobody turn us around, turn us around, turn us around. We’re gonna keep on walkin’, keep on talkin’, marchin’ down to Freedom Land.”
We also hoped to meet with and learn from local members of Jewish and Muslim communities, interact with communities who have limited contact with Muslims and Jews, build relationships with women leaders in all communities, and inspire and initiate interaction locally between the two faith groups.
See media coverage of the trip on the Lilith blog: Muslim and Jewish Women on a Southern Civil Rights Road Trip. The Associated Press also covered the trip in its article Amid conflict, Jews and Muslims in US seek solidarity.
Sisters on the Bus
Our group was made up of 45 women. Half are Muslim, and half are Jewish. We came from all over the US, including New York, New Jersey, DC, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. We also had our “honorary sister,” the amazing civil rights tour guide Dr. Todd Allen. And we were joined by a documentary film crew with @salaamshalomdocumentary.
The SPLC Pledge
“I pledge to take a stand against hate, injustice and intolerance. I will work in my daily life for justice, equality, and human rights – the ideals for which the Civil Rights martyrs died.”
“What can we do to mitigate hate and rebuild the inner soul of our country? It’s all about community. Whoever the ‘others’ may be, say something. Don’t let it go unanswered.”
– Joe Levin, SPLC
The Power of Place
On our trip, we talked about the importance of seeing the where to know the why. Listen with your heart; learn with your feet. Visiting the arc of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. from his birthplace to his assassination: Atlanta, Georgia; Montgomery, Alabama; Selma, Alabama; Birmingham, Alabama; and Memphis, Tennessee.
“Learn where we’ve been.”
— Joanne Bland
Next Steps: Bridges Still to Cross
“If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl – but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
— Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
What bridges do we need to cross in society? What bridges can you build in your life? How can you keep moving forward?
“I am inspired to be part of this sisterhood, and it is my hope that we are forever bonded in the journey to leverage our beautiful faith traditions to be a beacon.” – Amira Ishoof
For more information about people we met and places we visited:
- Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center)
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- Civil Right Leader Joanne Bland
- Edmund Pettis Bridge
- National Voting Rights Museum
- Equal Justice Initiative Memorial
- Rosa Parks Museum
- National Civil Rights Museum-Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated
