Kings of Atlanta
Day 7
The real heart of this trip, the Anderson Monarchs journey back in time through the deep south, began yesterday.
The days ahead are filled with stops at locations, with often uncomfortable reminders, of a movement for justice and equality started over fifty years ago.
Our first stop was the 35 acre Martin Luther King Historical Site in downtown Atlanta. The complex consists of several buildings where Dr. King was born and raised, as well as the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he served as pastor Pastor.
Monarchs second baseman Jahli Hendricks examines the plaque on Dr. King's birth home
Zion Spearman stands at the tomb of Dr. King and his wife
The tour was limited to those two locations and the gravesite of Dr. King and his wife Corretta Scott King. At the MLK Birth Home, one of the tour guides explained how Martin and his brother Alfred loved baseball, and would play in a lot off Edgewood Avenue. Since the area was segregated, they could not cross Edgewood to retrieve their errant throws or hits, and the boys would resort to popping the heads of their sister Christine’s dolls to use as makeshift baseballs.
Monarchs stand beneath the entry sculpture at ational Center for Civil and Human Rights
The Monarchs saw footage of a young John Lewis, who as a Congressman, had spent time with them just days ago
Our second stop was the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, where the Monarchs toured the interactive museum. The most compelling display was a lunch counter where the Monarchs, and just about everyone traveling in the group, wore headphones while sitting at a lunch counter, and with your eyes closed, listened to the verbal and physical abuse this simple act would trigger. The verbal assault was deafening, and your stool shuddered as if being kicked. The experience was all too real, and the exhibit’s posted question of ‘How long can you last?’ was yet another reminder of the courage displayed by the young people that would stage peaceful lunch counter sit-ins.
The lunch counter experience
During lunch, long time civil rights activist Dr. BernardLafayette, who helped start the SNCC (Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee), spoke passionately to the Monarchs about making a difference with their lives, and carrying the example they set on the field out into the world.
After lunch it was off to Turner Field, for a meet and greet with baseball legend Henry Aaron. Aaron, now 81, was clearly elated by the young team’s interest in history. He explained that there were no organized teams in his area so he played softball and pickup games. He eventually signed with the Indianapolis Clown of the Negro Leagues where major league teams too notice. (Aaron was made simultaneous offers by the NY Giants and the Boston Braves…the Braves offer of $50 more per month is the only thing that kept Aaron and Giants legend from being teammates!)
After a brief tour of Turner Field, the Monarchs boarded the bus for the drive to Birmingham, Alabama. Manager Steve Bandura suggested a brief side trip to Anniston AL, where a historical marker marks the location of the burning of a bus that carried Freedom Riders, a non-violent activist group that challenged bus segregation.
Upon arriving in Birmingham, our opponents, a local RBI League team joined us for dinner, which dissolved into a hilarious dance off in the street.
Today (Tuesday) we visit the 16th Street Baptist Church and play a Negro Leagues tribute game at historic Rickwood Field.