We will travel by bus through the deep South for 7 days and 6 nights, visiting Civil Rights historical sites, former plantations, museums, and memorials.
Travelers will learn about Black Americans’ post-emancipation political and cultural renaissance. Reconstruction, as this post–Civil War period was called, was shaped by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. They were intended to strengthen the legal definition of citizenship for newly emancipated African Americans. But, fearful of Black success, state governments in the South gradually restricted Black voting and imposed Jim Crow segregation laws, which were in legal effect until the 1960s. The tour will follow this story from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement and through to our present day.
Join us on the 2024 C’Ville Civil Rights Tour!
june 22-28, 2024
register now
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This itinerary is subject to change
- (Breakfast and lunch on your own)
- Early departure for home cities
Day 7: Memphis, TN
- Group breakfast
- Visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, the location of MLK Jr.'s assassination
- Join a facilitated discussion to close out trip
- Farewell dinner, semi-formal attire
Day 6: Memphis, TN
- Prepare for an early departure and a special lunch. Afterward, take a short drive to Money, MS, where you will encounter sites associated with the lynching of Emmett Till
- Head to Sumner, MS, to view the Tallahatchie Courthouse, where the Emmett Till murder trial took place
- Drive to Memphis (dinner on your own)
Day 5: Sumner, MS
- Downtime (breakfast and lunch on your own)
- Afternoon tour of Laura Plantation, followed by a facilitated discussion of slavery and its impact
- (Dinner on your own)
Day 4: New Orleans, LA
- Visit the Southern Poverty Law Center, co-founded and initially led by late UVA professor and renowned civil rights activist Julian Bond
- Drive to Selma and tour the Ancient Africa, Enslavement, and Civil War Museum followed by a discussion
- March across the famed Edmund Pettus Bridge with ex-foot soldier Ms. Dianne Harris
- Drive to New Orleans (dinner on your own)
Day 3: Montgomery, AL
- Experience a private discussion and tour of historic sites in Birmingham with ex-foot soldiers
- Drive to Montgomery and visit The Legacy Museum and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
- Dinner at a local restaurant
Day 2: Birmingham, AL
- Included group flight from Richmond, VA, to Birmingham, AL, and check into hotel
- Trip introduction and welcome dinner
Day 1: Birmingham, AL
7 days, 6 Nights
The South
Itinerary
Esther Jackson-Davis, civil rights tour 2022
The pilgrimage for me was very emotional and, even after a year, it is hard to articulate what it meant to be a part of this experience. The pain, courage, and fortitude of those who fought the battle for freedom—and those who are still fighting for equality—was mind-boggling and left me in a state of self-reflection. I now have the conviction to fight this battle in my community and help in any capacity that I can.
This trip was made possible by our generous donors
UVA Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies | UVA Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | UVA Facilities Management | UVA VP Human Resources | UVA Women's Center | Virginia Humanities | Equity Center | A donation from a UVA alumnus
- Personal sightseeing not listed in the itinerary
- All meals, food, and beverage not listed in the itinerary (e.g., in New Orleans and Memphis)
- Expenses of a personal nature, including cab fares, laundry, and other personal items (room service charges, etc.)
- Travel insurance (we strongly advise that each traveler arrange their own travel insurance)
- Medical expenses
- Costs associated with trip interruption or modifications due to weather, travel conditions, political/civil disputes, medical emergencies, or other causes beyond our control
Trip Exclusions
- A group flight departing June 22, 2024, from Richmond Airport, returning to Richmond Airport on June 28, 2024
- Transfers to and from Richmond Airport, from Birmingham Airport to hotel, and from hotel to Memphis Airport
- All activities and sightseeing listed in the itinerary
- Accommodations listed in the itinerary
- Coach bus transportation between Birmingham, AL, and Memphis, TN
- All group meals listed in the itinerary; gratuities for tours
- Water and snacks