Day 1- Arriving at Charlottesville VA.
Today, Jacki and I arrived in Charlottesville, VA. We drive to Culpeper leaving the car there, which will become apparent in the next few days and then took a train and arrived here at 1:34pm.
Why are we here? Well, I wish I could say it was a long story but for me this was a last minute decision. Jacki made her decision about a month back when she saw Walk the Walk 2020 on Shane Claiborne's Red Letter Christian Facebook Page. This is a 140 mile walk from Charlottesville to Washington DC. What was decision point for me? Well, it was the idea that this is promoted as a pilgrimage which invites (present tense as you can join us for part of the journey for a day or more) people of faith, clergy and faith leaders to publicly demonstrate their commitment to 'wslk the walk' of race reckoning, resolve and love.
To get a fuller idea of this pilgrimage please check out this website:
https://walkthewalk2020.us/
Today, our journey began at an African American Cemetery which was located in the middle of a parking lot at Jefferson's Monticello.
We were met by Gayle and Calvin. Gayle shared how the place we were is considered sacred ground.
She and Calvin have ancestors buried here. She share how she also has ancestors buried at the top of the mountain for you see, Gayle ancestor is the greatgrandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Heming. While we didn't get to the top of the mountain Gayle said that the contrast to those graves and these here before us ... Few of which had a stone for a marker. Gayle works at Monticello and shared how the people who are buried in this cemetery there saw Monticello as home. She was making a point of the common history not white history or black history it is our history part of which we are only now starting to tell more fully. I was curious about her statement about her saying that the slaves saw Monticello as their home. I asked how this view plays into idea that the slaves were happy to be there as they were taken care of. Calvin shared that that is a movie image ... Not fact. Infact earlier Gayle shared how her ancestors tried to escape ... Some were emancipated by Jefferson others tried to run were captured ran again and we're recaptured whipped and sent 'down south' and never to be seen or heard of again. I am starting to see that this is going to be a deep pilgrimage.
Tonight, we joined a group of more walkers. We are part of a small group, called the seed group of about 50 folks. More to join us tomorrow.
Tomorrow begins at 7am as we go to hear the story of a woman who for two years has sought sanctuary in UMC. Then to Emancipation Plaza the place where a Unite the Right held a rally on August 12, 2017. Many of us probably recollect this event held here in Charlottesville. This rally was protesting the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee and was attended by unhooded Klan members and neo-Nazis. It was at a counter protest that a Unite the Right participant drove a car and killed Heather Heyer. Tonight Jacki and I had dinner in a place that locals call the mall. We saw this sign ...
i hadn't put two and two together... our starting point, Charlottesville,VA as the place close to the anniversary of Heather's death by vehicle homicide and our ending of this pilgrimage nine days from now being the newly named Black Lives Matters Plaza in Washington DC close to the Anniversary of Dr. MLK Jr's speech on the national Mall at the base of the Lincoln Memorial.
I hope that I can keep you posted in the journey as we go through this. Pray that we can stay well and healthy during this walk.
Reading opportunities:
We are encouraged to read the book 'White Too Long: The Legacy of White Suptemacy In American Christianity' by Robert P. Jones. https://www.amazon.com/White-Too-Long-Supremacy-Christianity/dp/1982122862
Jacki and I started to listened on the way down (it's on Audible) and are now two chapters into it. It is eye opening. Why not join us in reading it? Read a chapter at a day ...
Gayle also suggested reading, 'Those who Labored for my Happiness'
https://www.amazon.com/Those-Who-Labor-Happiness-Jeffersonian/dp/0813932238
