Air Your Linen I’ve always loved textile art, and when I learned that Northern Ireland’s Linen Biennale is attempting to make the biggest tablecloth in NI by 2020, I asked if I could contribute. “Northern Ireland’s Linen Biennale celebrates the past, present and future landscape of linen through the arts. The Linen Biennale stimulates new thinkingContinue Reading Air Your Linen
A few pictures from my recent visit to Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum in Hamden, Connecticut. The museum is focused on the Irish Famine, 1845–1852. It opened in 2012, and the museum is part of Quinnipiac University. Exhibits focus on paintings and sculpture related to the Great Hunger.
As I prepare for my trip to Ireland next month to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Belfast to Derry Civil Rights March, people have been recommending that I read about Fredrick Douglas’ historic four-month visit to Ireland in 1845. In Northern Ireland, I’ve been informed, I’ll discover murals of Douglas and other Civil RightsContinue Reading The Black O’Connell
Border Walls and Interfaces
Yesterday I officially filed my “Notice of Intention to Organise a Public Procession” to walk across Northern Ireland. And today I discovered my application was listed on the Parade Commission’s website. I’m still not 100% sure that my application was approved, but it’s looking good. In my application to the Parades Commission, I stated myContinue Reading Notice of Intention to Organise A Public Procession
I have many wonderful stories to share about people I met on my recent Walk to Freedom, as I meandered across the flat and rolling early spring landscape of Central Alabama, Northern Mississippi, and Western Tennessee for the preservation of Civil Rights. During the walk, I frequently asked myself what is it about my walkContinue Reading Forest, A Freedom Summer SNCC Volunteer
Ida B. Wells-Barnett is an unsung heroine of the early 20th Century. She was a Civil Rights advocate, journalist and suffragist who dedicated her life to documenting and crusading against lynchings across the United States. During my recent walk across Northern Mississippi I passed through Holly Springs, Mississippi, the town in which she was bornContinue Reading Remembering Ida B. Wells
Now that I’m back in Amherst I am just beginning to catch up on some of the interviews I participated in as part of my Walk to Freedom campaign. Here’s a link to an interview that I did with Kari Njiiri, of New England Public Radio on April 5, while in Memphis.
I walked down a beautiful red clay county road recently. The picturesque road was surrounded by privately owned tracts of land with cows far off in the distance on all sides of the road for about 2.5 miles under a mid-day blue sky with a slight breeze. These are the kinds of days I enjoyContinue Reading Red Clay Road (Autauga Road 100)
During the past few weeks on the road, I’ve met people who have offered to say a prayer for me so I may continue to have a safe journey. I’ve gladly accepted, and have participated in several prayer sessions by the road for a safe journey. I’ve been very moved and touched by this experienceContinue Reading Road Side Prayers, A Calling, and A Cross to Bear