The best way to summarize our first full day, aside from Micah 6:8, comes from a quote by Confucius that states, “it does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

Our first day was heavy, not only because we walked so many miles, but because of the emotions we experienced and the bonds we formed. When Mrs. Metz first explained the attitudes, approach, and posture she expected from us throughout the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, especially the history section on the bottom three floors, I chuckled in my head because at the time, I naïvely generalized and underestimated the history and struggles of African Americans. As a biracial young woman, the experience I had through the bottom section of the museum was not only life changing, but better defined “walking humbly” for me, as it allowed me to walk with people who value civil rights to the high extent that I do, while learning more about my African American culture, all through a Catholic lens.

I feel that it is necessary to reiterate that Jesus created people to be together, and to put emphasis on the fact that over American history we have strayed away from upholding the dignity of humanity. The museum showcases the African American experience through positivity while also creating moments where people must ponder the pain of slavery and segregation. When I first stepped into the museum, I knew I had to walk it by myself because I would not have been able to develop the entirety of my character and increase my knowledge about my culture if I walked with my friends. As I walked around, I took in everything: from the pit of despair I felt when I saw the child-sized handcuffs used on slave ships, to the grief I felt when reading about Margaret Garner, a runaway slave who killed her own daughter to save her from the darkness of enslavement.

The most valuable experience from this museum was the Emmett Till memorial. I have always had a specific part of myself that never fears to be drawn to Emmett Till’s story. When I first walked into the memorial, alone, I went right to the information plaque next to the real casket that once held the battered body of Emmett Till. As I stood on my tiptoes to see more of the casket, I was met with his face—the face that his mother Mamie forced society to view through his open casket funeral back in 1955. This moment took over the entirety of my body, making me unable to think and move. I knew it was time to take a step back.

As I walked out, fellow trip member and my friend Sylvia Halaiko was also walking out from the memorial. I could see the tears falling on her face; mine trickled down as well. We shared a glance full of grief, guilt, and sorrow, and then momentarily shared a hug that will be something I will never forget. We stood there together, crying simultaneously in an embrace. I’ve never shared such humility before. Even though I walked into the memorial by myself, what speaks the most volume and holds such a significance in my heart, is that moment with Sylvia and that I walked out humbly with others.

During our Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., the Martin Luther King Jr. marker located in front of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial is what resonated with me the most. Following the difficult, moving walk through the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, we experienced a night-time walk through the monuments in D.C.

As we sat down at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial, our tour guide brought attention to the Martin Luther King Jr. marker and how its location is significant to his activism. This struck my attention because for my whole life, he had been my picture of justice. I thought to myself, I am actually standing where this happened in history.

Because we were there on a cool night, few people were outside visiting the monuments. I felt this immense sense of peace and gratitude for the work of the people before us in advocating for civil rights. However, I was reminded that there is still so much to be done. The MLK marker remembers and brings attention to where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech in 1963. Being able to stand where he stood was such an overwhelmingly powerful feeling.

The amount of history that existed on the ground where we were walking reminded me of the importance of active listening. Listening and acting go hand in hand. Without one, you cannot successfully have the other. Active listening helps us see and hear others without assuming how they feel. As someone who does not experience the discrimination and prejudice that people of color live with, it is important that I listen to their experiences first before acting on civil rights. I frequently worry that I will say or do the wrong thing, but that’s where the listening part comes in. I admire and learn so much from people of color that move and fight through their fear to create change. Making mistakes and being able to recognize them, and grow and

learn from others is crucial and builds character.

Listening and learning were especially powerful throughout this pilgrimage because we approached the trip through the lens of our faith. I was reminded of Jesus’ compassion and empathy for those that society belittled and marginalized; how He not only saw them and recognized them, but invited them to His table, walked with them, and uplifted them. I think about this and recognize my role in attending this pilgrimage, walking with others, and learning alongside of and from others.

Since returning from our trip to D.C., everywhere I go I'm thinking about how I'm walking around in places where so many people have lived before me. I am reminded of how it’s important to recognize the efforts of the people before us, and the progress that has been made. But to also recognize that there is so much more that needs to be done. Through active listening, I am motivated to further help educate others. This trip taught me so much and has helped me continue to advocate for social change and civil rights by

acting justly.

“Love mercy” means giving people an opportunity to be shown grace at all times and to be willing to self-reflect to better love those around you. When touring the Georgetown University campus, we saw “love mercy” being lived out through the effort the Catholic university is putting in to find descendants of enslaved people of African descent. The university is working to reconcile its historical involvement with slavery, and their monetary gain that came from the sale of slaves.

While we walked around the various parts of campus we were faced with many examples of what Georgetown is doing to reconcile its past wrongdoings. We saw signage, moving pictures, slide shows, and campus billboards— all that carried the mission of the school to further shed light on its past, and

bring peace to the affected families.

The biggest show of “love mercy” we saw throughout the campus was educational signage and information on the Reconciliation Fund. Georgetown donates $400,000 annually to this fund to do community-based projects that directly impact descendant communities whose ancestors were enslaved at one time on the Maryland Jesuit plantations. Georgetown’s ability to take responsibility for its past, is an active demonstration of what it means to love mercy.

The same day we visited Georgetown, we also visited Howard University, an HBCU (historically Black college or university.) At Howard we met a student from a public high school, who prior to attending Howard, didn't have any AP courses available to her, but she got in, worked really hard, and is currently a biochemistry major who is excited to graduate from Howard in the class of 2024. We are so grateful that places like Howard exist—specific places that give everyone, especially young Black students, a chance to succeed, and a place to go that will give them the opportunity they deserve to excel. Not only was this student a demonstration of loving mercy at Howard, but she also helped us to realize what an amazing opportunity DSHA is—a place to ensure that each girl has the chance to excel and pursue areas of interest in their futures.

After visiting both campuses on the second day of our pilgrimage we all sat down and had a heartfelt conversation and reflected on what we saw, learned, and felt from our long days. Our biggest takeaway from this conversation was that everyone has a story worth listening to and worth loving. We, along with everyone else on the journey, were put in a place where we got to “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” We connected in a way that is unexplainable unless you were there to experience it for yourself. Loving others and being open to everyone's differences is the way we interpret “love mercy”, and it is a teaching we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.