By Judith Rangel
Visit to the Legacy Museum
On Saturday, May 10th, we visited The Legacy Museum in Montgomery. It was a meaningful and unforgettable day that will stay with me forever. While Mexicans/Latino stories were not discussed often, I realized how interconnected our struggles are. The sacrifices made by countless individuals across all backgrounds have helped by making possible all the opportunities such as voting rights, protecting civil rights, advocacy, education, protesting, and gathering support from the community to make the world a better place. This museum trip reminded me of the importance of remembering, honoring, and continuing that work.
As a first-generation Mexican-American, my experience with the museum was deeply emotional and, at times, difficult. While I’ve faced my own challenges, I can’t begin to imagine the traumatic experiences the black community had to endure. In today’s world, immigrants are still fighting for civil rights, seeking the same justice and equality as everyone else. During my visit to the museum, several common themes stood out: segregation, inequality, racism, violence, and inhumane treatment, all of which painted a powerful picture of the unjust system that the black communities had to face.
The stories of the protesters and people that helped make a change in today’s society were truly moving and powerful. They embodied courage, resilience, and determination. Despite the violence and aggression they faced, they remained nonviolent, dignified, and heroic in their efforts. Their strength and sacrifice continue to inspire the ongoing fight for justice and civil rights today. I left feeling inspired and motivated, determined to carry these lessons with me and contribute meaningfully to the ongoing fight in today’s society for justice and equality.
Ongoing work with MDS
For the past few days we have been working on this new build house that MDS has worked on. Our work that we needed to do is add cinder blocks around the house because the insurance company did not want the house above the ground. Monday May 12th, we started this house and it was going to be very difficult to put the blocks when the house was already raised up but it was trial and error. Micah, our SST co-leader, and I experimented with several and a mix of methods. But I’m just stating that my method worked a lot better. Jonathan, our crew leader, watched me struggle for a while and pointed out where I had gone wrong and what my mistakes were. I suppose you could say that he
inspired me to fix them and it was ultimately satisfying to see the results of the hard work I had put in, with his assistance in letting me know that one cinder block was higher than the other.
Tuesday May 13th, Micah and I had a task to complete again which was adding aluminum under the porch deck to make it more efficient rather than adding more cinder blocks. I have to say again it was all trial and error, but my methods were proving to be pretty effective. I ended up nicknaming the porch deck ‘The Rat Hole.’ Thankfully, there were no actual rats, I just needed to make things a bit more entertaining since I was spending so much time working there. Today, Micah tried to quit several times, but I kept encouraging him, reminding him it would all be worth it once we were done. We had to haul dirt in wheelbarrows to go beneath The Rat Hole. And while it wasn’t an official competition, I won.
My experience working with MDS has been truly incredible, and I’m proud to be part of a project that supports families in need of help with their homes. Visiting the Legacy Museum and working in Selma helped me form a deep connection to the city. Selma, Alabama, is a place where hope endures its people are resilient fighters, whether it is standing up for civil rights or rebuilding after natural disasters that damage homes and lives. I’ve come to see that the people of Selma are the heart and driving force behind progress, working toward opportunities that past generations could only dream of. I have a deep sense of empathy for Selma, and I enjoying sharing how much I admire this strong, supportive, and growing community.
-By Judith Rangel
