In March 2025, the Townview High School Heritage Bowl Competition winners embarked on an unforgettable journey into the heart of history. This award for an all-expenses-paid trip to Memphis was more than just a reward; it was an opportunity for these bright students to witness the very subjects they had studied come alive in vivid detail.
The adventure began before dawn, as the eager winners and members of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the competition host, gathered at the African American Museum of Dallas parking lot. Their first stop was Grambling State University, where student ambassadors warmly welcomed them with a campus tour. As they mingled over lunch in Grambling’s cafeteria, excitement buzzed in anticipation of what lay ahead.
With Memphis as their next destination, students settled into their seats on the bus, entertained by movies and music that made time fly by. Upon arriving at Doubletree Downtown that evening, their enthusiasm was palpable as they settled into their rooms before gathering for a delightful dinner.
The following day promised to be even more enlightening. After breakfast at the hotel, Ms. Elaine Turner led a captivating Civil Rights tour through Memphis. Students traced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s footsteps during his pivotal visit for the sanitation workers’ strike. Viewing churches where rallies were held and streets that echoed with marches brought these historical events to life.
Ms. Turner’s personal stories added depth to this experience, sharing her firsthand accounts from sit-ins and protests against desegregation in Memphis libraries and lunch counters. The students were captivated by her narrative and eagerly participated in discussions about this transformative era while learning and singing songs from the movement.
Their educational excursion continued with a visit to LeMoyne-Owen College for another enriching campus tour followed by lunch—a perfect prelude to their final stop: The National Civil Rights Museum.
The exhibits brought to life many of the topics they had studied so diligently for their competition. Walking through history’s corridors, they could almost hear the echoes of past struggles and triumphs—moments that shaped our nation’s path toward equality and justice.
After immersing themselves in civil rights history, the students returned to their hotel for some well-deserved rest before dinner at Huey’s Burgers.
The adventure continued the next morning as breakfast was served in the hotel conference room before boarding a bus bound for Dallas. However, this journey included another historical detour—Little Rock, Arkansas. Here, at Central High School, students stood on hallowed ground where courage and determination once defied segregationist policies during one of America’s pivotal moments—the story of the Little Rock Seven.
Photographs were taken amidst stories shared by ASALH members who lived through those transformative times. It was yet another powerful reminder that history is not just about dates and events; it’s about people who dared to make change happen.
As they traveled back towards Dallas with smiles on their faces and music in their ears, these young historians carried with them more than memories—they held newfound appreciation for those who fought before them and inspiration to continue learning from our past.
Upon arriving back in Dallas at their starting point—the African American Museum of Dallas—the students were greeted by parents and loved ones eager to hear tales from this enlightening expedition into America’s civil rights legacy.
Next year, the National Museum of African American History and Culture?