Civil Rights Pilgrimage

This pilgrimage traverse the U.S. South to experience places and learn about people that comprised the U.S. Southern Civil Rights Movement.

There are two upcoming pilgrimages: Spring Break 2025 and Summer 2025.

Program goals

Applicants should be open to the program's three goals:

  • Engage in personal formation through learning about the discernment processes of well- and lesser-known figures of the Civil Rights Movement.
  • Experience a deepening of faith rooted in a commitment to racial justice and an understanding of religion that recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of all people.
  • Learn Civil Rights Movement history including its various influences, motivations, aims, actions, outcomes, and impacts.

Past Pilgrimages

Please note that future pilgrimages may not follow the same itinerary of those highlighted above.

Program structure

All participants are required to take part in the following components of the pilgrimage:

  • Pre-trip meetings to meet the group and prepare for the trip.
  • Pre-trip reading to familiarize oneself with the timeline of the Civil Rights Movement. (Book or articles will be provided.)
  • Week-long tour of the South that integrates visits to museums, churches, and memorials with reflection, journaling, and community building.
  • Post-trip reflection paper and presentation to share how the experience impacted you and what you learned.

Logistics and details

There will be two Civil Rights Pilgrimages in 2025. The first will be a spring break experience for students enrolled in a spring semester special topics history class. See "Class Registration" below for instructions.

The second will be in early/mid-May, most likely the week following spring exams. This application can be completed online. See "Application Process" below for the link and instructions.

Each program will visit museums, churches, memorials, restaurants, and parks in several cities. We will travel in minivans and stay in shared hotel rooms.

This trip is highly subsidized for student participants. Students selected to participate in the program are expected to pay a participation fee to help cover costs associated with transportation, lodging, and museums. The fee for 2025 is $300. If additional financial assistance is necessary, please indicate so in your application.

Class Registration

Spring Break Pilgrimage

Register during spring enrollment for "HIST 4931: Special Topics - Civil Rights Pilgrimage." Enrollment in the class requires approval of the instructor (benjamin.linzy@marquette.edu) and an understanding that your grade and completion of the class will be contingent on attending the spring break pilgrimage.

The we expect to depart Milwaukee the morning of Sunday, March 9th and return the night of Saturday, March 15th. Travel for this program is highly subsidized. There will be a fee of $300 to help cover costs associated with transportation, lodging, and museums. Please mention if you anticipate additional financial assistance will be needed when you meet with the instructor to acquire the permission code.

The scheduled time for this class is Mondays (in person) and Wednesdays (virtual) from 3:30-4:45 pm.

Application process

Summer Pilgrimage

All Marquette students are welcome to apply regardless of class standing or program (undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral). Space on the trip is limited, but we will accomodate as many applicants as possible.

Travel dates for the May 2025 pilgrimage will be announced soon. It will most likely be the week following spring exams.

The application process for this pilgrimage has two-steps:

Step 1: Complete application

Please complete the online application form. Applications for May 2025 are due by March 3, 2025. If you encounter any issues with the application, please contact jenna.harb@marquette.edu.

Step 2: Complete interview

Applicants will then be invited to participate in a 30-minute interview. This will include discussion of a short reading and short video, which will be provided.

Please direct any questions to jenna.harb@marquette.edu.