The chill in our bones from winter began to warm on a sunny 60 degree day. The kids got spontaneously soaked in the famous Fountain of Rings at Centennial Olympic Park. This was after the musical display of shooting water that was entertaining to watch; the waters danced to the Beatles singing "Twist and Shout" and a part of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". We had a picnic and played soccer on the main lawn. There was also a large playground: new, clean, and underpopulated, unlike the playgrounds in NYC.
Nearby was the Georgia Aquarium, an immense, architected watery wonder. We watched a sea lion and dolphin show, both showing off the amazing skills of these animals. The dolphin show was in an indoor stadium; if you sat in the first 10 rows, you got splashed and/or drenched. The trainers dove in the large pool with sleek, agile dolphins that leapt to great heights and danced in unison like Olympic synchronized swimmers. The audience watched, eyes wide, gasping in amazement at the performance. It is advisable to line up an hour before the show's start time. The rest of the aquarium was just as engaging; we saw piranhas from the Amazon, a whale shark, the largest fish in the world, white American alligators.
The Fountain of Rings
Georgia Aquarium
On another pleasant spring day, we rented bikes and pedaled through Piedmont Park and part of the Beltline. Welcoming green hills, fitness area, ball fields, a playspace created by the sculptor Isamu Noguchi, a serene lake were some features of Piedmont. The BeltLine is a 22-mile loop encircling the city; it was formerly railroads and is now a park with clearly-marked pedestrian and bike paths, a skateboard park, commissioned murals, sculptures, all with access to many restaurants and stores.
The Beltline
On our last day, we visited the Center for Civil and Human Rights. Walking through the main exhibit on the Civil Rights Movement was emotional and educational for all of us. One wall showed the list of the exclusionary Jim Crow laws by state; this interactive wall clearly communicated how restricted the rights and lives of blacks were in these places. The children were shocked and outraged, asking "How could this happen?"
One part I was not prepared for was the lunch counter simulation. While there was a sign that suggested people 13 and older to experience it, I allowed my 8 and 10 year old after asking them if they wanted to. There were only two seats free, so they went before I even experienced it myself. They sat, hands flat on the table, headphones on, and they had to keep their eyes closed. The audio consisted of men and women shouting angry, racist slurs that increased with volume and intensity and climaxed to a point of punches and kicks; at this point, the seats shook. After about 2 minutes, the violence quieted and a narrator concluded by commemorating the brave individuals who risked their lives as they participated in non-violent protests. This experience shook us all; my son began crying and we sit on a wooden bench in the next room, talking about what we felt and how to move forward. We discussed the dangers of anger and hatred and focused on the importance of kindness and helping others.
We continued on, heavier than when we walked in. It is difficult to confront the vicious realities of our country's past. Museums like this help to stress the importance of justice, change, and hope. My children not only learned about the outrageous and heinous acts of local politicians and a vast majority of citizens; they also learned about outstanding, extraordinary individuals such as Ruby Bridges and Mahatma Gandhi.
Outside the museum are tall panels with moving water and words. Below is a picture of my daughter in front of a Margaret Mead quotation: "Never forget that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world." It helps me see possibility and purpose in my children's future and reminds me of the importance of working together to make our world more just. As a teacher, parent, and citizen, I found the experience of this museum extremely valuable.
After this, we shopped in local stores in Little Five Points, a colorful bohemian neighborhood. We bought vintage clothing at Clothing Warehouse and I bought a Nina Simone t-shirt at Moods Music. We concluded with dinner at our friend Sonya's who lives in Midtown on Ponce de Leon Ave (which I now know is pronounced "pONts" with one syllable). Next time we go to Atlanta, we will try to learn more about local color and speech. My kids liked pointing out people's accents and enjoyed trying to speak Southern, but the only line they were taught by our native Georgian friend was "Y'all gon git drunk tonight?", and they repeated it countless times with various intonations. Of course, being responsible, exhausted grown ups, we did not get drunk; we just buzzed with delight as we immersed ourselves in conversation and drank ample glasses of wine and beer on the porch on Ponce.
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