Image: Last semester, the University of Georgia's Geography Undergraduate Student Organization (GUSTO) took a transformative day trip to the Equal Justice Initiative’s (EJI) Legacy Sites in Montgomery, Alabama. This educational experience included visits to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Legacy Museum, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. These sites highlight the history of racial injustice in the United States, exploring legacies of slavery, lynching, segregation, and mass incarceration. By immersing students in these spaces of historical reflection and social activism, the trip provided firsthand exposure to the critical intersection of geography, history, and social justice, thereby enriching students’ understanding of the built environment, spatial inequality, and community resilience. This field trip directly enhanced the academic experience for Geography students by engaging them with the historical and spatial dimensions of racial justice. Students had the opportunity to explore the ways in which historical events shape the landscape and inform modern-day social structures. By reflecting on the importance of place, memory, and history through the lens of the EJI’s powerful exhibitions, students were able to gain a deeper appreciation for the role of geography in social activism and political movements. This experience also fostered discussions on how geography as a discipline can contribute to dismantling systemic inequality. This experience offered value to Geography students of all concentrations. The emphasis on the historical development and perpetuation of racial terror aligned with the Human Geography curriculum, which analyzes race, place, and power. Secondly, the Legacy Sites’ commitment to mapping provided useful and creative opportunities for our community members studying Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Additionally, EJI activities involving soil collection and landscape analyses engaged students of Physical Geography.
