Capital #2: Montgomery

November 17, 2023

Tuskegee

I didn’t realize that Tuskegee University was on the way to Montgomery. So I was able to reach Kaylee and visit her on campus, my first time on Tuskegee's campus. We connected briefly before she headed off to class. I prayed for her and then hit the road for Montgomery.

Montgomery Capitol Building

Once I arrived in Montgomery, I found a retaining wall around the Montgomery Capitol Building pretty quickly, right along the main entrance. 

View from the capital steps.

Flowers in a retaining wall.

Traditional retaining wall.

In the Capitol

I can't remember the order of things, but I walked around the capital building while I prayed and while I toured the capital itself. Below are things I saw. 

The spot where Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as President of the Confederacy.

Seal of the Confederacy

Plaque marking the hall where Alabama decided to leave the Union.

Plaque marking the hall where Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederacy. 

While I appreciate history, I was floored by the reverence that Alabama gave to an act of treason against the United States. And to something that happened  over 160 years.  It would be different if people celebrated the history as if it were just a thing in the past and not active. 

For example, the US has fought wars with France, Mexico, and England to name a few. We remember these wars but the tensions behind the wars are over. No one's carrying a grudge because they lost wars back then.  (Yes, there is tension with Mexico, but today's war is about people crossing the border, not the location of the border.) 

The spirit of hate and racism that was behind the southern states secceeding from the nation in 1860 is still very active today. Folks in Wyoming and Texas floated the idea of secession after Trump's presidential defeat in 2020. 

When I saw Jefferson's "star," I stood on it and prayed that God would redeem the space. Showcasing the seal of the confederacy and plaques that celebrate decisions made to leave the Union - it's like the capital is a living memorial to the Confederacy. 

This picture captures how the state restored the Senate Chamber to its 1861 appearance. 

Black Americans in Alabama

There were a handful of references to non-white people. A couple paintings depicintg "hostile" Indians. And a painting that showcased the farming that black folks did AFTER the Civil War. But black people before the Civil War? It's like they didn't exist. I guess the state's legacy of slavery doesn't isn't something they which to highlight in hindsight.

I did find these two plaques that memorialized Black Americans who served in the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives during Reconstruction. 

But aside from these two plaques and a painting, you wouldn't even know that black folks had ever graced Alabama with their presence. 

Governor Lewis E. Parsons

Obviously, Alabama has had several governors over time. However, I sought this one out because he is the one who passed legislation that brought Alabama BACK into the union after the Civil War. He barely served 6 months, but I think his 6 months were a picture of realignment with truth, righting something that was upside down, reconciling two parts that were broken. 

From Wikipedia:

His first deed was to reinstate the laws of 1861, except those about slavery. He ordered the election of delegates to a constitutional convention that met on September 12, 1865. The convention repealed the ordinance of secession, renounced the state's war debts, abolished slavery, and scheduled elections to choose state officials and representatives to Congress. He attempted to purchase the panhandle of Florida for Alabama, which sparked rumors that he had access to unclaimed confederate gold. Parsons's term ended on December 13, 1865, with the inauguration of Robert M. Patton. Parsons was elected to the U.S. Senate but was refused his seat by the Republican Party. In addition, he served as U.S. District Attorney for northern Alabama.

Lewis E. Parsons. (2023, February 28). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_E._Parsons

State Capitol Environs

I was intrigued that all the government buildings in the capitol complex were white. The scripture that came to mind was Matthew 23:27.


27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

During my prayer time, I repented for various things that came to mind concerning Alabama and the South in general.

Sheep Vs. Goats


Andrew Dexter, one of Montgomery's founders, kept a prime piece of property empty in anticipation of the capital eventually being moved to Montgomery from Tuscaloosa. This property, atop what was then known as Goat Hill due to its use as a pasture, was chosen as the site for the new capitol building. (Wikipedia)

The following scripture came to mind:

"31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left...41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

I thought it interesting that such a religious region would name the location of their state capitol after a symbol that is rejected by God. 

First White House of the Confederacy

But what was most interesting was the picture inside of the White House...

Jefferson Davis Children

This picture of Jefferson Davis's children was in the White House. I think most black people will readily see why I found this interesting. These children look black. So then I looked to see who their mother was.

Varina Howell Davis

Introducing Jefferson Davis's black wife.  And apparently, I am not the only one to think so. Talk about irony of ironies. 

https://jacksonvillefreepress.com/was-the-first-lady-of-the-confederacy-black/

We should learn about this in US History. I wonder why we don't (rhetorical question asked with deep sarcasm)?

50-State Flag Retaining Wall

Of course, the theme for my prayer journey is to establish God's retaining wall throughout the U.S. I had come upon a several retaining walls when I first came to the Capitol. But when I saw this exhibit, I knew this was where I would pray.  The sun had been hidden by clouds at that moment, but as I approached the flags, it came back out. I took it as a confirmation I was heading in the right direction.

Instead of being a physical "natural" retaining wall made of stone, this seemed more like a spiritual retaining wall. What a beautiful sight to see the flags of each state standing side by side. I see it as a picture of what a unified United States could be.  (I will say that this is not a full representation of the entire U.S. The five territories are not represented. Here's a shout out to them:

And I'll be making my way to each of you before November 5, 2024!

Ohio State Marker

Each of the 50 states has its own marker next to its respective flag. 

Gold Star

This display represents and honors Gold Star Families, those that that have experienced a loss of a loved one–an immediate family member – who died as the result of active-duty military service. 

As I approached the flag display, there were two benches that led to the Gold Star flower display. I sat there to pray.

I prayed along the same lines as I did in Georgia, including the items I forgot to mention/do in while in Atlanta. 


I am always torn - do I scribe what I'm praying (and possibly become distracted? Or do I just pray and capture what I can afterwards? I've been opting for the latter.  Many of the things I referenced throughout this update, I also prayed about during my prayer time. 


I also prayed that God would connect the retaining wall in Montgomery with the retaining wall in Atlanta. I envision a network of retaining walls connected in the spirit. 


While I was praying a gentleman came out and lowered the Alabama flag from the main flag pole that also held the U.S. flag. I think he put up a second Alabama flag. I can't remember exactly. But I asked him what he was doing, and he said that the flag he had put up was in honor of someone who was retiring. Because nothing is a coincidence, especially when praying, I wondered what in Montgomery needed to be "retired." Nothing came concretely to mind, but I left it before the Lord. 


I prayed about the Black and Brown voices that had been largely omitted from Alabama history. That God would give voice to them.


As I wrapped things up a fire truck with its flashing lights (but no siren) passed by. Then a little while later an ambulance with its lights flashing and siren sounding passed while simultaneously, the city clock chimed a half-chime (it was 3:30 pm).  


Thoughts that came to mind:


After this, took one of my stones, covered it in the mud from the Dead Sea, and buried it in the caopitol grounds.


Then I took communion.