How Selma’s Bridge Ignited My Purpose to Teach

The Journey to Freedom Podcast

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The pivotal moment came when Joshua Mays stood alone beneath the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Running his fingers along the weathered structure where blood was once spilled for civil rights, he broke down crying. "I began to question what have I put my life on line for?" he recalls, confronting the stark contrast between his life and those who marched across that bridge decades before.
Josh never expected this soul-searching journey when his father suggested he join a civil rights tour through Alabama. Growing up in Colorado with limited exposure to Southern history, Josh thought he'd simply visit some museums with like-minded people. Instead, he found himself standing at invisible boundaries where crossing a street would have meant violence for a Black person sixty years ago, witnessing neighborhoods still visibly segregated, and most devastatingly, discovering his own family's tragic connection to America's darkest chapter.
At the Legacy Museum, Josh was directed to a display containing a jar of soil from where his ancestors, Edward and Dick Mays, were lynched in 1901. They had been falsely accused, then shot, hung, and mutilated beyond recognition. "That was the most shattering thing for me, knowing that my bloodline, specifically, was a part of slavery," Josh explains. This personal connection transformed abstract history into visceral reality, helping him understand his grandparents' warnings about interacting with white people that had previously seemed excessive.
Since returning to Denver, Josh has channeled this profound experience into creating educational spaces for youth using interactive technology. His trauma therapy background, coupled with patience learned from raising his nonverbal autistic son, uniquely positions him to translate difficult history to young people. "I think getting people out there to see it and experience that... it was an amazing somber feeling. It was a feeling that I needed to have."
Want to learn more about Josh's work with youth or join a future civil rights tour? Follow him on Instagram at good_knight87 and connect with Journey to Freedom to experience history's transformative power for yourself.

Visit www.brianearnold.com to join a life-changing journey! Experience a powerful civil rights tour through Alabama with trauma therapy specialist Joshua Mayes.
Feel the emotional impact of Birmingham, Selma, and the Legacy Museum. See how history reshapes identity and inspires action.
Gain insights into courage, heritage, and community impact. Don’t miss the sneak peek: Joshua’s bold plan to educate youth with VR and media rooms!
The pivotal moment came when Joshua Mays stood alone beneath the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Running his fingers along the weathered structure where blood was once spilled for civil rights, he broke down crying. "I began to question what have I put my life on line for?" he recalls, confronting the stark contrast between his life and those who marched across that bridge decades before.
Josh never expected this soul-searching journey when his father suggested he join a civil rights tour through Alabama. Growing up in Colorado with limited exposure to Southern history, Josh thought he'd simply visit some museums with like-minded people. Instead, he found himself standing at invisible boundaries where crossing a street would have meant violence for a Black person sixty years ago, witnessing neighborhoods still visibly segregated, and most devastatingly, discovering his own family's tragic connection to America's darkest chapter.
At the Legacy Museum, Josh was directed to a display containing a jar of soi

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Chapters

1. Learning from His Nonverbal Son (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to Civil Rights Tour (00:01:20)

3. Josh's Childhood and Background (00:04:34)

4. Birmingham: Experiencing Civil Rights History (00:14:35)

5. Walking the Edmund Pettus Bridge (00:26:30)

6. Discovering Family History at Museum (00:35:30)

7. Taking Action After the Trip (00:49:13)

8. Final Thoughts and Contact Information (00:56:36)