It's 1877 when Jim Crow laws say it's acceptable legal lawful to segregate Blacks & whites based on the color of their skin. In schools hospitals churches cemeteries prisons public transit restaurants--- if you were not white you were lesser less than human. For years & years & years & years nothing changed, until 1954 when the Supreme Court reversed its decision & ruled segregation unconstitutional. Yet still, nothing changed. Because a ruling is only as effective as its real--world execution. the Supreme Court rules in 1896 Blacks are "Separate but Equal" yet outside in the middle of July in Birmingham, Alabama, sweat drips d o w n your forehead your neck your back drenching your shirt your shorts your socks s e p a r a t e but equal you find a water fountain your water fountain and press the small rusty button water arches up and out waiting for your puck ered lips s e p a r a t e but equal only it's hot brown tastes like dirt you glance around checking for them then sneak a sip from their fountain s e p a r a t e but equal it's cold ice--cold and refreshing you sigh s e p a r a t e but equal you are not. the Civil Rights Movement was more than just Dr. King marching, Rosa Parks sitting, Malcolm X fighting. it was your mom your grandma your best friend's great--aunt. it was everyday people like you and me. 1954 May 17 Brown v. Board of Education + inherently unequal , an unconstitutional violation of the fourteenth amendment = white schools + Black schools = a great day for America and its court. = segregation in public schools now illegal in theory. SIGNS, EVERYWHERE YOU GO . . . whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only WHITES ONLY for colored their (other) signs read funny thing is white is still a color Excerpted from And We Rise by Erica Martin All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.