Black people didn’t have a reprieve from the discrimination and violence going on in the United States. By now, four young girls were killed in a Birmingham church that was bombed by segregationists. Other young people were injured. Dr. Martin Luther King had written his famous letter from the Birmingham jail. Later that year, he gave a powerful, “I Have A Dream,” speech on the March on Washington. Medgar Evers, civil rights leader in Jackson, Mississippi was assassinated in his own driveway. In November of the same year, black people lost an ally when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
The tumultuous times we lived in were constant reminders of how life was in the South for black people. Other than church, school activities, spending time with family and friends, and listening to songs, our activities were pretty limited. Many people felt helpless and hopeless. The civil rights leaders and activists were making some progress in the fight for equality, but many had lost their lives. The fight had taken its toll, but they didn’t give up. Because they didn’t give up, we didn’t give up. There was a long and dangerous road to equality. Black people were still under the threat of constant harassment and harm. Some people tried to escape the awful realities of life by abusing alcohol and directed their anger through violence. All people want to feel included, and as a result, sometimes bad choices are made. Life can be extremely hard, and everyone needs an outlet. Unfortunately, some outlets led to self-destruction. While most white people were enjoying life, most black people were subjected to racist laws and behaviors. We tried to live our life to the fullest while we waited to be recognized and respected in the land of our birth.
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We had a sense of belonging by connecting to a community, school, and church that cared about people. This was essential to our well-being. We began to blossom!