Students at The READ Center did not just study the Civil Rights Movement— some of them lived it. Below are stories and thoughts from students who lived in that era.

Growing Up In The South In The 1950’s And 1960’s By Harry

When I was young my brothers and I were treated very badly by some white people. They would force us off the road with their vehicles. They would throw stones at us. Those people just didn’t like black people. After all these years I still don’t understand why they did not like us. We did everything we could to get them to treat us with respect and dignity. That was so hard for them to do at that time.

Child of the Civil Rights Movement By Lillie Booker

Blacks and whites could not eat or sit together. Blacks could not vote. One day Mama and Daddy were watching the news and they saw a bus on fire. Blacks and whites students were on the bus. Blacks and whites were on their way north to south to protest bad laws. Daddy went to Alabama, Missispi, Florida and Georgia to help the people to protest unfair laws. Sometime Daddy were broking the laws and went to jail. Blacks and white could’nt from the same water fountain. Daddy went to Brown Chapel AME Church the next morning to march with thousand of people, 5 different kinds of people were at the March. Blacks and whites, young and old Rich and poor cam to March with the other.

My thoughts about Dr King. By C.P.

I believe Dr King was a prophet like Moses. Moses was a prophet, teacher and a leader in the 13th century. He delivered his People from Egypt out of the land of slavery. Dr King was a Preacher, teacher and a leader in the 20th century. Who tried to free all God’s People’s from Poverty and segregation. He was a non violent man. He led non violent Protest and marches to fight for people’s rights.

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