When I See The Leadership Roles Black

I Will No Longer Act On The Outside In A Way That Contradicts The Truth That I Hold Deeply Inside. I Will No Longer Act As If I Were Less Than The Whole Person I Know Myself Inwardly To Be.

When That White Driver Stepped Back Toward Us, When He Waved His Hand And Ordered Us Up And Out Of Our Seats, I Felt A Determination Cover My Body Like A Quilt On A Winter Night.

People Have Said Over The Years That The Reason I Did Not Give Up My Seat Was Because I Was Tired. I Did Not Think Of Being Physically Tired. My Feet Were Not Hurting. I Was Tired In A Different Way. I Was Tired Of Seeing So Many Men Treated As Boys And Not Called By Their Proper Names Or Titles. I Was Tired Of Seeing Children And Women Mistreated And Disrespected Because Of The Color Of Their Skin. I Was Tired Of Jim Crow Laws, Of Legally Enforced Racial Segregation.

My Only Concern Was To Get Home After A Hard Day's Work.

An Opportunity Was Being Given To Me To Do What I Had Asked Of Others.