Integration

Sadly today was the last official day before we begin our long trek back home. We went to visit Little Rock Central High School and the Little Rock Central High museum center.  At the museum center I came across the following quote. 

"So as long as the Negroes fight an uncompromising fight for total integration, we of the white race must fight a like fight for total segregation. 

We cannot compromise."

This quote really struck me and grabbed my attention. I know that the reason why blacks were looked down on and treated unequally was because of the color of their skin, but it really made me think why? What is so bad about the color of my skin that people would want to go through such great lengths and expend so much time and energy just to bring me down and to make sure I cannot be seen as equal. It really made me think about how much hate someone has to have for you in order to be willing to go through all that just so that you can't vote. Just to make sure your child doesn't sit in the same class as theirs. Just to make sure you can't drink from the same water fountain or use the same bathrooms. Even just so you can buy a soda from the same vending machine. I could make sense of why someone would have so much hate for me and it made me cringe. What did I ever do? I never hurt anyone or bothered anyone. 

What's wrong with my skin? Why do people hate it?

Jelani Robinson

12^th grade, The Park School