Music in My Heart: My Journey with Melody

Melody and I decide to stay at the church to make posters, stenciling big letters onto poster board. Melody holds up one that says “DOWN WITH DISCRIMINATION,” and I tell her it looks great, her letters perfectly spaced. When I ask if she’s done this before, she reaches for a pot of paint and says she made signs for the Walk of Freedom last year, and again this year when they picketed Fieldston’s Clothing Store, whose manager once accused her and her brother of shoplifting.

That’s so unfair. I ask if the picketing did any good, and Melody nods, painting in her letters. It took a while. They started in February handing out leaflets explaining how Fieldston’s treated Black customers, until people stopped shopping there and the store lost enough money that the manager agreed to change.

I’m amazed picketing actually worked. Melody says it didn’t happen right away, but it worked. She admires my sign, “JUSTICE NOW,” which I copied from another girl. My letters aren’t as neat as hers, but they look nicer once I fill them in with paint.

We add our own touches: Melody draws arrows pointing downward, and I underline “NOW.” We make more signs too, until my hands are spattered with paint.

Yvonne comes in needing help carrying the signs to a friend’s shop a few blocks away. Melody and I agree, and quickly learn just how heavy the signs are, and how hot it is outside.

After we drop them off, hot and thirsty, Yvonne offers to buy us sodas at Sam’s Soda Shop on the corner as thanks. Melody looks tempted but shakes her head. When I ask why, she explains Mommy won’t go there since a White waitress once treated her badly. Yvonne stops walking, surprised Mom never mentioned it.

Melody’s mouth clamps shut, saying it’s probably because she knew Yvonne would make a scene. Yvonne says that’s exactly why we should go in. Someone has to take a stand and fight for what’s right.

Yvonne turns to me and asks what I think. Should we try to make a difference, or keep walking? I catch Melody’s eye, and she looks just as unsure as I feel.