The March on Washington
The World Is Watching
The civil rights movement grew and grew, and television and reporters started to report on its efforts. Protestors realized the media was powerful, and decided to find opportunities to capture America’s racism on camera. In 1955, fourteen-year-old Emmett Till visited his cousins in Mississippi. His mother warned him to be careful because life in Mississippi was very different from life in Chicago. Emmett’s cousins had never seen white and black children together like the photos Emmett brought. One day, they went to a store, and on their way out, Emmett said, “Bye, baby,” to a young white lady working at the store.
Four days later, the white lady’s husband and brother-in-law kidnapped Emmett. They beat him, shot him, and threw his body in the river. When his body was recovered, he was unrecognizable. At his funeral, his mother pushed for an open casket so the world could see what the white men did to him. Magazines printed photos of Emmett’s body. Now, the world finally could see how terrifying life was for young black people in Mississippi.
Two years later, the Little Rock School Board agreed to slowly start integrating their schools. They selected nine black students who had excellent grades to attend Central High School. All nine students agreed to meet and go there together. But Elizabeth Eckford didn’t receive the message, and she faced a mob of several hundred angry white people, who shouted and spat at her. They even threatened to kill her. Still, Elizabeth kept walking forward. When she reached the guards at the door, they blocked her, and Elizabeth had to return home. A photo of Elizabeth walking, with a white student screaming at her from behind, was spread.
It was the nine students’ right to attend Central High School, and many people agreed. It was time to peacefully fight for change.
The Picket Line
At 10 AM in the morning, a group gathers in front of Fieldston’s. Almost fifty people have shown up to protest. Melody’s father walks among the people, passing out leaflets and protest signs. Melody and her mother stand at the ready with Melody’s protest sign, too, which says “Support our Boycott!” They cross the street together.
Many protestors look directly ahead as they walk past the windows of Fieldston’s, but Melody looks inside. She sees the manager who’d accused her and Dwayne of shoplifting. Their eyes lock. Melody wonders if he recognizes her. As he realizes the line isn’t ending, and the chanting isn’t stopping, his face pales.
Melody watches a white man stop at the door of Fieldston’s. Melody’s father hands him a leaflet, and after reading, it slowly backs away from the store without crossing the picket line.
Somebody begins to sing, and Melody joins in, as loud as she can. Together, they form a rhythm of voices. Melody realizes that she’s connected to people she’ll never know: the people from the past who were mistreated, and the people in the future who won’t face this sort of discrimination. If their boycott is a success, things will change.
That night, Melody’s legs ache from walking, and her arms are tired from holding up her sign. But her heart feels stronger knowing that she’s been a part of something she believes in. When they hear about their boycott on the radio, Melody feels like the whole world is listening.