Page 13 - The Crown 2015-2017

34. Mrs. Boswell taught me at M.W. Dogan Junior High School. She
challenged us while she ate grapes and pecans at her desk.

a. Mrs. Glass taught my mother Home Economics. Mrs. Laverne
Madlock and my mother were college class mates. We all lived in
the same community. We were community. We knew each other.
We don’t even know our neighbors name now and some of us
prefer anonymity.

35. The Top Ladies challenged us to become leaders today in order to be
prepared for tomorrow. Act like a lady. Dress like a lady. Walk like a
lady. Sit like a lady. Close your legs. Stand up straight. Sound your
letters. Don’t slur your words. Research a topic so that you will know
what you are talking about.

36. We rushed to Top Teen Meetings. We felt like Top Teens. Not haughty
or big headed. Just intelligent, stately, going somewhere female Negros
in a segregated society that was talking about integration.

37. We weren’t training to be somebody. We were somebody on our way to
reaching goals, going to college, graduating with honors, becoming
contributing members of what was to become an integrated society.

38. We were not afraid. We had felt protected in our segregated society.
Our doors weren’t locked. We slept with our heads in the window. We
were told that God sits high, looks low and is our ever present help in
time of trouble. That He walks with you and talks with you.

39. You did not spend the night at other folk’s homes. You were expected to
be in your own bed every night and make it up when you got up every
morning. I guess our parents knew that there were perverts. We did not
know. They did a good job of sheltering us.

40. Mother told us I have eyes behind my head. I see you rolling your eyes
at me. You will be looking for your head in a few minutes and will be
glad when you find it.

41. It was not child abuse. It was discipline. The police did not tell our
parents how to raise us. They told the police as long as they live in my
house, I will discipline them the way I see fit. You would not dare call
the police. If you did; you better have your bags packed and ready to go
when they arrived.

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