I Want To Be Treated

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.

I Did Not Want To Be Mistreated, I Did Not Want To Be Deprived Of A Seat That I Had Paid For. It Was Just Time… There Was Opportunity For Me To Take A Stand To Express The Way I Felt About Being Treated In That Manner. I Had Not Planned To Get Arrested. I Had Plenty To Do Without Having To End Up In Jail. But When I Had To Face That Decision, I Didn't Hesitate To Do So Because I Felt That We Had Endured That Too Long. The More We Gave In, The More We Complied With That Kind Of Treatment, The More Oppressive It Became.

I Thought About Emmett Till, And I Could Not Go Back. My Legs And Feet Were Not Hurting, That Is A Stereotype. I Paid The Same Fare As Others, And I Felt Violated. I Was Not Going Back.

I See The Energy Of Young People As A Real Force For Positive Change.

If You Want To Be Respected For Your Actions, Then Your Behavior Must Be Above Reproach. If Our Lives Demonstrate That We Are Peaceful, Humble, And Trusted, This Is Recognized By Others.