One With Others: [A Little Book of Her Days] by C. D. Wright Read Free Book Online Page A

imminent. However the superintendent had notified the chief of the firing of a teacher at the all-Negro junior high and had stated that there might be trouble.
The first teacher to approach the study hall after the disturbance began was not on hall duty but went on the basis of a report that there was trouble.
When he arrived there was not another teacher in the study hall. The students were then in the process of overturning tables and throwing chairs.
The students, by this time numbering in the hundreds, went out upon the grounds; some or all of them continued their course of conduct throwing bottles, rocks, or other objects at the building resulting in breakage of glass.
A bottle or some other object struck an assistant superintendent on the forehead inflicting a moderately severe wound requiring medical attention.
WE [the grand jury] are aware that every effort is being made to bring about better facilities, yet we feel that this alone will not cure the ills that exist. Whether it be crowded conditions, lack of discipline, lack of respect, political and/or social ills, or imagined political or social ills, none of these excuse or justify damage and destruction of our education institutions.
Immediate Steps
Must Be Taken
Toward More Strict
Position Of Discipline,
Respect, Order
Quickly As Possible
Closer Observation
Take Whatever Steps
Necessary
Bring It
Immediately
Under Control
Protect Property
Rights Of Those
Desiring
Deserving
Opportunity
Education
Our County Judge
Doing Excellent Job
[later sent up for racketeering]
Under Circumstances
Best Crime Deterrent
Sure Detection
Swift Apprehension
Certain Punishment
Testimony Shows
An Excess Of $19,000
Spent Restoring
The Building
To Habitable Condition
A month later it was unofficially reported that a walkout was in progress at the all-Negro senior high.
Langston’s word was fester.
King’s was thingification. The thingification of our humanity.
What the King called nobodiness.
Festina lente, with all deliberate speed, make haste slowly. Voluntary gradualism, glacial time.
THE D.A. said it was not in the public interest to bargain with any evildoers; they had no cause to meet with or make concessions to any bush-league agitators from Little Rock, nor for that matter, with any hoodlum parasite element.
He speaks he claimed for the judge, the sheriff, the city, and himself.
THE CHIEF [former bouncer at the Cotton Club]: They got to yeah-yeahing each other. The whites have taken it off of them until they’ve got tired of it.
THE CONCERNED CITIZENS COUNCIL’s first guest speaker [over cookies and punch at their new offices in the former city barbershop]: The rule of the majority is being eroded by the minority.
MAYOR: I don’t think they have any real grievance.
COUNTY JUDGE: I assure you we’ve been nothing but good to the [N-word].
Come again.
You’ve got me, man, said the Invader to his assailants.
You’ve got me. [It was not part of his plan to die in Arkansas.]
THE PUBLISHER says this community has no quarrel with its Negro citizens, to the contrary, the average white and Negro citizen in Big Tree get along as well as citizens in any city anywhere in the world; the problem lies in the hands of a small minority of troublemakers who seem hell-bent on making Big Tree a focal point of racial unrest. The time for pacifying them is past. Our officials have no alternative now but to meet them head-on.
HEAD OF THE BIRCHERS [that backdoor abortionist] told newsmen [over cookies and punch] that the president was leading the nation toward insolvency, surrender, and socialism.
DEAR ABBY,
My daughter married a 30-year-old mama’s boy who is in love with tropical fish. He has 13 tanks of them. Just to give you an idea he paid $14 for 1 little fish.
DEAR MOTHER,
Water seeks its own level—even in a fish tank.
What’s your problem.
Lions cancel annual picnic due to concerns.
Spinster luncheon honors fiancée [an attractive blonde]
of Mr. Peacock.
County board recommends dismissal