“Throw the ball!”

“Throw the ball!”

        The day was a normal Sunday, the entire neighborhood playing ball, and I was the first baseman. The sun was blazing down on us, and our brown skin was shining. Daddy was blown away by my excellence at ball, and Mama, like always, was nowhere to be seen. 

“Throw the ball,” I shouted as I stood on the dirt first base with my worn out glove on. I ran without a single thought in my mind, retrieving the ball and getting back in time to return to first base, and I did just that. 

        “Ruby, you're out!” I shouted at Ruby, and I was clearly right; Ruby was out. 

        “Nuh Uh!” Ruby shouted right back at me, “I am safe!” Ruby demanded. 

        Just like that, Ruby got away with her way, and the neighborhood returned to their homes. No one had to travel far; we were all clustered together at all times. You know what was far away for us? Our schools, and due to segregation, there was nothing I could do about it. There was nothing any of the kids on my block could do about it. 

- - - - -

“Pamela, now listen, Annette is not clueless,” Dr. Broyard announced to Annette's mother in an unprofessional way without care on how to present this to a woman of color. “She scored very well on the board of education test. So well, in fact, that she outdid most of the first graders throughout the entire district.” 

A chuckle of laughter came out of Pamela as she asked Dr.Broyard, “My Annette?” 

- - - - -

Stens Grocery Store was closer to us than the school, but I have no complaints about that. Daddy took me every Sunday after playing ball to get a cola and a bag of my favorite potato chips. We walked down the gray cement pavement sidewalk, and I skipped every time, bouncing around excitedly for my pre-packaged snack. Mrs.Sten knew my family and I very well, and we were her first customers when she moved the store to our street. 

“Look at you, Annette,” Mrs.Sten said in her warmhearted welcoming voice. “You must have grown since last Sunday because I hardly could see you over the counter before.”

I walked down the aisles, and Daddy followed right behind me, because everywhere I go, he always does, and I liked it that way. Daddy grabbed my usual yellow bag of potato chips off the shelf. Mrs.Sten was right about me getting taller, but I didn’t get that much taller. We walked near the back towards the refrigerators, which were making their usual buzzing and static noises and grabbed my coca cola. The satisfying closing noise of the refrigerator was one of my favorite parts. After paying in One Dollar bills and coins we had said goodbye to Mrs.Sten for the week. The sun was pink, the clouds were fading, and the temperature had dropped rapidly; this was our signal that Mama should have been home be home. 

        “Well I have some news,” Mama introduced at the table during our family dinner that same Sunday night. 

I continued eating, not bothering to listen because often the news is just “Grown Folk Business.” My plate was bigger than my face tonight. There was corn and mashed potatoes with some sort of brown tender meat. Dinners after Mama goes food shopping were always the best. 

“Annette, dear, this has something to do with you as well,” Mama declared in a unifying voice.

Daddy and I both didn’t know whether we should be intrigued with what she had to say or frightened. I placed down my fork that had a mixture of corn and mashed potatoes ready to be eaten. Oh no, I thought.

“You scored over the top on your board of education exam, so well you out cherried the other first graders in the district!” Mama announced with only enthusiasm in her voice. 

“Oh,well, now isn't that just fantastic, Annette,” Daddy commented proudly of me, “This sounds like an extra chips and cola extravaganza for you!” 

“Really, Daddy! Extra chips with extra cola?” 

“You know it, Mrs.Sten will be stoked to hear the news.”

“But I'm not done, your high score on the exam allows you to attend the all-white School!” Mama had said with more enthusiasm in her voice than before.

“The all-white school? Who said she's going? Honey, you understand how dangerous that is?” Daddy answered with less enthusiasm than before and far more anger than ever. His mood changed quicker than the temperature from morning to sunset. 

“Yes, I understand that, but you have to understand this school will be bigger and better than the school that she is attending now.”  Mama began raising her voice at Daddy, disagreeing with his thoughts. 

        This is now a grown folk business topic. I should have a say in this because the business is about me! 

        I am no fool and know better than to interrupt them, so I pick up my fork again and continue eating as Mama and Daddy continue to argue tonight's Sunday dinner topic. 

This was far more than just a Sunday Dinner topic, because this was also a Monday breakfast topic. I had already gotten ready for my school day, including dressing myself, brushing my teeth, and washing my face. I headed down our narrow and cluttered hallway to get to the table for breakfast. 

“William Franke Elementary school is much bigger and better than the school she's going to now, and you know that!” Mama yelled loud enough for our nosy neighbors to hear. 

“The schools for black and white children are known to be Separate but Equal. You heard governor Davis,” Daddy argued back.

“Yes, and I also heard governor Davis when he said he'd go to jail before he allowed a black child in a white school,” Mama added with more pain than anger in her voice.

I sat quietly and ate my breakfast, which that morning was buttered toast with milk. This toast was burnt blacker than my black crayon, but I still was going to continue eating. I thought about how it would feel to attend an all-white school; most importantly who was taking me to school this present morning because I well knew that it would not be the both of them. I have heard Mama and Daddy fight and argue before, but this was something different. 

Daddy went straight to work, no goodbye kisses to me or Mama. Work was the place Daddy could just get away and clear his mind. He worked at Palmers General Auto Sales, and that wasn’t too far from home. It was actually closer than my school is. With Daddy being at work, that leaves just Mama and I taking our long and tiring walk up to my Elementary school.

“Annette, I hope you know that this fighting has nothing to do with you. It’s all between me and your Daddy. This is not your fault,” Mama asserted while squeezing my hand tightly as we walked to school.

        But Mama, this is my fault and it has everything in the world to do with me. I stayed quiet and didn't say anything though. I never said no to mama, I just knew better. 

        “Annette, this opportunity is beyond incredible. You could get the education that me and your father never got taught,” she had continued.

        “Mama. Why is Daddy so upset with you?” 

        “Well, baby, Daddy is just afraid for your safety if we let you attend this all-white school. There are lots of people in this world who won’t like what you would be doing.”

As I sat in my lukewarm almost cold bath I thought about what Mama said; Daddy is just afraid for your safety replayed in my head like a record on Saturday morning cleaning. 

        He fears my safety but from who? My current teacher, Mrs.King, is a kind and warm teacher who always encourages me to try my best. I am sure there are teachers like her at an all-white school. After all, Mama is always ranting on and on about how the school will be bigger and better. This may not have anything to do with me or may not be my fault, but I wish I could have a say in this. Surely my say would be on Mama's side.

        After my bath I got ready to catch some z’s in bed. My pajamas were soft and cozy, and my bed was freshly made. I lied awake, waiting for Mama and Daddy to come give me a nighttime kiss before bed; as I waited, I did my nightly prayers for god like Mama always said. Soon after I was done, a third of me was already asleep; Mama came in and laid her glossy lips on my left cheek. Next, Daddy came in and laid his crisp lips on my right, but it was not together. 

 

“I am sure my little Annette will do you proud,” Mama had said to the white male who went by the name of Dr.Broyard. “Oh here comes my husband, Darryl,” She continued in a high-pitched, proud voice as Daddy came from his Saturday morning shift. He was on his way up the stairs as Mama pulled him into their conversation.

Daddy and Dr.Broyard shook hands firmly and smiled; I could tell Daddy’s wasn’t true though because he just does not like the white people except Mrs.Sten, and he believes they do not like us either. 

“Glad to meet you, Mr.Maynard,” Dr.Broyard said to Daddy before fully introducing himself. 

Mama then pulled me from playing with the dead flower in the pot on the porch. As she wrapped her arm around me I knew to smile, and I always did what Mama wanted.

“Is this the little girl who is so smart?”  Dr. Broyard had asked, knowing the most palpable answer would be yes. 

“Yes I am,” I said proudly.

“Well aren’t you just the cutest thing, Annette; Mrs.Maynard, I really do need to know soon if you are allowing Ruby to integrate an Elementary School here in New Orleans, but take your time; I hope to hear from you shortly.” 

“Alright, have a nice night,” Mama said with an incredible right cheek to left cheek smile. Soon after that Dr.Broyard fled the scene of our home. 

“Come on, Darryl, please let our baby girl take this opportunity,” Mama said, begging once again as we all followed each other inside.

I had left immediately to go play in our hardly fenced in backyard because this was a situation I was not a part of.  I pushed my dolly on the swing while waiting for my turn. My dolly was a beautiful brown skinned doll who I cherished and always had since I was born. Her name was Annmarie because my name was Annette, but I think hers is prettier. 

        “No, Pamela, I have said this once and I will say it again. Do you think any of these white people like Dr.Broyard really care about her? They're just doing it for publicity! The mayor didn’t want them to take the test, so what makes you think he will allow Annette or any of those children to integrate any of those schools?” Daddy responded viciously at mama. 

“There were hundreds of those kids who didn’t get this opportunity who are dying for it, Darryl. I get it, Annette will be in danger, but you know what? The other little girls coming along with her will be too. That's just how it works. I would have wished to have this opportunity as a child, and you know damn well you would too. So let our little girl take this opportunity, and stop being bent out of shape,” I heard Mama yell through the thin walls we have in our home. 

I was not going to miss this; I took my dolly and walked back inside before getting my turn on the swing. Mama was on the verge of tears, and Daddy's face was full of guilt. I never had known this was that important to Mama. It had not been that important to me either until now. 

“I want to go,” I had said as my voice was trembling. “I want to go to the big school.”

I woke up the next morning to four large white men and Dr.Broyard in my living room; Mama and Daddy were there as well, but I was yet again unaware of what was going on. I was going to pretend to mind my own business in the kitchen, but Mama had gestured for me to come sit with her in the living room on the sofa. This is no longer a grown folk business. 

“Everyone here is for your daughter to integrate, and not against. I, J. Skelly Wright, will not stop until your kind has the right and same education as my kind. You have been assigned to William Franke Elementary School.  Don’t worry, another girl you may know by Ruby Bridges will also be integrating with Annette,” one of the four white men, who I now knew was Skelly Wright, said in a passionate way. 

“Thank you very much, and I want all of you to know that my family and I are incredibly grateful and honored for this opportunity you have given to us,” Mama said, once again on the verge of tears, but this time they were happy tears.

“What are you going to do on behalf of my daughter's safety? I hope you all are aware not everyone of your kind will agree with you,” Daddy said, questioning the men. 

“Darryl is it?” Skelly Wright questioned the name of Daddy. “We have united as a team, and we are going to make sure that your daughter and all of the other girls are safe as well. These three men right here work for the NAACP and will escort your daughter to school and back every morning and afternoon.” 

“What about me? I have plans on walking with Annette to and from school as much as I can,” Mama asked. She sounded like Daddy except I think she feared her safety. 

“You will be escorted with us too, and say Darryl would like to come, the same will be done for him.” 

Soon enough the questions and answers were coming to an end. I had never been more bored in my life, but there was a part of me that wanted to stay present for the conversation. I had not said anything, but that changed when Skelly Wright directed his attention to me.

“Annette, I want you to know that you’re changing history,” he announced.

The room stayed quiet after his remark, like a moment of silence for mourning the death of someone. This was a death, and this was the death of “Separate but Equal” in schools in the South. 

“Annette! Have you gotten into your bath yet? It’s going to get cold,” Mama shouted. 

I could tell she was just on the edge of her chair because tomorrow was the big day. Mama re-flat ironed my hair, and the smell of the burning hair grease was lingering throughout the house still. I was still making water works from all the times Mama had hit the back of the hot comb to my neck. Since Mama had so much to do, Daddy was making dinner tonight, and cooking sure wasn’t his specialty. The smell of the hair grease combining with whatever was boiling in the cooking pot was horrendous. 

“Yes mama!” I exclaimed, knowing I was not telling the truth. Oh God, forgive me. I was looking at myself in the mirror. What if the other kids don’t like me, I thought to myself. I could not stop thinking about what Daddy had remarked to Skelly Wright.  I hope you all are aware not everyone of your kind will agree with you.

I slowly dipped one leg of mine into the now lukewarm bath water, and then the second leg. Mama was right. The water is turning cold. I thought about the next day, and the next day only. I was scared, but a tiny part of the fright disappeared whenever I thought about how Ruby was also going to be by my side. Will she be going in the automobile with Mama and I? Will the other kids like us? Why won’t they like us? Even though Mama told me not to worry about any of this, I still chose to. 

I scrubbed the disintegrating soap bar against my washcloth. I slowly lathered my entire body from head to toe in soap, using my washcloth. I splashed my body with water and let the soap run off of me until it reached the water still sitting in the bath. I repeated the process once more than usual; after all, the next day was a big day, my big day, our big day. 

Dinner surprisingly was not as bad as I thought it would be. As we said in our prayers, we had a meal on our table, and that was all that mattered. Speaking of prayers, I prayed longer than usual that night before bed. Mama always taught me that God will and always can protect me. I begged and asked him to protect every bone in my body from any one who intentionally tries to harm me. When I finished I still could not fall asleep. I stared at the ceiling of my small bedroom and layed there, letting boredom get the best of me.

My bedroom door had creaked open. I rushed to my side and pulled my bedsheets over my head. Adrenaline rushed through my body because Mama would give me a scolding if she ever caught me up this late. I heard slow footsteps move closer and closer until they reached the edge of my bed. 

“Annette, baby, are you awake?” 

I now knew the footsteps belonged to Mama by the pitch of her voice.

“Yes,” I had answered in fear to Mama's question. I could not lie to Mama, especially after praying.

“Did you pray yet? Your Daddy and I wanted to join you in your prayer tonight,” Mama continued.

I now knew the footsteps not just belonged to Mama but also to Daddy.

“Yes, but I want to do it with you,” I answered. 

        Mama, Daddy, and I all said a nightly prayer together as a family. I was surprised that Mama didn’t make a remark about how I was up too late, but instead we held hands in a circle-like shape. Our eyes were shut, but every few words said I’d peek. We asked God for protection and luck. I had a feeling that tonight's prayer was specifically directed towards me. 

        As they both walked towards the door of my room, Mama reminded me of how she loved me and would never let anyone or anything lay a single hand on me. Daddy had said I was brave and reminded me of how I was doing the right thing. I couldn’t tell if what he said was true or fake, like when he met Dr. Broyard. Either way their words flowed from one ear to the other like music, and they vibrated back and forth until I fell asleep. 

The sunrise happened, and immediately I knew it was the day. Mama had brought me a new dress. The arms were puffy and compacted on the end. It was such a beautiful pink mixed with a tint of red, and the sleeves and the collar were lined with pearly white fabric. The ruffle skirt's hemline reached just above my knees. I wore my church socks, which now had a yellowish tint to them because of the washing machine. Along with my socks I wore my black buckle strapped church shoes. In order to top off my outfit I added an off-white cardigan to make the entire outfit better. 

        I heard chit chat coming from down the hallway. I thought Daddy had stayed home from work, but it was Mama's neighborhood gossip friends. My church shoes went click clack as they touched the oak hardwood floors of the hallway. Sitting on the counter, the hot comb was burning, and a new pale pink bow was lying, waiting for me. Oh no, not this again! Why does Mama always flat iron my hair just to twist it again? On the stove Mama was making hotcakes. I loved hotcakes with a nice cold glass of milk. While Mama was making breakfast I was playing with Mrs.Thompson's newborn baby.

        “Annette, don’t forget to answer any teacher up at that school with ‘yes mam’ when they speak to you,” Mama informed me.

        “Okay, Mama.” I answered. 

        Through the window I could see three automobiles drive up near the curve of our house. That must be the men from NAACP to come pick up Mama and I. Instead I saw four large men approach our front door, and I knew that they were not the men from the NAACP. I hoped that whoever it was could wait for me to eat my hotcakes. When Mama heard the knock on the door she put on a huge smile and immediately went to open it.

        “Good Mornin’, Mrs.Maynard. I am here to pick up you and Annette. We should get a move on now, because after all we have to pick up Ruby,” the white man stated. 

        “Good Morning to you too, but I was told that the men from the NAACP would pick up Annette and I. That also wasn’t supposed to happen until about another 15 minutes. Annette hasn’t had time to eat her breakfast yet.” Mama had informed the white man.

        “You're being escorted by U.S Marshals today, ma’am. We need to leave now. You will understand why when we arrive at William Franke Elementary School,” The white man from the U.S Marshals declared.

        “Come on, Annette, we must leave now.” I thought about my hotcakes that were going to make my morning fantastic. 

        I saw Ruby from down the road sitting on the porch with her Mama. I questioned if they knew about the change from the NAACP. Ruby looked like she got to eat her breakfast. 

        The automobile sat two of the white men up front, Mama and I, with two seats left, one for Ruby and one for her Mama. As the automobile drove off the other two exact replicas followed right behind. Once we reached Ruby's home the Marshals got out of the automobile. I was shocked to see that Ruby’s Mama was even more surprised by the presence of the Marshalls over the NAACP than Mama. 

        While on the way to the new school I looked out the window to see my old school friends. I felt guilty and heavy hearted. I’d make a small wave-like gesture whenever we made eye contact. I remembered when that was Mama and I, but that wouldn’t be us anymore. The guilt was slowly disappearing when I remembered that Skelly Wright and Mama said that I was opening doors for other little kids like me. 

        There were police officers guiding cars in and out of our neighborhood. I had never seen them do that before. I watched as they moved the striped black and white traffic barricades in and off the path to different streets. 

        “Wait till’ I open the door till’ you get out. We’ll get behind you. The two men in the front car will walk in front of you. We’ll all go in together,” the man in the front had said to us. “Stay between the four of us, and do not look back. No matter what happens, don’t make any form of contact with the crowd,” the man continued. 

        Ruby and I looked at each other, and we both were frightened. Who will this crowd be? I thought to myself. And why can’t we look? There were policemen chasing the white folks in the crowd. Once Mama stepped one foot out of that car behind the white man her face was nothing I've seen before. I looked at the crowd, but now I wished I had not. It was tempting to look back, but the image of the white woman with a blue checkered print dress with a white head scarf. 

        “Two, four, six, eight! We don't want to integrate,” I heard a woman start, and about every person in that crowd followed.

        While the people chanted, they waved their hands in fists. There were people holding signs with remarks such as “Whites Only!” There was one thing I noticed about the crowd; there were whites only. I squeezed my Mama’s hand in one, and then I squeezed Ruby's hand in the other. 

        “Move! Get out of the way!” one of the two men in front of us declared.

        My eyes watched and wandered side to side to see the crowd. I watched them continue their chant directed towards Ruby and I. As we approached the steps, two sheriffs from the state of Louisiana stopped us. 

        “Hold on right there fellas, we cannot let you enter; the governor of our great state denied your access,” one of the men stated.

        “Excuse me, sir, but the President of the United States says we can,” one of the marshals from the car declared powerfully. 

        “STOP! Take her back to the colored school,” an angry protester from the riot yelled once we began our way up the steps.

        I looked above me, and I saw the all-brick school that had black framed windows. The ceilings weren’t damaged, the windows had no missing glass from bricks thrown into them, and it was not one, but two stories. This was our school. Once I had looked down and forward I could only see white children being grabbed by their parents to leave the school. There were tons leaving, but I just hoped there were enough kids left to be my friends.

        “I will not be silenced! Until you take those little negros out of my little Johnny’s school he will no longer be attending William Franke Elementary School!” a white woman declared as she grabbed her son. Right after they both joined the crowd and began to chant along, “Two, four, six, eight! We don’t want to integrate!”  I now knew that I was the cause for them leaving, but why? 

        Step by step we walked up the gray cement step. Once the first set of Marshalls reached the big black front doors they opened them, and like a domino effect, Mama, Ruby, Ruby’s Mama, and I all followed them. We entered to see a huge hallway. There was a massive all-wood grandfather clock laying on top of the what seemed to be 100% oak wood floorings. There were hundreds of rooms; their doors had little windows and everything. I could not believe my eyes, because this felt like a dream. 

        “Excuse me, you must follow me to my office,” a woman dressed in a fancy velvet pantsuit explained.  

        While we walked to her office, I could see teachers gasping and gossiping about the presence of Ruby and I. “I can’t believe they’re sending that little Negro here!” I heard a teacher whisper.

        “You listen here, You do as told; we are going to leave now and calm the crowd. We will meet you in the front doors of the school. If there is a situation where we are not there, do not leave, you must just wait,” the marshals ordered Ruby and I. “Now you two will exit exactly as we came in, let's roll,” he continued. 

        I waved to Mama, and she looked back to blow me kisses. Ruby whispered, “Bye, Mama,” but just loud enough for me to hear. We followed the white lady to her office without making a peep. It wouldn’t be noticeable over all the parents grabbing their children out of the school and yelling at the teachers. The teachers were even grabbing their stuff and exiting the school. I continued to question why they were upset over my presence until I remembered Daddy saying to Skelly Wright, “I hope you all are aware not everyone of your kind will agree with you.”

        “You sit here, and you here. I don’t want you to touch anything or leave this room until the bell rings,” she had informed Ruby and I. 

        “Yes, Ma’am,” Ruby and I said in perfect sync. 

The women had immediately left the office. There was a huge dark, wooden desk with a real telephone. There was even an ENIAC. On her desk sat her name tag, Principal Johnson. There was a round clock sitting above her desk, tik tok tik tok. I watched the clock until I heard Ruby ask a question.

“Annette, are you scared?”

“Yes. Very,” I answered, being nothing but honest. 

“Me too,” Ruby commented.

Every once in a while I’d look out the door to still see teachers and parents fussing. Teachers made remarks such as, “I better not be teaching that little negro,” and the parents argued with remarks such as just taking there children out of the school. One specific parent in particular I remembered from the crowd I saw out the window speaking to Principal Johnson.

“I will not let my Johny attend school, walking around here learning the same stuff as him!” the mother yelled. “Now you better do something about it, or I'll take my child somewhere else for school!” the mother continued.

        Ruby and I did nothing but sit there all day. We ate our lunch and even used the non-colored washroom after. We also took naps, but at my old school we stopped doing naptime because they claimed it was for babies. Ruby and I continued to make small talk throughout the day until the bell finally rang.

“Today was very easy!” I said to Ruby, laughing as we both knew we just sat there all day and ate our lunch.

“Yes, easier than ever, but I do hope we can learn tomorrow,” she replied.

“Yeah, me too, and eat lunch in the cafeteria, but do you think your parents will let you come back?” I asked her.

“Yes, why wouldn’t they?” she questioned.

“No reason, I was just asking.” 

We walked out of the room carrying our school bags along with our lunch bags. As we walked down the hallway we could see the same men from the morning waiting for us. The only thing different was our Mama’s were nowhere to be seen.

“Girls, remember, do not look back. Walk forward and don't say, look, or stare at anyone in the crowd, okay? Let's get a move on,” the marshal reminded us. 

As they opened the door the crowd was bigger than before. There were more signs, more cops, and more upset white people. 

“Two, four, six, eight! We don’t want to integrate!”

“Take those little negros back to there schools!”

“No coloreds here!”

All Ruby and I could hear were offensive remarks directed to no one but us. Why are they so upset to share their education with us? 

The next day the same marshal men picked Ruby and I up. On the drive to William Franke Elementary School they once again went over how we were supposed to exit the automobile. Something felt different about the marshals that second day. I couldn't seem to tell what it was, though. They were wearing the same big boots with the same navy blue uniform with a gold badge, but something still felt different. They escorted us out of the automobile and past the crowd the same way.  What could it be? 

The crowd grew larger since yesterday. I could see spat on my shoes that belonged to a white man in the crowd. I could see the same lady who started the chant yesterday here again. There were plenty of new faces, but I was drawn to the man wearing what seemed to be a similar dressy outfit as the marshals escorting me. Once we walked in there was a woman smiling, waiting with Principal Johnson, who had no emotions to see us. 

“Hello, Annette and Ruby, I will be your teacher for this school year. I am Mrs. Henry!” the woman said, stoked to see us. “And nice to meet you Mrs. Maynard and Mrs.Bridges,” the woman continued. 

Mrs. Henry grabbed each of our hands in each one of hers. Her shoes made a clicking sound every step of the way, and it was louder than the marshals’ shoes. I looked back and smiled at Mama; Mrs.Henry may have looked like everyone in the crowd, but she sure acted differently.

*****

Mrs. Henry was all it took to make Ruby and I feel welcomed to William Franke Elementary School. The three of us never missed a single day of school that year because we knew we needed each other. The three of us ate lunch together because Ruby and I were still separated from the other children. Day by day our class grew in size because the white parents finally saw Ruby and I the way Mrs. Henry saw Ruby and I. We were truly just children eager to learn the same as their kids, just a different color representing us. Day by day the protest was getting smaller. Once the grass was greener and the flowers were blooming we could walk up the steps without hearing, “Two, Four, Six, Eight! We don’t want to integrate!” 

        When the trees had leaves and the snow was long gone our class reached eighteen students. They didn’t welcome us at first, and we tended to feel excluded in many situations, but Mrs.Henry fought for us the way J. Skelly did, and the way the marshals did, and the way my Mama did. We were able to play outside for recess with the other students, eat lunch with the other students, and most importantly learn with the other students. All because they finally started to see us the way we wanted to be seen.

-Edwina J.