Everybody's heard about the big Civil Rights March that went from Selma to Montgomery back in March of 1965.
But how many people have heard of the Teachers March that happened in January of '65?
I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't heard of it before last week.
On January 27, 1965, a group of African American teachers came together with one purpose. They deserved equal rights. They deserved to be able to vote.
These teachers were teaching their students to do their civil duties when they grew up. But these teachers were being denied their right to do those civil duties, themselves. What a ridiculously ironic depiction of Alabama (and the South) at the time, huh?
Anyways, the (very) short version of the march is this...
These teachers, along with others from the area, had tried many times to register to vote at the Courthouse, but each time they were told to wait in the back alley for their turn. But their turn never came.
So on January 22, 1965, a group of teachers, and others, met together at Clark Elementary School in Selma and began their march to the courthouse a few blocks away. They were calm. They didn't hurt anyone. They just peacefully walked, two by two, to the courthouse to request their rights, as Americans, to vote.
And they were met with strong opposition. Some were poked with cattle prods. Some were beaten. And even with the threat of imprisonment, the 100plus teachers tried three times to ascend the stairs of the courthouse. And each time they were brutally pushed back.
What amazes me about their story is that these men and women did not receive the right to vote that day. After the third time of being pushed back, the leaders of the group felt their point had been made, so they peacefully left the courthouse and went to a local church.
I teach at Clark Elementary School. Some of my babies are probably even related to some of the participants from that march.
I get so angry when I hear about how white people treated black people back then. And they did it all because of the color of their skin?
How STUPID is that?! Yep, you heard me. I said STUPID!
I've heard stories of people getting hosed off the street, of people being hit with cattle prods and 2x4s, of women and children being beaten while husbands were held back and forced to watch.
I've heard stories of people being forced to use a separate bathroom and water fountains, of not being allowed to go inside a restaurant, of being forced to stand on a bus.
I've heard of people being called horribly derogatory names, of people being arrested for no reason at all, of crosses being burned in someone's front yard.
And I've heard stories of sweet, innocent children being denied access to school - to an education.
Why? ...because the pigment of their skin was darker.
I just don't get it.
How can someone have so much hatred in their heart? How can someone treat an innocent human being that way?
And do you know what's sad? Racism still exists today. Granted it's not at the level it was in the '60s. But it is still going on.
So how can we stop it?
It's an internal change. It has to be.
Until people stop judging others based on the color of their skin...
Until people stop making assumptions based on the color of their skin...
Until people stop following stereotypes based on the color of their skin...
Until we forget about race...
Until we begin to focus on the inner characteristics and quality of people...
Until we do all of that, our nation (our world) will never change.
I think we can all learn a lesson from the group of teachers that marched on that January day.
Even though they didn't receive their right to vote that day, they didn't fight the people restricting them.
Even when they were hit and beat and prodded like cattle, they didn't retaliate.
Even when they were treated like dirt,they didn't treat their attackers the same way.
They were calm.
They were peaceful.
They stood up for what they believed in.
They stood up for what was fair and what was right.
They set an example for their students.
And I believe, they set an example for all of us.
