I remember sitting in the classroom quietly working away at a task when the quiet was interrupted by several nicely dressed young men and women. They were talking excitedly and waving their hands around. They were saying things like " come on children, come on lets go. Lets march for freedom"

Our sixth grade teacher was trying to shoo them out of the class and was trying to keep us quiet . She kept telling us to be still, but several of us had already jumped up from our seats. As we were leaving the class she leaned over and whispered, " run children, go on, go on now" And so we did.

The day was hot and the sky was clear and blue. I remember the long walk from our elementary school to downtown Nashville to Capital Hill Baptist Church. Dr Kelly Miller- Smith was our leader. He was tall, thin young, and energetic. He gave us a little pep talk before we took to the streets of down- town. He told us that we would be called all kinds of names and that we would be spit on and that things would be thrown at us. He gave us an opportunity to turn around, to go back but we stood firm.

The walk downtown was eventful. It was so hot. Eggs were thrown out of upstairs windows. Some one spit on me and the spit ran down my face and dried in the sun. I remember Dr Miller- Smith saying, " that's alright daughter, that's alright" And so we march on. And we sang songs. We were just children and were so brave.

Every time I go downtown and see the old Wilson Quick Drugstore ( once a feed store, now a Country Music night spot). I remember how we entered the store and sat at the counter. We were told to leave the store. I remember standing in the middle of Broadway and linking arms and singing "We Shall Over Come " and how the Nashville Fire Department came in and turned the water hose on us.

I can still feel the force of the water knocking me loose from my partners. I remember tumbling over and over as the water hit me. When they turned the hose off we left the area and marched up hill to the church where we were fed sandwhiches and given cool drinks. I am not too sure on this, but I believe that our clothes were dried off in the churches clothes dryer and we went out again- singing and marching... those days are ever etched in my mind and I proudly tell all that will listen, how this little skinny black girl experience being egged, spit on, and hosed down all in the name of freedom------