II. Nashville first Graders Desegregate Public Schools Poetry by WaTeasa Freeman Poetry by Fatemah Harvey Poetry by Irwin Todd

Nashville First Graders Desegregate Public Schools

September 9, 1957: Nineteen black first-graders enter formerly all-white schools as Nashville becomes the first city in the South to begin the desegregation process for a public education system.

The parents of six-year-old Sinclair Lee, Jr., lead their son to Glenn Elementary, Nashville, TN, September 1957. © Nashville Public Library. Courtesy of SouthernSpaces.org.

We Shall Overcome

WaTeasa Freeman

September 8, 1957 I was playing with my best friend September 8, 1957 I was painting Tomorrow is my first day of school. red paint on a white canvas I’m a little nervous I’m a first grader Tomorrow is the first day I heard my mama’s voice “Joy Kelly Smith” I cooked meatloaf for dinner My feet begin to run to the back door My son and daughter sat at the table dust trailing me like a looney tone John starts to pray Mama cooked a big dinner cause “Lord, bless us and protect us tomorrow” daddy preached hard that day After dinner I finished work for my husband After dinner I had to get my hair done and ironed for everyone she washed and brush Catherine and Luke are in bed I pulled and ow-ed I begin to look at what I’ve created after grease, braids and barrettes John is on the phone creating his plot we picked a dress navy and white He isn’t violent just passionate, Daddy came to my room to pray never been the type to love niggers I was ready for my first day. I prayed; we were ready for the first day

Erroll Groves (center) holds the hand of his mother, Iridell Groves, as they walk to Buena Vista School on the first day of desegregation in Nashville’s public schools. September 9, 1957. Photo by Eldred Reaney. Courtesy of The Tennessean and We Shall Overcome: Press Photographs of Nashville in the Civil Rights Era.

Poet’s Note: I wanted to show the similarities and differences between the two parties. Although being racist is far from expectable, I wanted to show the human side to people who are in that boat.

We Shall Overcome

Fatemah Harvey

I don’t know why everyone keeps praying. Momma keeps telling me that things will be different. Her voice, a broken record but, I tuned her out this time.

I’m excited to go to school tomorrow but Momma won’t let go of Jesus’ name. She keeps calling and calling him and I really don’t know why.

“No weapon formed against her shall prosper.” “Every tongue that rises against her shall fail”

Momma said it three times. She keeps calling on Jesus. I really hope he answers, She sounds worried.

Grace McKinley walking her daughter, Linda Gail McKinley past hostile whites to school in Nashville, Tennessee, 1957, crmvet.org.

Poet’s Note: Overall, I just want the audience to understand that the issues that black people, young or old, went through were extremely inhumane and traumatic. These experiences deserve to be heard and seen.

First Day

Irwin W. Todd, III

“ You belong here no matter what everyone else says”

Driving to school on your first day

“What will it be like?’ “When am I gonna see my friends?” “I hope my teacher is nice” “I hope I can do the work”

Protesters in the street on the day Nashville schools were desegregated, Nashville, TN, September 1957. © Nashville Public Library.Courtesy of SouthernSpaces.org

Questions that every kid asks when they have their “first day” jitters

These are only things you should worry about

But sadly this isn’t the case

You pull up to school, and see all these angry faces, screaming with posters standing outside

They say “GO BACK HOME!” “WE DON’T WANT YOU HERE!” “YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!”

Mom turns around and says “When you get out, hold my hand and try not to listen to what those other people are saying, ya here? They don’t know what they’re talking about.”

You get hold, your hand finds your mom’s and you walk the longest walk ever

You close your eyes to make it easier to not listen to the scary people

You finally get inside, see that everyone is staring and looks nothing like you

Your mom gives you one last piece of advice: “No matter what anyone tells you, you deserve to be here.”

She kisses your forehead

Turns around and goes back into the craziness that is outside that is outside

If she can go back outside

You’ll be safe.

Poet’s Note: The parents had to instill the confidence and the resilience they had as adults into children. Not only is this inspiring, it’s heartbreaking. The situation required that they learn these lessons fast. The respect I have for both generations cannot be measured.