Chapter 1: The life of Leah Williams

Before starting with the story, I will be telling you more or less what happened in the United States from 1960 to 1969.

It all started with a man named Jim Crow who painted himself black and did shows making fun of this race in the 1830s. After this, the white community created a bad perception of black people and later the Law of Jim Crow that consisted of the segregation between white and black.

In short, there were bathrooms for whites and bathrooms for blacks, restaurants for whites and restaurants for blacks, hotels for whites and hotels for blacks, water fountains for whites and water fountains for blacks. The white race did this to avoid being "contaminated" by the "bad influence" of people of color. Also, the black race did not have the privilege of voting or traveling wherever they wanted, blacks were socially and emotionally hurt.

Interracial couples were considered illegal by a breed conservation law that was established in 1927.

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Year 1965

First Montgomery Baptist Church, Alabama Street

LEAH 'S POV

It was a sunny Sunday and I was sitting in the first pew of the second row of the church, to my left was my mother (Sarah Williams) attentive to what was being transmitted at the altar. On my lap was my youngest brother (Caleb Williams) patting and bubbling saliva, to my right was (George Junior Williams) who is the second oldest brother, and I was not paying attention to the speech. other little brothers Deborah, David, Abraham, Jacob, Mary and Isaac.

We were all listening to a speech, but it was not just any speech, it was the speech of Martin Luther King Junior with my father George Williams who supported him hand in hand.

The church was full of people, this was one of the few times I saw blacks and whites in one place, of course except for public buses.

I focus on the beauty and details of the church, it had a high ceiling and you could see a huge group of people from the upper floor and on the ground floor where I was there was also a huge group of people, the floors were polished so polished that they shone like pearls, the walls had stained glass of landscapes with mountains, rivers, trees and flowers and on the altar there was a polished mahogany cross with golden tones on its edges. The light was reflected through the stained glass windows and silence reigned at that moment, only Martín's voice was heard. I closed my eyes and opened them to focus on what Martin Luther King was saying:

"I dream that one day, the state of Alabama whose governor spits out phrases of interposition between the races and annulment of the blacks, will become a place where black boys and girls can join hands with those of white boys and girls and walk together, as brothers and sisters. "

After hearing what King said, I thought: "How can white people be so cruel to us if those who raised them were black women?" This thought came to my mind from the fact that my mother worked for a wealthy white family every day and I was the one who looked after my siblings most of the time. My father seldom appeared at my house as he was on strikes and speeches with King, sometimes he came home beaten by white men.

Listen to the entire speech until it is finished. After a few minutes a chorus of black men and women arrived, dressed in white robes as if they were angels, and began to sing gospel music.

Gospel music was my favorite music, sometimes I sang in church, I had a sweet voice but at the same time strong.

The show was over and we waited for everyone to leave, we saw how people greeted us and left, people left and only 2 or 3 people remained, my mother was talking to my father and I was sitting on one of the benches next to my brother George Junior.

_ "George ... Are you okay? You haven't said anything to me all day today"

George made a disinterested gesture and crossed his arms.

_ "And why would I have to tell you something?"

_ "George, if something happens with you, tell me, it is my duty as an older sister"

_ "Leah, I am no longer a child, I myself can immerse myself in my own thoughts"

_ "George, people who sink into their thoughts have a bad time in life"

_ "Give me an example of someone who has already done well"

_ "Look at dad, he is fighting for you, for me and for all of us"

_ "I'm tired of all this! Nothing is going to be worth it, I will never achieve what I have always wanted, we are destined to live a pittance ... I don't want to be like dad, or like you, or like mom, just. ...leave me alone."

My parents finish talking and my little brothers run to hug my father, then I go to where my father is.

_ "Dad, I hadn't seen you for a long time, this time you lasted a long time in the strikes!"

_ "Yes, I know I will be in Tennessee this week, but I promise you that next week I will be with you, I will bring you a gift, tell me, what do you want."

_ "Would you bring me a brooch?"

_ "I promise I will bring it to you."

Then my father calls George, who was behind me.

_ "George, son!"

_" Already a grown man!"

_ "Do not tell me that you will abandon us this time"

_ "You know that I have never abandoned them, I do all this for their good"

_ "How is it for our good? If the last time I saw you was a year ago, not even your youngest son knows you"

_ "George, shut up!" I said

_ "Boy, we're going" my mother yelled

_ "Leah!" my dad said as I walked away

_ "Please .... take care of your mother"