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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
Green, not blue, click on the frog anyway. (You were expecting maybe poetry?)
A little snippet about Claudette Colvin not COVID 😉 Another woman history glossed over.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
WRITE ME DOWN IN HISTORY
“’Thy kingdom come…’” The fifteen-year-old girl huddled on the musty cot, gazing through jail cell bars. Her arms ached from brutal policemen’s hands, gauging and yanking. “’…Thy will be done…’”
“Stand strong,” whispered Sojourner Truth.
“You shall overcome,” sang Harriet Tubman.
Now in her 90’s, Claudette Colvin recalls that fateful Wednesday, March 2, 1955, when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white woman.
“If she’d been an elderly white woman, I might have given her my seat.”
Few know or remember it was a child who inspired Rosa Parks and led her people out of bondage.
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Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
A good story based on true life, Rochelle. There’s still too much discrimination. Well written. —- Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
I fear that as long as there are humans there will be discrimination. 😦 Thank you for your affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nowadays, it seems like no one gives up their seat(s) regardless of age, gender, race, pregnancy or disability. Race and gender are irrelevant as equals. But age and medical conditions are just common decency.
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Dear Tanille,
A sad but true commentary. Thank you for coming by…I saved a seat for you. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A sign of true friendship 😀
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😀
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How strange that one should be remembered by history, while the other (and one assumes there were others besides) has been forgotten. Keep redressing the balance Rochelle 🙂
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Ah yes, the way one thing leads to another. Nicely told.
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Thank you, Tony. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An uplifting story for a down-turning moment. Thanks, Rochelle
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Thank you, Neil. 🙂
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Keep spreading the good word, m’lady, about heroic feats over bus seats.
I’d like to think we have got better as a race, but I remain unconvinced…
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Dear CE,
As long as the stories come my way I will share them and hope. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such an inspirational snippet from history fashioned into fiction in your inimitable style,Rochelle.
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Thank you for such a sweet comment, Neel. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Glad she got over the pain and inspired the movement.
Sadly, she is not known, but Rosa Parks is.
Hope there’s never such discrimination.
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Dear Anita,
There were a lot of reasons she isn’t as well known as her family’s friend, Rosa Parks. Nonetheless, she was a brave girl. Glad we’re learning about her now. Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I still give up my seat when appropriate to anyone. No matter their race, religion, gender or age. It’s the right thing to do. Another good lesson here.
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Dear Jan,
These days it’s common courtesy and it is the right thing, particularly if a person is elderly or pregnant. Thank you.
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I was just thinking about Rosa Parks this morning. The example we set locally has a ripple effect. Well done.
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Dear Josh,
No matter where Ms. Parks got her inspiration, it still took courage, didn’t it? Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Goes to show… the media conveniently dissed the child – for whatever reasons they felt necessary. So glad her truth is out, no matter how long it took. And especially glad that you go digging for these and share them with us. We are all the better for the knowledge you give us!
Shalom and lotsa learnin’ love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
And I’m so glad we have the internet with its wealth of information to be discovered with the click of a mouse. So glad for friends and readers like you who encourage me. Thank you for riding the Friday Fictioneers bus where you can sit anywhere you want. 😉
Shalom and lotsa knowledgeable hugs,
Rochelle
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The internet has taken on a whole new level of importance during these crazy times, hasn’t it? Allowing us to learn and share and keep in contact (yeah, I went there…😉)
Thank you for keeping this bus in driving shape!
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🚌🚎🚐
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I knew I should know the name Claudette Colvin. Took a few moments for my brain to wake up:)
Born and raised in the North, it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around what it was like to be Black in the South, and all the changes that have taken place. I imagine there are still some who consider themselves superior to others on the basis of skin color. Reading a story like this reminds of the newspapers of the ’60s, full of stories of the Civil Rights movement.
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Dear Linda,
I was born and raised in Kansas City. I remember the news stories but was pretty polarized in the burbs. There wasn’t a black child in our whole school district until my senior year. I didn’t know about Claudette Colvin until I Googled influential women. Thank you for your insights. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Often it is children who lead the way through their example. The have not yet been fettered by society’s rules.
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Dear Colline,
I’m a firm believer that children are taught to hate. 😦
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Me too. I have seen it time and again.
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Children will often lead the way into justice, and we shall do well to listen and heed their good example when they show it, and we should do better still to be as vigilant unto injustice and correct it before they have to bear the scars on our behalf.
Great piece, Rochelle!
Left my very different one with the froggy …
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
So true re children. We can learn from them if we’re smart enough to pay attention. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Amen to that.
Stay safe and healthy, my friend.
These are evocative times …
Na’ama
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They are indeed. I guess it’s a good time to be an introvert. 😉 (Although I do miss my swims)
Shalom in the storm,
Rochelle
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Shalom in the storm back at’cha! 🙂
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Dang it! I’ve never even heard of Sojourner Truth. I had to read about her before I could read about Claudette Colvin, which led me to read about Jeremiah Reeves.
It looks to me like the NAACP was right to make Rosa Parks the face of their bus boycott. It would have been a lot for a pregnant teen to deal with, and Claudette Colvin would have been easier to dismiss. Though, Ms. Colvin deserves much more recognition for sparking the fire that was the bus boycott and maybe even to have an OutKast song named after her.
Excellent work as always, Rochelle. Thank you for consistently teaching me a thing or two and bringing to light underappreciated contributions by strong, brave human beings.
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Dear Nobbin,
I also watched a recent interview with Claudette and her sister. Apparently they were ordered by their mother to keep their mouths shut until after Rosa Park’s passing. I guess there’s politics in everything. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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To have that courage at the age of 15 is impressive… she should have been remembered but maybe it’s easier to diss a child than a grown-up. I can actually see a little bit of that from some people when it comes from Greta Thunberg these days… even if she has a voice today
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Dear Bjorn,
It easy to dismiss a kid isn’t it? At least Rosa Park and Martin Luther King were paying attention to Claudette. Thank you for the read and the comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How strange that one should be remembered by history, while the other (and one assumes there were others besides) has been forgotten. Keep redressing the balance Rochelle 🙂
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Dear Iain,
Wherever and whenever I learn of them. 😉 I’m sure there are those heroes we will never know of. More’s the pity. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You paint a very clear picture of the way Claudette suffered in police custody, spelling out the physical pain and leaving us to imagine the mental pressure, and the fear of rape. Good writing, Rochelle.
Shalom
Penny
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Dear Penny,
I have to wonder about rape in her case. They brought up the fact that she was a pregnant teen and somewhere else I read the baby was light skinned. No mention anywhere that I’ve found of the baby’s father. Hm? At any rate, thank you for your kind comments/compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m from the south. My mother said prejudice was learned. She never taught me.
I honestly believe she would have sat next to Rosa Parks when she sat in the white section of the bus.
I know this because I saw my white mother stand up for others.
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Dear Phyllis,
I’ve no doubt there were decent white people in the south who didn’t agree with the Jim Crow laws. I’m glad your mom was one of them. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Me to or I would have miss out on some awesome friends.
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I wholeheartedly agree. 😀
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Oh ho! You are back to teaching me things again, Rochelle. I thought Rosa Parks was the first. Coming here is not only about being entertained, it’s becoming educated. Hats off to you.
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Dear Eric,
I thought Rosa Parks came first, too. When I found this little tidbit I was all over it. Happy to share. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And once again, a child leads the way. Well done!
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Thank you, George. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Good for her! I watched the movie, “Harriet Tubman” last night and learned some amazing things about her. It’s always good to learn about pivotal individuals in a culture’s history.
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Dear Lisa,
I’ve read that some of that movie is fictionalized, but still…I love bio pics. 😉 And it’s about time we learned more of Harriet. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are welcome, Rochelle.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Another interesting insight, thanks Rochelle
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Thank you, Michael. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great piece of history 🙂
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Thank you, Ali. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A bitter-sweet story indeed, and something else to add to my ever-expanding collection of life-stories gathered from your weekly snippets.
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Dear Keith,
What a sweet thing to say. Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yes, discrimination still exists – it’s up to all of us to stamp out every instance when we come across it. Not just colour prejudice either!
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True story, Liz. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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one little spark could ignite a fire indeed.
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Claudette was certainly a spark. 😉 Thank you, Plaridel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever learn. Thanks for showing me another piece of history. Shalom.
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Dear Lish,
I’m not sure people will ever truly learn. Sigh. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful story. Children really are the future. So brave. Their concepts of fairness make me humble.
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Dear Laurie,
The trouble is that children grow up. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So true!
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History singles out heroes. But behind every one of them is a network of little heroes. Like little sparks that kindle a great flame, change would be impossible without those people who against all odds decided to be the first to speak out. I never knew of Claudette and am so grateful to learn about her now.
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Dear Fatima,
I’m happy to introduce you to Claudette. Thank you for your affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love this so much!
Shalom,
Ronda
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Happy to hear it, Ronda. Thank you so much. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An unsung hero, but a story of courage and determination. Thanks for telling her story Rochelle.
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Dear Subroto,
There are so many unsung heroes. I have to write them when I find them. Hope you’re well and safe. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m a d’Verse Poets Pub member. I saw your link on Bjorn’s site, so I thought I would give it a spin. Your link in confused me, but I think I managed it. History is taught by those in power. It’s only been a few years since it was revealed that a hell of a lot of cowboys in the Old West were black.
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Dear Glenn,
The inLinkz can be confusing but is really pretty simple once you get used to it. I’ve found it a great way to keep people straight. 😉 True story about history. Someone once said to me, “How come there isn’t a White History Month?” I replied,”That’s every month, isn’t it?”
Welcome aboard. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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