Golden Poppies (Freedman/Johnson, #3)

by Laila Ibrahim

“Bury me in my red dress. I wanna look bright when I meet Jesus.”

She shook her head and explained, heat in her voice, “The White men earn three times what the Colored men make working half the hours. When they organize to ask for more, they keep their lives and their jobs. It’s not fair, but that isn’t anything new.” She felt the stares of the others. Shame seeped into her body. There was more in her mind, but she stopped herself. “It’s not just,” Lisbeth agreed. “But it’s changing for the better, right? It takes time, but we will be there soon. I’m certain of that.”

Offers of generosity were a comfort to those who did not have to follow through with any sacrifice.

Our people are trampled and then blamed for lying on the ground.”

“For all our children we must plant the seeds of a liberty tree so that they may eat the fruit of justice we will never taste.”