Here's to you, Mr.Plessy!

I almost died this morning, when I read the papers. Right on the front page was Mr. Plessy, walking down the stairs of the United States Supreme Court Building, surrounded by many important looking men. He looked just like he did on the train, prim and proper and clean. My heart fluttered. He had taken that whole train debacle to court. I swear it! The article that came with the picture said that Mr.Plessy's case had been accepted by the Supreme Court and that the Justices had decided on a verdict. In a 7-1 decision, ( one of the justices didn't vote) the justices ruled against Mr. Plessy and his case. They said that his Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments had not been violated, and that laws segregating Whites and Blacks did not imply that Blacks were inferior. Mr. Plessy then plead guilty and paid the fine he owed. I was swelling with pride when I read this, I swear I was. Mr. Plessy defied that darned conductor and his Separate Car Act. He held his own. So with that I say Here's to the shoemaker who didn't like liars and was one-eighth black. Here's To You, Mr. Plessy!

Going Deep inside myself

It's raining. I have always loved the rain. It is quiet and peaceful. Whenever it rains, I sit and think about as much as I can. There is never enough time to think during the day. Everything moves so quickly nowadays and if your too slow, you can miss it all. It's times like these when I get to thinking about Mr. Plessy, and I wonder what's become of him since they have carted him off to jail. He should have known better than to sit in the Whites Only car! He was Colored! But, he was only one-eighth colored. I was never one who excelled in Mathematics, but I am certain that one-eighth is not a large amount. Perhaps, they should have let him sit in the Whites Only car due to the fact that so little of him was Colored. Mr. Plessy makes me think harder than I ever had in my life, and I find myself going deep inside myself to find the moral truth. I have always view Coloreds as an inferior race. Weren't they brought across the seas to serve us? I now think that I might have been wrong. Coloreds are people too and they have feelings and ideas that they can share to make the world better. Perhaps we would all get along better if we sat down and tried to interact with one another. Maybe....

Plessy V. Ferguson and the world around it.

The case of Plessy V. Ferguson(1896) took place in the midst of racial segregation. Here's a bit of background history

In 1865, The Civil War ended and President Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theater by actor John Wilkes Booth. A period called Reconstruction was born. During this period newly- freed slaves were granted protection by the government. The Thirteenth Amendment was ratified on 12/6/1865 and it declared that Slavery or any other form of involuntary servitude was illegal unless it was being used as a form of punishment for a crime. The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified on 7/9/1865 and it declared that all citizens born or naturalized in the United States were now official citizens, and No State had the right to create a Law that interfered with the privileges that people received by being citizens. Plessy v. Ferguson dealt with these two amendments.

In 1866, The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed by Congress over the Veto of President Johnson on 6/9/1866. The act declared that all people, regardless of race, color or previous condition were now citizens so long as they were born or naturalized in the United States.

In 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified 2/3/1870 and it declared that all Black men over the age of 21 could vote.

In 1875, The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was introduced by Charles Sumner and Benjamin Butler, and became a law on 3/4/1875. This act declared that all people regardless of race, color, or previous condition were entitled to full or equal employment of accommodation of inns, public places or other forms of public amusement.

In 1883, there was a compilation of cases known as The Civil Rights Cases of 1833 that were brought to the attention of the Supreme Court. These cases dealt with The Civil Rights Acts of 1886 and 1875 and the Fourteenth Amendment.

Plessy V. Ferguson was a landmark case in the history of the United States and the United States Supreme Court. It questioned the constitutionality of seperating races.

- Luellen Davis

Something to tell my Grandchildren

My Lord! I do not believe it. I just do not believe it. The events that took place on the train to Covington... I don't even know how to describe it. Hold on, I must compose myself. I would be a fool not to document those events. Well, where shall I start?...

First of all, I am a woman of my word. I packed last night and and was on the train in the morning. Nancy came to see me off, and dropped one of my bags on the platform and it opened, spilling it's contents everywhere. We went to pick up the clothes but was stopped by a whole mess off people who came a'thunderin' onto the platform to meet the train. All of the clothes that were in the bag were stepped on and smashed. Most of them ripped. Furious, I screamed at Nancy. She apologized and said she would send some different clothes to my sisters home. I swear, Nancy's two bricks short of a load. I turned and boarded the train with my remaining bag and sat down. The conductor came and stamped my ticket. I settled myself in my seat. A little while later, a man walked into the compartment. He was quite handsome. His auburn hair was neatly combed and flat against his head, which accented his facial features. His eyes were hazel and his nose was long and smart. He also had a long beard that was the same color as his hair. Extremely smitten, I said hello to him and we made light conversation. He was truly thrilling and he had a dizzying intellect. He told me that his name was Homer Plessy and that he was a simple shoemaker. He seemed to be quite content with his job. He was going to Covington to visit a friend of his and heard that if he purchased a first- class ticket, he would throughly enjoy it. During the conversation, I casually asked him what bothered him most about people. He said that he was extremely annoyed by liars. He told me that liars was the only thing that he could not tolerate in a man, and that liars were dangerous. The conductor came in to stamp Mr. Plessy's ticket. He was looking at Mr. Plessy long and hard, and I didn't know why. Mr. Plessy smiled at the conductor and asked if there was a problem. The conductor stooped down low until he was about a nose length way from Mr. Plessy's face. I felt bad for Mr. Plessy, for this man wasn't the handsomest. The conductor spoke in a high pitched whine " Sir, are you a colored man?" I gasped. It was almost a sin to be considered a colored man around here. Mr. Plessy stared at the conductor and answered calmly. " Sir" he said " I won't lie to you. I am seven- eighths white." And what about the other one- eighth?" sneered the conductor. " I am one- eighth colored." Mr. Plessy said as calm as can be. When Mr. Plessy said that, I took a preachers seat ( or fell down on my butt) The conductor was turning purple, and I thought that if he didn't breathe soon, he would die right there on the floor. He breathed again. "Sir, I am afraid that you are going to have to move to the Coloreds Only car." Mr. Plessy blinked. " Oh, and why is that?" " Well you just said you were one- eighth colored. Therefore, you must sit in the coloreds only car." Mr. Plessy laughed. " Sir, I don't see why I should have to move. I have more White ancestry than Colored. What have I done?" The conductor proceeded to tell Mr. Plessy that he violated a Louisiana Segregation law called the "Separate Car Act" He said that the State law had set up separate but equal facilities for Whites and Coloreds on trains in Louisiana. By having a colored ancestor, he was classified as Black and had to sit in the colored car. Mr. Plessy scoffed and said that the "Sererate Car Act" was ridiculous. He refused to move. I do declare that I have never seen a more stubborn man in my life. The conductor stopped the train and had Mr. Plessy arrested at the next station. I couldn't believe it. I flirted with a colored man. OH MY LORD. This will be something I tell my grandchildren!

- Luellen Davis

Off to Covington

When I woke in the morning and hit my head on the bedpost, I realized that today would be a rather horrible day. Dressing quickly, I hurried down to Breakfast and barked at my servant, Nancy. She burned my toast and made my Lox too crispy. I daresay I nearly choked to death while trying to stomach it. After the Breakfast disaster,I told Nancy to disappear out of my sight. I do declare that she is the most simple minded darkie I have ever had. Irritable from the lack of food in my stomach, I collapsed in a chair and opened a letter that my sister Mariella sent me. the letter ran 7 pages in length and I do say that I almost died of total boredom until I saw the words "My dear sister, Do come and visit me in Covington." I had never been to Covington, Louisiana before and heard that it was marvelous country. I also thought that a trip to the country would soothe my frayed nerves.A young gentleman caller of mine told me some years ago that it was not proper for a lady to be in the hustle and bustle of a big city like New Orleans. It can cloud her head. I suppose he is right. I will go to Covington and breathe in that fresh country air that my friend Edith Kensington is always talking about. I have decided that I shall pack tonight and be on the train in the East Louisiana Railroad first thing in the morning.

- Luellen Davis