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
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