I found this article while going through TKS archives from the Knox academic year 1968-1969. Bernice Johnson, a senior at Crane High School write this article on what being black means to her. A quick note to make is where she lives. Crane High School is in Chicago, which at the time, was a battlefield from constant organizing. Now, Chicago is seen as very liberal and accepting, we are what makes Illinois a blue state. However, we must remember it was not always this way and honor those who fought to make that change. Back to the article, she speaks of her frustrations, pain, and fears, “It might mean that never will I receive a sufficient education, job, or housing, because of the color of my skin.” In statements like these, I always hear the pain through their words. It is packed with emotion; anger and sadness. It is a grand oversight to claim the system is broken. The system is not broken, it is working exactly and perfectly as it was designed. It is no accident Black Americans, especially Black women, are not on the same level as their white counterparts; not with opportunities, pay, or respect. It is no accident she is made to feel “lazy, worthless, no-good.” It is a system designed to cripple Black Americans in all ways possible; to make them feel inferior so they essentially don’t forget their place in society. I especially appreciate the ending, “If anyone doesn’t think the above problems are serious, I leave you with two thoughts to ponder over: 1. You’re not Black, and 2. You don’t care.” I leave you with some last thoughts as well. If you read all of our archives, all the stories, all the news clippings, all the statements, and leave here truly believing the civil rights movement and black power movement were too much, you are not listening and don’t care.
