Something Bigger than Me

I was 16 years old when I volunteered for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. I remember the excitement of being part of something bigger than me, and even in the moment, it was clear that we were making history.

However, that excitement got a clear dose of reality when I tried to register to vote. At that time, you had to pay $5 (equivalent to over $50 today) and pass a “literacy exam” to be able to register to vote. This exam was administered by a white election official who had complete, unappealable authority on whether I would pass or fail. I paid and took the exam twice and was failed each time with no explanation.

So, imagine my delight when I moved to New York in 1963 and was able to register to vote on election day! I cast my first vote in Albany, but came up against another way that voters were being manipulated – the Democratic Machine. The clear message in poor black neighborhoods was to vote straight Democrat, and I was offered $5 for my support. I let the $5 bill drop to the ground and was labeled non-compliant by the political power structures – risking retribution and access to services.

At 87, I’m still active in my community. Still seeking ways to contribute to something bigger and continue working to maintain the rights that have been paid for by the work and blood of those who have come before. -N.S.