KIESE LAYMON
Every morning at Raines Elementary School in Jackson, Mississippi, all us black third graders were forced to stand and pledge allegiance to the stitched stars and bold bars of the American and Mississippi flags.
One October evening, I asked Mama if I had to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
One October evening, Mama said no.
I went to school the next day and sat my husky Toughskins in a wobbly desk while my black classmates stood and pledged allegiance as they were told.
When my black classmates were done pledging allegiance, my white teacher took me out in the hall and told me to bend over and touch my toes. I told my white teacher that I did not want to pledge allegiance to those flags because those flags did not stand up for us.
