Family Matters1989

Estelle 'Mother' Winslow:
Laura, when I was about your age, I LOVED to read, just like you. But our little town only had ONE library, and it was for whites only.

Laura Lee Winslow:
You couldn't check out a book?

Estelle 'Mother' Winslow:
I couldn't even go in. And even then I knew it wasn't right. So one day I decided to do something about it. So I walked in the library, sugar, I couldn't believe my eyes, there were THOUSANDS of books just sitting there waiting to be read.

Laura Lee Winslow:
Did they let you take one?

Estelle 'Mother' Winslow:
The librarian, a white man that I'd known all my life, pushed me out into the street and told me never to come back.

Laura Lee Winslow:
Did you cry?

Estelle 'Mother' Winslow:
All the way home, and the next day I cried all the way back to the library.

Laura Lee Winslow:
You went back?

Estelle 'Mother' Winslow:
Every day for 6 months. People stopped and starred, called me names, and some even spit at me.

Laura Lee Winslow:
Weren't you scared?

Estelle 'Mother' Winslow:
Was I ever! And sometimes I was sorry I ever started the whole thing, but I didn't quit. Finally, one rainy day, I walked in dripping wet, and that same man that pushed me out, shook his head and gave me a library card. And from that day on, EVERYBODY could use that library.