(poems go here) When my mother was young she always had to drink 'white' water
White water? For little girls dressed in a rainbow of colors
there was only white water.
After moving to the south, she found 'Colored' water
Like crayons
like rainbows
like cartoons and coloring books.
How exciting!
A child's innocence could see through this segregation, the injustice was as clear as (white) water.
A child so confused -
Why can't I drink from the rainbow?
She wanted Colored water!
All the shades of the world
the multitude of experiences
the histories of all the peoples of the world
mixed together into a delicious fountain
a fountain of knowledge
a fountain of truth
a fountain of water to be shared with everyone.

Now, my little niece tells me as we are coloring 'Auntie, Everyone thinks I just like pink, but I think ALL the colors are beautiful.'
and because of the sacrifices of civil rights heros
and the protests of the people
and the love we must to continue to share with our brothers and sisters
The fountain of knowledge
of truth
of justice
at her schools, and in her playgrounds,
will be filled with all the beautiful colors