Take A Ride

I just wanted to ride without a fuss Think back to the time of the back of the bus Rosa and Claudette and a whole bunch of others brought attention to the real like nightmares Scared at night, hiding under my covers May 17, 1954, that's when it was legally unfair But the Jim Crow laws in the south had other ideas But I boarded the bus anyways and sat next to a white man whose name I can't recall But we shared stories, and we laughed and we talked In different cities we got off the bus, some people wouldn't dare I couldn't count all the negative remarks and evil stares But then it happened We rode into Anniston like any other city My other five riders on the bus with me There were a bunch of men outside of Forsyth & Son grocery store They surrounded the Greyhound bus threw things at it and slashed the tires so it wouldn't work anymore It was loud, windows broke and it got real smoky I ran off the bus dizzy and choking This young white girl that appeared to be with the mob came over and held my hand as I scream and sobbed She gave me water because it was smoke in my lungs, glass in my hand, and hate on my tongue I am a Freedom Rider We can freely ride right? The black and whites can sit side by side right? I was a Freedom Rider That means I'm free to ride freely and not end up in trouble or danger that's knee deep As if I was caged away and seemingly Being a Freedom Rider was supposed to be how they freed me