Quote: “The more I remembered the killings, the beatings, and intimidations, the more I worried what might possibly happen to me or my family if I joined the NAACP. But I knew I was going to join, anyway” (Ch. 20, pg. 269). This passage is significant because it demonstrates the substantial and terrifying risks taken by those who chose to join the early Civil Rights Movement in the south. Earlier in her life, Anne witnessed acts of bigotry, violence, and murder carried out against members of black activists organizations and anyone who mentioned these groups in public. For example, a local man named Samuel O’Quinn was assassinated with a shotgun as an act of retaliation for his involvement in the NAACP. As Anne later learned from local community …show more content…
In truth, her rejection of King’s “dream” speech marked an end to her childhood naïveté and idealism (discussed above). Although her many experiences with discrimination and violence (i.e., Mrs. Burke, sit-in participation, arrest, etc.) contributed to her anger and cynicism toward whites, this was the first moment where Anne seemed to question if racial equality could ever truly be achieved (or whether it was simply a “dream”). The fact that the 250,000 people who gathered at the Lincoln Memorial seemed to have little effect on government officials (at the time) made Anne doubt that the demands of African American community would every be met. Undoubtedly, her experience at the Washington March, coupled with the news of the Birmingham church bombing, contributed to her later decision to leave the movement and work to New Orleans. Although Anne eventually returned to Canton and accepted the Movement as her calling, the doubt that was instilled in her during the time of the march never seemed to leave her mind. In telling fashion, she concluded her narrative by saying “I wonder. I really wonder.” (pg.