Merry-Go-Round

Where is the Jim Crow section
On this merry-go-round
Mister, cause I want to ride
Down South where I come from
White and colored
Can't sit side by side.
Down South on the train
There's a Jim Crow car
On the bus we're put in the back-
But there ain't no back
To a merry-go-round!
Where's the horse
For a kid that's black?

I could hold on no longer, quickly I pulled my hand furiously to get away from m dad's grasp. I finally got free and sprinted to the man selling tickets. "Where is the Jim Crow section on this merry-go-round mister" I asked in confusion. My heart seemed to jump out of my chest, I wasn't sure what to say next, I was so excited. When it was my turn to ride I eyed the horses carefully, trying to find the right one or me. It was a small brown horse with a tan mane. When I  got on, my heart thumped rapidly. As the animals started to spin my legs tightened around the barrel of the horse. It was my first time on s merry-go-round and I was surprised at how fast it went when you were actually on it. When I went around the first time I saw a small golden ring on the wall. Everyone was trying to grab it and the man said that if you did get it you got another free ride. I came around again, I could see it coming closer and closer. I reached for it. "Ahh!" I yelped. My hand was sweaty from holding on so tightly and I had lost my grip. IT seemed so fast and before I knew it I was on the ground in pain. My arm had a sharp pain hat disabled me from getting up. When the man walked up t me he asked "Are you ok child?" I felt the ring and smiled warmly, "yes."-Davis

As I watch the little girl go round and round I get more anxious to go on. The music makes me get jittery from all the excitement. The laughter fills the hot sunny day air. I dozed off on the ride as it just goes round and round. I go up to the man controlling it and say, "Mister, where is the Jim Crow place for us?" He has a little chuckle but still kind of had a straight face the whole time. I just realized that there were whites and blacks on the ride. I couldn't believe my eyes, what they saw. I thought I was dreaming. It looked like a dream because of all the music, colors, and horses around me. The man looked at me and smirked. I didn't know if I should be afraid of excited because I didn't know if he was going to let me on. My hands were clammy feeling because of the sweat. All of this excitement at once overjoyed me. A that moment when the horse i saw looked at me in the eyes and I knew that it was going to be the one I was going to ride. The man gently opened the gate and let us in. I stood there for a minute. My excitement took over me. I ran around twice trying to find the horse I saw earlier. I was getting curious about where the horse is and why I cant't find him. But right then I did a lap and a half and I saw it. It was beautiful. I don't know why that one caught my attention but it just did. It was white and had  black blotches on it. I thought to myself its kind of like how it is right now. There is white and black horses together. That didn't seem right. I wish it was like that in real life. Life would be a lot better for us. Even though my dream came true for once I never thought that this moment would come and it did. -Taylor R.

When we arrived at the circus, I left my fathers grip and ran to my favorite ride. The marry-go-round. When i got to the ride I asked the man " where is the Jim Crow section on this marry-go-round mister"? Just then I fell in love with a grey and brown spotted horse. "I want to ride."I said to the man. He replied with kindness. "One moment, you must wait until the ride is over." I boarded the horse with excitement. As it started to go around the little kids screamed with joy. Groups of white people crowded around the merry-go-round and began to boo. I didn't understand why. Then the man running the machine, stopped and told me to get off the horse, out of the fence, and to leave. So I did what he told me. As I left, the mad had gone up to the horse that I had rode. He wiped it off with spray and a cloth. Then he started the ride again and the crowd left muttering.-Treju