Four Precious Little Girls Went To Church | Based on 31 August @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2146 | Prompt: lie to me (miénteme)

Before four precious little girls who happened to be African American went to church,
They attended school. Laughed. Talked about girl topics. Had fun with friends.
They woke one morning with a renewed sense of wonder.
The day ahead like all previous days.
But that day was September 15, 1963

During the time that those four little girls who happened to be African American were in church,
They greeted other churchgoers.
They readied themselves for their assigned scripture.
They pulled out the church hymns.
They were excited about learning the goodness and mercy of God.

But because a group of racists, who may have been fathers themselves, decided that those four precious little African American girls did not deserve to return home to their families,
They no longer deserved to attend school;
or talk about girl topics;
or have fun with their families and friends;
or grow up to have families of their own;
or work in a career of their choice,
or contribute, if they desired, to the society into which they were born.
Those group of racists took actions before the service even began to end the lives of those four precious little African American girls.

So that the hopes, desires, dreams, and the opportunity to live were snatched away that day in a bombing so horrific one wonders how anyone could have fled the scene of that crime, returned home, ate dinner, and slept that night.

After those four precious little girls who happened to be African American went to church,
the community, city, state of Alabama, and around the world at large, fell into shock.

For a moment, did those racists ever think that perhaps the same fate could befall their daughters by others filled with hatred and bigotry? That their daughters were not worthy to live upon this Earth?

Lie to me.

Tell me that sixty years later in 2023,

all African American girls, boys, men, and women, are still not in danger
of being hunted down and deprived of the right to live
inside their homes or once they leave their homes to worship,
grocery shop, take in leisure activities, or to make a living.

That they are not believed still to be worthy to live in this world.

That they are given equal opportunity.

That they are due the right to the limited history of their ancestors
already being denied in numerous states.

If indications from the past decades and most recently would have one
think that attitudes have changed, that the world has moved away
from racism and bigotry,

Then that person does not reside on Planet Earth.

I think not.

For My Freewrite story: "Four Precious Little Girls Went To Church", I have provided a Spanish Translation. Please click on the link below:

! [Freewrite Day 2146 Spanish Translation]

Cuatro preciosas niñas fueron a la iglesia

^Source

Antes de que cuatro preciosas niñas afroamericanas fueran a la iglesia,
iban a la escuela. Reían. Hablaban de temas de chicas. Se divertían con sus amigos.
Se despertaron una mañana con una renovada sensación de asombro.
El día se presentaba como todos los anteriores.
Pero ese día era el 15 de septiembre de 1963

Durante el tiempo que esas cuatro niñas, que casualmente eran afroamericanas, estuvieron en la iglesia,
saludaron a otros feligreses.
Se preparaban para las escrituras asignadas.
Sacaban los himnos de la iglesia.
Estaban entusiasmadas por aprender la bondad y la misericordia de Dios.

Sino porque un grupo de racistas, que quizá fueran padres ellos mismos, decidieron que esas cuatro preciosas niñas afroamericanas no merecían volver a casa con sus familias,
ya no merecían asistir a la escuela;
o hablar de temas de chicas;
o divertirse con sus familias y amigos;
o crecer para tener sus propias familias;
o trabajar en una carrera de su elección,
o contribuir, si lo deseaban, a la sociedad en la que habían nacido.
Ese grupo de racistas tomó medidas antes incluso de que comenzara el servicio para acabar con la vida de esas cuatro preciosas niñas afroamericanas.

De modo que las esperanzas, los deseos, los sueños y la oportunidad de vivir les fueron arrebatados aquel día en un atentado tan horrible que uno se pregunta cómo alguien pudo huir de la escena de aquel crimen, volver a casa, cenar y dormir aquella noche.

Después de que esas cuatro preciosas niñas que resultaron ser afroamericanas fueran a la iglesia,
la comunidad, la ciudad, el estado de Alabama, y todo el mundo en general, cayeron en shock.

Por un momento, ¿pensaron esos racistas que quizá sus hijas podrían correr la misma suerte a manos de otros llenos de odio e intolerancia? ¿Que sus hijas no eran dignas de vivir en esta Tierra?

Miénteme.

Dime que sesenta años después, en 2023,

...todas las niñas, niños, hombres y mujeres afroamericanos...
de ser perseguidos y privados del derecho a vivir
dentro de sus hogares o una vez que salen de sus casas para adorar,
hacer la compra, participar en actividades de ocio o ganarse la vida.

Que no se siga creyendo que son dignos de vivir en este mundo.

Que se les da igualdad de oportunidades.

Que se les debe el derecho a la historia limitada de sus antepasados
que ya se les niega en numerosos Estados.

Si los indicios de las últimas décadas y más recientemente hicieran pensar
pensar que las actitudes han cambiado, que el mundo se ha alejado
del racismo y la intolerancia,

entonces esa persona no reside en el Planeta Tierra.

Yo creo que no.

Mi historia se basa en:

31 august @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2146: lie to me

My story is based on:

31 august @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2146: lie to me

Good luck everyone with whatever your endeavors.

SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/

English is my native language.
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.

El inglés es mi lengua materna.
Si se incluye traducción, utilizo DeepL para ayudar a mis lectores.
Gracias por su paciencia y comprensión.