"Having grown up in a small northern town, Baker didn't understand why they asked him and another black passenger to move to the front car, closer to the noise and exhaust of the locomotive, shortly after the train crossed into Texas. Boarding the empty bus for Camp Wolters, he tossed his bag down and moved into the first seat behind the driver- his first mistake in the segregated South. The driver spun around with words uglier than Baker had ever heard: "Hey, nigger, get up and get to the back of the bus where you belong." Baker's fists clenched as a friendly hand touched him on his arm and led him to the back of the bus. The old man who'd intervened, and possibly saved Baker's life, gave him a quick education in Jim Crow. He'd been close. Stronger men had been lynched for less."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Silver Star Medal recipientsMedal of Honor recipientsAfrican AmericansUnited States Army peoplePeople from Wyoming
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Vernon Baker
10 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Vernon Baker →
Related Quotes
"Dedicated to my grandfather, Samuel Joseph Baker, and the brave soldiers of the 92nd Infantry "Buffalo" Division who …"
"I, too, want to close wounds and answer the questions of World War II. Some wounds will not heal, some questions will…"
"Thousands of people embraced me- the towns of Montignoso, Massa, and Cararra, the cities of Pietrasanta and Florence,…"
"On April 4, 1997, the day before my pilgrimage, I visited Castle Aghinolfi from the German side of the lines. The inv…"
"Despite my passion for my men, I cannot better explain why I cannot honor them- the heroes who didn't retreat- by rem…"
"[Regarding a 1937 summarization on black soldiers published by the U.S. Army War College] Reading this, I could begin…"
""Heidy usually answers the phone. But I picked it up and said, 'Good morning.' The voice on the other end said, 'Mr. …"
"I received the Medal the thirteenth of January, nineteen-ninety-seven, from President Clinton. Seven were awarded, bu…"
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: First Lieutenant…"
"Our Nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal."