Evelyn Toney quietly walked home with her mother. It had been a horrible day, but when they stopped at the ice cream shop, she perked up! What was about to happen, however, would be anything but sweet.
Instead of just handing her the cone she’d ordered, the waitress swallowed hard and SPIT directly in Toney’s ice cream! The seven-year-old girl was devastated – but never forgot what happened, and it ended up changing her life.
Fast forward to 1961, about 10 years later. Around the country, the Civil Rights movement was in full swing and Toney, remembering what happened in the ice cream shop, was ready to work! She helped formed a local NAACP Youth Council, but also did something even more courageous.
She was the first person to get arrested in her town of Albany, GA for challenging racist transportation laws! This inspired others to protest, connect with the Freedom Riders, and even travel across the nation to help other groups organize.
As Toney’s passion for fighting against racism shows, our call to stand up for our rights and fight injustice can happen any time and anywhere. Hers inspired a movement! We must always be willing to answer that call and fight for our people.