J. Patrick Lewis is an American poet and prose writer known for his children's poetry. In this poem, the speaker describes the experiences of Sylvia Mendez, an important Civil Rights activist of Mexican–Puerto Rican heritage. Mendez played an important role in the desegregation of schools in California, meaning that white and Mexican American students were no longer forced to go to separate schools based on their race.
As you read, take notes on Sylvia’s perception of the different schools.