Doctor Ossian Sweet smiles...

Every American school child knows this house:



They ought to know this one too. Maybe they ought to know it better.



On November 5, 1917, millions of Americans woke up to find that no State, City, or County could use its power to make black folks live in a particular location. The U. S. Supreme Court read the Constitution.


On May 17, 1954, millions of Americans woke up to find that no State, City, or County could use its power to make black children go to segregated schools. The U. S. Supreme Court read the Constitution.

And today, the U. S. Supreme Court told every State, City, and County that it couldn't use its power to force people- specifically, lakhs of black people in Washington, D.C.- to remain unarmed and helpless in their own homes.

If there are ghosts, I think those of the Sweet family , who will always haunt that little house, are smiling.