#8 - Moments in Black History

Moments in Black History – Colored People Time

December 1955: 

In Montgomery, Alabama, a seamstress named Rosa Parks, tired and weary from work, took a seat on a city bus to become the "mother of the civil rights movement" when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. The bus driver had her arrested. She was tried and convicted of violating a local ordinance. 

Her act sparked a citywide boycott of the bus system by blacks that lasted more than a year. The boycott raised an unknown clergyman named Martin Luther King, Jr., to national prominence and resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation on city buses. 

During the boycott and following in the footsteps of Rosa Parks were several black men and women who truly wished to "give it to the man". This group led by Randall Smalls took part in the bus boycott and created a term black people have utilized for years: "Colored People Time", also known as C.P.T. 

"When Sister Rosa had the courage to sit on that bus and go to jail, we had the courage to support her and make things rough for old whitey," explains Smalls. "Since we didn't use the bus, black people were always late, so we just blamed being late on being black calling it Colored People Time. Let’s face it - It's hard getting places by walking all the damn time, especially after picketing all day with the police and German Shepherds watching you. To hell with the man!" 

With the flames of the civil rights movement strongly burning, most employers did not question or reprimand black employees for their tardiness in order to maintain blissful work relationships. Furthermore, employers did not wish to risk the bad publicity, or receive a visit from Dr. King. 

"Yes indeed, Randall and a few others often arrived late to work. Sometimes thirty minutes to an hour late," said one white business owner, who chose to remain anonymous. "If I said anything, Randall would just point to his skin, which meant Colored People Time. Gosh darn it; I didn't want to start a big ol' stink or nothing so I just let it go." 

Small admits, "Damn, we was always late that year. I mean, yeah, we picketed the bus depots and all that mess, but best believe we still made time for hanging out and having a good time at the jazz clubs or the track. We used the C.P.T. excuse for everything that year. If I was late, oh well. Where you at - Colored People Time; When you coming - Colored People Time; Where's my money - Colored People Time. Damn, it was a good time to be colored." 

The Colored People Time excuse lasted for a year until the bus boycott ended, making the victory a bittersweet victory for Smalls and his following, which spent the next several months struggling to get to work on time. 

Occasionally, the excuse still worked, as it does today. 

Thanks to affirmative action, the act of being "political correct", and the legacy of Mr. Johnny Cochran, Colored People Time will be around for many years to come. 

And thank you too, Randall Smalls. 

This is a Moment in Black History.

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all these." 

                                                              George Washington Carver