April 25, 1920: Today was the first day I learned that I was goin' to be treated the way black peoples are. It was a nice day when a white boy, Bob Ewell, came up to me and said I was a big fat nigge'. But I just ignored him 'cause my dad told me never to get in a fight with a white person 'cause I'd get in big trouble.When the boy saw I was ignoring him, he said, "You ignorin' me?" I didn't respond to his question but continued on. He spat in my face and when he saw I did not react, he kicked me in the shin. Fury was in me, and I had to fight back. I kicked him as he did to me, n' we got into a fight. He tried to strangle me, but I punched him in the face. His dad was comin' to get him from school, and he saw us fighting. He yanked me off his son and threw me to the ground. He told his son, I was just a negro, and he should avoid me. I went home and told Pa about what had happened n' he said not to worry since not all white people are like that. I doubt it but I hope what Pa said was true. Pa told me to be careful when I grow up and never to fight a white man even if he deserved it. He said I would go to prison if I fought one even if he 'cause I was black.