27. He once refused to leave a racially-segregated library when they wouldn’t lend him some books
A charming story from Ronald’s childhood gives a sense of his character and determination. Aged 9, he walked alone to the public library to borrow some books. In 1959, ‘public’ meant ‘whites only’. As the library patrons stared, open-jawed, little Ronald politely queued with his stack of books. The shocked librarian informed him that the library allowed ‘no coloureds’. Ronald simply replied, ‘well, I’d like to check out these books’. The library threatened to call the police if he didn’t leave, but Ronald wouldn’t move. Surprisingly, when the amused police arrived, they ordered the librarian to lend him the books.
