I Hear America Mourning

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There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

Langston Hughes

I Hear America Mourning

For their dark brother

Floyd murdered
knee in the neck
by another killer cop

Thousands march across America
Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Washington, New York,
“America, Don’t put your knee on our neck,” They cry

In 1925, the darker brother said, “I too, am America.”

In 1968 the song of justice rose through MLK’s soul

If riots are the language of the unheard, peace is the language of the heard
If equality were to spread through America’s veins,
If the voices of the silenced were to gush like sweet nectar
If a dream were not deferred
If a seed were to grow into a plump grape
(not wither like a raisin)
Riots would become celebrations
Looters would be cornucopias

Of love

Black lives matter.

I am waiting for the day when people of white privilege can
instead of claiming to understand, just sit at the table of the
darker brother and sister and say, yes sir, yes ma’m I’m listening to
Your Story.

I am waiting for an America of justice, peace and understanding.

Recitation by Elle Beah LB

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