It’s not easy being a man when white man calls you boy;
It’s not easy being a man when society keeps you down.
It’s not easy being a husband when you can’t be a man;
It’s not easy being a father when you can’t provide as a man.
It’s not easy being a man when you’re not considered good
enough to sit and eat where white man fills his belly.
Oh, but what is this? What is going on here?
Is this a revolution? Is this a fight for equality?
Who are these boys who are not yet full grown who
dare to sit at the lunch counter at Woolworth’s?
Why are they not afraid? Where did they get their courage?
Oh, they are college students, boys who know their rights.
Joseph McNeil, David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair;
they cannot cool down the fire of injustice that burns in their guts.
They are boys destined to be educated men full of knowledge who
will not stand still for segregation and degradation.
Men who through education will force the hand of injustice
and racism and being along many more who feel the same.
It’s easy to be a man when education builds character and courage.
It’s easy to be a man when determination and faith wins the struggle.
It’s easy to be a man when the fight brings respect.