Time
One Nine Five One
I am 8 years old.
I live around the corner from a school I can't attend.
I am forced to travel by bus to receive an education.
My father is upset and decides to sue.
I AM LINDA BROWN.
One Nine Five Four
3 years later.
Brown v. Board of Education.
Legal school segregation ruled unconstitutional.
One Nine Five Five
I am 14 years old.
I am killed.
For "whistling" at a white woman.
I AM EMMET TILL.
Same Year
I am a woman.
I ride the bus.
And I refuse to give it up, only because I am black.
I AM ROSA PARKS.
One Nine Five Seven
There were 9 of us.
We go to Central High School.
That's a "whites only" school.
We were moved out of school by authorities.
WE ARE THE "LITTLE ROCK NINE"
One Nine Six Two
I am the fist black to enroll in the University of Mississippi.
I got 5,000 troops sent to contain the violence.
I AM JAMES MEREDITH.
One Nine Six Three
250,000 people joined together.
Orated by Martin Luther King Jr.
I AM THE "I Had a Dream" SPEECH.
One Nine Six Eight
I am killed at 39.
I am a Civil Rights activist.
I gave the most remembered speech of the movement.
I AM MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
One Eight Five Seven
through
One Nine Nine Two
represent
Civil Rights Movement.
Comments
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maribelle
This poem is so clever. I love the historical references and the recognition that civil rights have not been easy to fight for throughout all these years of the movement.
jwiener
I really like how you took on the persona of many different historical figures and events in this poem! Very interesting idea! Have you ever written a visual poem? Check out how and more in the "Resources" section.
riverrock23
I really like how you did the years. They're like addresses. Very cool.
riverrock23
I really like how you did the years. They're like addresses. Very cool.
Adegboyega
beautifully scripted, clever, sly. the hopelessness of the situation is made manifest, but the never say die attitude reverbrates around this poem.
strongtower91
hun i loved the history time line of it it was very beautiful
Elrast
I really like this.
sacrifice
Amazing :)