Free At Last

Centuries of oppression, Second rate, second-class existence, Judgment not by character but the color of one’s skin, Biting dogs and blasting hoses assault the dreams of decades, Beating down an already beaten people, but a people not beaten down, Gospel hymns and choir songs ease the heavy burden of Thousands dying in the Name of Love One man had a dream, Echoed in the actions of millions. Freedom now rings From every mountain, every hillside, and every molehill of this great nation. Because: One man had a dream, One woman refused to give up her seat, One man went on to not play in the Negro Leagues, Nine teenagers wanted an integrated education, One man flew like a butterfly and stung like a bee, Separate But Equal was the law of this land But while equality on paper is a black and white principle, Separation was the principle of the White man and the Black man A decade of hardship, Of fighting, of too many innocent people dying, Of Freedom rides and church bombings, Riots, sermons, boycotts, sit-ins created An undeclared war on a Constitutionally declared right And in 1968, After a deep division of the American people, A movement of civil rights that shouldn’t have been needed But necessary for all men to be seen as Created Equal, The words had never been more true-- “Free at last, free at last, and thank God Almighty we’re free at last.”