The Legacy

Beaten, battered and broken Through hell and back, We stay alive, The torture, the hate and lack of respect From Emmitt Till to Rosa Parks, They endured, they fought! They saw the future light, in a place nothing but dark They endured the pain, The venom, spat in their black faces Noting but power and motivation it produced, Freedom Riders who stood in the face of danger Knowing some wouldn’t return But never did they fail, They resisted to fall They persevered. Never did they die without cause For they are the ones who set the precedent, Their heavy minds and impregnable determination Are what brought us to today’s opportunities Affirmative action Rights to vote, to live, to thrive For they did not retaliate with hate, But multiplied in number and strength And for that, we are still here. Beautiful, black and proud.