This February we’ve been asking folks to share what Black History Month means to them, and how it relates to their family or their community. We’ll be sharing the messages throughout the month. This post comes from Lucia Alcantara, a good friend of ATD Fourth World in New York. It originally appeared on her blog, which everyone should go visit...)
It is now winter in North America. That means that we’re buried under cold, snowy weather. Yet there are flowers that bloom year round; like the beautiful literary offerings that can be found in a variety of platforms. On Monday Jan 18th we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy by honoring his birthday (1/16). Dr. King’s anniversary was particularly notable this year due to the release of “Selma” a US based movie that depicts the lives of the people of Selma, Alabama and their struggle to obtain the right to vote. In 1965 civil rights activists in Selma invited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Congress to work in their community. At that time the civil rights work in Selma focused on voting rights for African-Americans. While I haven’t suffered this specific type of discrimination, nonetheless, I sobbed during the movie. Selma touched me in a deeply profound way. It pierced through my skin to the tender emotional space that still stings from having been discriminated against in both subtle and overtly violent ways.Those scars are difficult to ignore. For all of my accomplishments and accolades to some ignoramus I’m still a brown girl who speaks English so well… for a Dominican, …for “whatever” limited knowledge they might be holding. Earlier that day I had received a link to a young poet named Ernestine Johnson from Jonathan Lewis, Café Impact, a colleague and friend. Ms. Johnson’s poem helped me dry off my tears and stand up tall and proud. Her delivery and dialogue are spot-on, see link belowOn February 1, 2015 it would have been Langston Hughes’ 113th birthday. In acknowledgement of his contributions to the American discourse and lifelong achievement Google featured Mr Hughes’ poems throughout that day. As a social entrepreneur I endeavor to find opportunities to bridge assets with needs and resources. Well, that’s what it has been for the past 2 days. You know how this goes… So as a bridge building social entrepreneur I offer a modern virtual retrospective, in this posting we contain the work of two very different poets, writing about their experiences as Americans of a darker complexion.Let’s take a minute and smell the literary roses, spring is coming.Ernestine Johnson talks white http://www.upworthy.com/they-liked-her-because-she-talked-white-i-bet-they-didnt-expect-this?c=upw1Peace, Health, and Happiness,Lucia Alcantara
Democracy by Langston Hughes
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I’m dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.