American Black Hero's, Yesterday and Today
Please listen up close and lend me your ear,
For I have a positive black message to be heard far and near.
Let me take you on a journey of true black history roots,
What better place to start, than with Sojourner Truth.
Born 1797 into slavery as one Isabella Baumfree,
Only to escape in 1826 with her daughter, from slavery, to become free.
An African American abolitionist and woman rights activist,
She made it her point to put black women rights at the top of her list.
She fought an unfair court system to get her son back,
Now you tell me about the mighty power of the color they call black.
Delivering in 1851 the famous “Ain't I A Woman” speech,
Well Sojourner Truth a great woman you were, and a great woman you'll forever be.
Now let me enlighten your mind with another black scholar,
And he goes by the name of George Washington Carver.
He was an American scientist, botanist and inventor,
Born January 1864, he was an educator and black mentor.
A strong believer of his research on a way of life other than cotton,
Things like peanut, soybeans, and sweet potatoes, to which we've forgotten.
Encouraging poor farmers to grow these alternative crops as food and for a better way of living,
Its plain to see that George Washington Carver was truly self driven.
Cosmetics, dyes, paints and plastics were some of his peanut inventions,
He also received numerous honors to include The Spingarn Medal I might mention.
Another great woman that came about and caused some sparks,
The U.S. Congress called her the 1st lady of civil rights, Mrs Rosa Parks.
Born February 4, 1913 and residing in Montgomery, Alabama,
Who knew she would be a civil rights bad mamma jamma.
Most known for not giving up her seat to a white man and going to the back of the bus
She endured the name calling and wore the hand cuffs.
Her act of defiance was a major milestone in this civil rights movement
Which help led to our modern day racial improvement.
She became an international icon of racial segregation,
But it came with the price of humiliation and aggravation.
Later honored with the Spingarn Medal, The Congressional Gold Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom,
Mrs. Rosa Parks died in 2005 and gained the ultimate freedom.
And without further a dew, I must mention next,
Is the controversial brother they call Malcolm X.
Born may 19, 1925 as Malcolm Little,
This was the start of a man's life who was all but subtle.
At age 20 he went to prison for breaking and entering charges,
While there and joining the Nation of Islam, he learned about the Muslim marches.
He changed his name to El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, to start his new life,
And met a woman named Betty Sanders, who later became his wife.
A leader and marching for the Nation of Islam,
But little did he know that the Nation would bring him harm.
He left the Nation of Islam in March of 1964,
The thoughts and views of Elijah Muhammad he could take it no more.
And in February 1965 after he left the Nation,
Three members of the group orchestrated his assassination.
And now to a man who's messages were worth more than diamonds and rings,
All hale the name of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Born January 15, 1929 he was an activist and leader in the black community,
He wanted blacks and whites to live together in unity.
In 1955, Dr King led the Montgomery bus boycott,
And how I wish I was there, because I know his message rocked.
And in the 1963 march on Washington, he delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech,
And if I could see him right now, I would say preach on my brother preach.
In 1964, Dr King became the youngest ever to receive The Nobel Piece Prize,
And I thank God he received it before his demise.
An untimely death, in Memphis Tennessee, he met his fate,
He was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
And now to the man we must bestow all honor,
The first American black President, Mr. Barack O'Bama.
He's the first to wear the title as such,
Barack, you've done a lot for the American people and we love you so much.
You came in with the message of YES WE CAN,
And you tried to get health care benefits for every man.
You said you'd bring the troops home and that you did do,
God bless Barack O'Bama and the soldiers that fought for the red, white and blue.
And the death of the world's most wanted terrorist in that man O'Sama
Yea, that happened under the watch of my man O'Bama.
And to those who can't see what he's doing, then you must be blind,
Because he's fighting for equality for all man kind.
And as we celebrate our President amongst our peers,
Let us come together and re-elect O'Bama for another four years.
Okay listen up brother's and sister's while I have your attention,
There were other black hero's, but these I chose to mention.
Black history roots shouldn't just be talked about, but we should all take part,
For black history should always be in our heart.
So I hope you listen up and heard the things I had to say,
And know black history isn't about a month, LIVE BLACK HISTORY every day!!
Miguel “A Poetic State of Mind” Keaton
