Home » Poems » Freddie Robinson Jr. » We Worked Long Enough

We Worked Long Enough

I laugh out loud every time I hear a politician say, that the best way to enrich a black person's life, is to give them a job Give them some work to do Labor is the way out of poverty --- are you kidding me! They got the nerve, telling a black person in America they need to work Put the shoulder to the grinding wheel, get to know the sweaty brow feel Getting employed will solve most of black people's problems, politicians say Hard work will bring an honest dollar our way But I got a problem with that four-letter word: work I am bold enough to speak for my people on this urgent matter Telling us we need to work some more, in order for things to get better for us No! We worked long enough Four hundred years is a long enough time, don't you think We been working ever since we got off those slave ships that didn't sink We worked hard at keeping our eyes and voices low We worked hard at pretending that we're slow We worked even harder at grinning and gritting our teeth But we worked the hardest at not getting lynched on a tree Listen to me: This is the children of slaves reality, the living in America experience of feeling the societal lash daily Of being looked down on, of being spurned and frowned upon Politicians say they helped us all they could, that entitlements didn't do no good And only work can get us to where we need to be ... sounds a lot like old-time slavery to me No! We worked long enough Four hundred years is a long enough time, I would think We been working ever since we got off those slave ships that didn't sink We worked hard at not getting pecked to death by Jim Crow We worked hard at trying to survive under the poverty line below We worked even harder at not telling the oppressor everything we know But we worked the hardest at letting our unchained KKKourage show Yes! We worked long enough ... now it's time for us to rest Will you pay us back for that?

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Alexis Y.

Date: 3/25/2017 10:05:00 AM

WoW! Freddie, I appauld you for writing this hard hitting poem. Your poetry is phenomenal and it always rings with a truthful message. I salute and I commend for your gift. I can't thank you enough for the honesty and truth of these words. A without a doubt seven and a fav:-) Alexis

Heidi Sands

Date: 3/10/2017 2:19:00 PM

Powerful poem Freddie. Well done! :)

Freddie Robinson Jr.
Date: 3/11/2017 4:25:00 AM

Ty, Heidi. Power to truth, right. Ty for the love and support. If we don't help one another, nobody else will. Love and peace.

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 3/10/2017 2:11:00 PM

Yes you should be paid and Im sure politicians would be in debt with you for a long time. Your poem misted my eyes...I hear you roar and I hear your cry. This should be poem of the day, or year. A fave.

Freddie Robinson Jr.
Date: 3/11/2017 4:24:00 AM

Ty, Charmaine. This write brought a tear to my eye as well. Gotta keep calling 'em as I see it. Love your loving support and kind words, dear. Love always for you.