Freddie Robinson Jr. Poet Dramatic Verse

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. March 25, 2017 at 10:05 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 March 10, 2017 at 2:19 PM Powerful poem Freddie. Well done! :) Freddie Robinson Jr. March 11, 2017 at 4:25 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 March 10, 2017 at 2:11 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. March 11, 2017 at 4:24 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.