Best Douglass Poems
She once met a man called Noel,
He was a musician of rock and roll,
They sang and played music into the night,
When she is with him she doesn’t get a fright.
Then He turned to her and said...
You’ve got the rhythm in you,
You’ve got it in your shoes,
You’ve got it in your bones,
You’ve got it in your toes,
You’ve got it in your hair,
You’ve got it everywhere,
You’ve had it from the start,
You’ve got it in your heart.
Through the wind they whispered singing softly,
Into the crack of dawn, morning light...
At 6am she fell asleep,
Subconsciously she heard a creep...
She woke up and he wasn’t there,
She called for his name,
It was like he didn’t care,
She was going insane!
She still hears those words at night,
Though unable to see Him through sight.
You’ve got the rhythm in you,
You’ve got it in your shoes,
You’ve got it in your bones,
You’ve got it in your toes,
You’ve got it in your hair,
You’ve got it everywhere,
You’ve had it from the start,
You’ve got it in your heart.
By: Ava Douglass Age: 12
Land of the free
Home of the slaves
The blood, sweat and tears of my ancestors resonate
Amongst the soil where they were slain
I’m hearing their struggle
I’m feeling their pain
I can’t imagine being forced to part from my family
All for massa’s gain
So I pay homage to those who promoted change
People like every slave who tried to escape
Nat Turner, Ms Carlotta, Harriet Tubman
And the safe houses who were in accord
And peg leg Joe with his song
Follow the drinking gourd.
People like, the disregarded - those thrown overboard
And who was dismissed and defamed
The ones who were stripped of their soul, their pride, their names
The list could go on
The full will never be told
So I pay homage to others who were bold
Like John Brown, The Freedom Riders, Sojourner Truth
Ida B Wells, Phyllis Wheatley, Maya Angelou,
Langston Hughes and Charles Drew
George Washington Carver, Ruby Bridges
Booker T Washington and Mary McCleod Bethune
Charles Houston, Ralph Bunche, Fredrick Douglass
WEB Dubois, Paul Robeson, Ralph Abernathy
Benjamin Banneker, Marcus Garvey and Crispus Attucks
Who’s death by the way
Symbolized the American lie
You cant declare the rights of all men
While the people of African decent rights get denied
But still we rise
Thanks to Dr Martin Luther King, Malcolm X,
The Black Panthers, the Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen
None who were showed any love
Yeah it’s an uphill battle,
But obviously greatness can be done.
We can rise above this stigma
That blacks are lazy and daunting
That our worth is null and void
And in essence minus nothing
And of all the names mentioned
And the greatness of their successes
No one has been able to erase the evil transgressions of a racist mind
And once you have experienced just a taste of it
It changes your perception of time
The oppression beats like the drum on the chariot
Of when it was finally time to escape to freedom
It's mine
We have come a long way we have been fighting for centuries and decades to get
where we are.
Jim Crow and the Segregated south couldn't keep us down.
We fought to be equal by marching the streets of the south all the way to D.C.
Slavery may have tried to keep us down and make us give up.
But we held our heads up high and looked to the sky and Prayed to God to help us.
And he did he saw us through he made us stronger it was another's day journey
and we were glad about it.
My heritage enlightens me it inspires me to be a better person and to be my best.
My culture motivates to want more to educate the younger generation.
From the plantation to the white house we have come a long way.
To see the future through and have a brighter day.
The south thought they had us bound but they were wrong.
The Lord knew what he had in store for us all along.
He showed us the light............
And kept us through the night.
People like the Reverend Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are keeping the legacy
alive .
By making sure that we know our rights and get the respect we deserve.
I am enlightened by what Martin Luther, Malcolm X and Frederick Douglass did.
They were motivated even though they came from different backgrounds.
My ancestors pulled through so I could see something unique and divine.
Segregation turned into intergration Jim Crow evolved into the background paving
the way for Barack Obama to become president.
If only Jim Crow knew he paved the way for civil rights.
For marches upon Washington D.C. and for Lunch Counter Sit-ins.
All those hymns and Justice he paved the way for Rosa Parks to say enough is
enough.
To not give up her seat and to be treated as equal citizens.
My heritage and my culture breathes within me and I must keep the legacy going
strong.
All my days long.
Over 200 years of oppression
Now days are we paying for our transgressions
Doing slavery we used our bravery
Breaking the chains doing the inhumane suffering and pain
While being disrespected by being called ambiguous names
Tubman took us through the underground
Old spirituals and praising the Lord was our sound
Douglass reformed abolitionist as he became free
While up North he read poetry by Phillis Wheatley
Sojourner was all about telling the truth
While W. B. Dubois taught us about our history, is that enough proof
These heroes and activist trail blazed the way
They put their faith and trust in God every day
When racial tension became too extreme Father God gave us Malcolm X and Dr. King
Why doesn’t it feel like that the freedom bell still rings?
America has an unapologetic past
A dark cloud of racial hatred has been casted
There is no respect for what has been done
Our ancestors raised their voices and fist, while our youth has loaded their guns
From our past history we were showed how to lead
But we have to encourage with God’s love to our new techno-media breed
In unity and peace on bended knees we have to constantly pray
So come together as one, “Let’s Lead the Way”
“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” -Aristotle
Black! a word that always tend to stir
From ages hath caused a birr
after decades of raging war
they still shir!!
Black exist in all, a part
be it the color of eyes, skin or heart
or the thoughts and actions
only few can see, those smart.
At night the stars shine bright
Jesse, Oprah, Doris, Latimer to cite
For the major role they played
in every field, but still smite
All the efforts were in vain
of King, Douglass and others who did strain
for they are doomed to be remembered
a few days, a month, feign!
Without night there’s no day
for they go hand in hand and play
so hath universe been created
and yet the world seems to stray
there is no black history, oh blind!
for it is the history of mankind
to be remembered and revered
forever keep in mind
@ Nadiya (24 Feb '15)
*Placed 1st in the contest 'Writings in a Black Perspective' by Verlena S Walker on 19 March 2015
What an honorable man.
Dependable.
Dedicated.
Up Right in his stand.
A beautiful man who is the gate keeper for us all.
He has provided the love.
Support.
Also wisdom to his young prince.
His young princess's applied individually.
His Role as King in our lives.
Rightfully deserved from all us who knew him.
He taught us to be accountable for one another.
Grandaddy did not play with you.
When it came to being angry with our sister or brother.
He held on to us all.
Grandaddy make it perfectly clear.
This is how he showed true love for us all.
He spent more time in our character building.
Teaching us about:
Honesty.
Not to steal.
To stay away from drugs.
True life survival skills is what he taught.
Granddaddy knew we would have set-backs.
Plenty trials.
Granddaddy would always say. “When you fall”.
“Get back up, brush yourself off”.
He never spent time downing us.
Granddaddy's time was dedicated.
To showing us how to get back up.
Again and again.
Visionary who saw the future long before it got here.
Granddaddy prepared us well.
He was perfect in our eyesight.
Spectacular role model.
Granddaddy guided us through.
With plenty of grace.
Plenty of wisdom.
He was our daddy who always had the time.
He was our Hero who always provided us,
a home big enough to hold us all.
Larger than life was our granddaddy.
His beautiful smile.
His very kind heart was the cord of love that kept,
our family together.
Granddaddy we will always love you forever.
Granddaddy you were our everything.
Granddaddy thank you for being our King.
Dedicated: To my granddaddy.
Fred Douglass Demory Sr.
The Susan B. Anthony Few Know
By Elton Camp
In our day, Anthony is a person of note
Mostly in connection with womens’ vote
But name just one other thing she did do
Those who could do it are extremely few
Her image was on a dollar that didn’t do well
Is just about most people would be able to tell
We likely recall her visage that looked so stern,
But, in school, little about her work did we learn
She was active in urging and end to alcohol abuse
To try to speak at temperance rallies was no use
For a mere woman to address such a large crowd
Why, it just simply was shocking and not allowed
Opposition to slavery was a cause she advocated
Reasons to abolish the horrible practice she related
Both Douglass and Garrison she knew as friend
And planned with them how slavery best to end
Using speeches, posters, leaflets slavery to defeat,
Was hung in effigy, image dragged in the street
Property a woman owned, her husband could claim
Nothing of value could she hold in her own name
Women a college education weren’t allowed to get
With the University of Rochester, Anthony had a fit
Until the college came to admit it had made a mistake
And agreed that women as well as men they would take
About another injustice Susan B. Anthony had a say
It is fair that women, for equal work, get equal pay
She demanded that women to professions be admitted
With minds as good as men, to any occupation fitted
Anthony also agitated for a workday eight hours long
Shifts longer than that she explained, were just wrong
She encouraged women to enter into the printing trade
And for all to purchase goods that were American made
Her newspaper read, “Men their rights, and nothing more”
“Women their rights and nothing less.” Injustice did abhor.
Despite all the things the rights crusader came to do and say,
Very few know that February 15th is Susan B. Anthony Day
THEY WERE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL THEY WERE MIGHTY AND THEY WERE STRONG.
THEY FOUGHT FOR EQUALITY AND FOR JUSTICE THEY PUT GOD FIRST IN EVERYTHING.
THEY DO.
THEY STOOD UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVED IN THEY DIDN'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
I SEE THEM AS MIGHTY MEN AND WOMEN WOULD NOT TAKE A BACK SEAT.
ONE MINUTE THEY WERE HERE BREATHING THE AIR OF LIFE THEY NEXT MINUTE THEY ARE TOUCHING THE GROUND ASLEEP IN THEIR COFFINS.
FOR IF THERE WERE NO WASHINGTON THERE WOULD NO LINCOLN, NO TEDDY,NO FDR, NO JFK, NO CLINTON.
IT WAS SUSAN B. ANTHONY WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR WOMEN SUCH AS GERALDINE FERRARO, NANCY PELOSI AND SO MANY OTHERS.
SHE PROVED THAT A WOMAN IS MORE THAN JUST A CHILDBEARER AND A MAID.
IF THERE WAS NO NAT TURNER THERE WOULD BE NO FREDERICK DOUGLASS, NO MARTIN LUTHER KING, NO MALCOLM X THEY WOULD BE NO OBAMA.
THEIR LEAGACY LIVES ON IN THE LEADERS WHO ARE IN THE MAKING INSPIRING US TO BE ALL WE CAN BE AND IF WE FOLLOW OUR DREAMS WE CAN GO ANYWHERE.
Americans, Algerians, Australian aborigines,
Corrupt leaders of the world involved in illegal activities.
Bloodthirsty bullies brazenly bombing bystanders,
Militaries full of corrupt army commanders.
Charities for children, carers in communities,
Third world countries deprived of equal opportunities.
Doctors, dentists, drugs, disability and depression,
An angry generation full of negative aggression.
Evil egotistic eejits entering elections,
Profiteering politicians with the right connections.
Foul mouthed fools fighting over fossil fuels,
Crooked government clowns creating their own rules.
Greedy gangs gambling, goons glamorising globalisation,
A sad and unfair planet, full of frustration.
History of horrific holocausts, hate crimes, hard times,
Skull and bones, secret societies, illuminati hand signs.
Isolation, intimidation, immigration, inaccurate information,
Hiroshima and Nagasaki still suffer from radiation.
Judge and jury, jam-packed jail cells,
Relentless rebels not doing it for the medals.
Kalashnikov culture, killers keep killing,
The reality of climate change is extremely chilling.
Lame loud mouthed liars living in luxury,
Corrupt politicians should be in custody.
Microchips, machine guns, military madness in the Middle East,
The rich get richer while homelessness continues to increase.
NASA, NATO, new world order, negative nonsense,
Celebrating Columbus Day, do they have any conscience?
Outrageous organisations occupying oil fields,
Double dealing leaders involved in shady deals.
Pitiful pessimists publishing pointless propaganda,
While aids and malaria increases in Uganda.
Quality over quantity or quantity over quality,
An overused phrase that’s used too commonly.
Radicals rallying, ready for revolution,
Air, water, soil and radioactive pollution.
Sick, sadistic sinners selfishly selling slaves,
Fredrick Douglass must be turning in his grave.
Terrible terrorists taking over territories,
Religious beliefs still creating enemies.
Unconscious unkind useless United Nations,
CNN plus Fox News equals bias news stations.
Various victims viciously victimised,
Deadly missiles falling from the skies.
Wars, weapons, whistles blowers on the World Wide Web,
While others sell their souls just to become a celeb.
Only through adversity can GREATNESS be achieved.
"If there's no struggle, there's no progress",
this is what Frederick Douglass believed.
To tap into our inner stength & push forward even
when the odds are against you.
Being a winner, because failure is not a option:
so I'ma make it do what it do!
Make something outta nothing , that's going to
illuminate in my time & beyond me.
Ya'll cant see it now, but then to ya'll can't see
what I see.
My vision, my dreams. nor my aspiration.
My struggles within or my innated motivation.
To be a better person, with concepts of changing
the world.
A mirror of inspiration to these little beautiful
black boys & girls.
But, on a larger scale this GREATNESS is really not
about me.
Because I can't change, nor can I obtain anything unless
I first start with me...GREATNESS!
I was a picked on,
bullied, browbeaten, buffaloed boy
from Buffalo New York.
I grew up on Buffalo’s lower east side,
the ghetto by another name.
The Frederick Douglass towers.
Formerly the Talbert Mall
better known as the Jefferson projects.
The home turf to a gang
called the Pythons.
It was a place
where angels fear to tread.
I had so many bullies
it’s a wonder I didn't end up dead.
I had more bullies
than the law allowed.
I survived my childhood somehow.
I can count one hand
how many times
I was saved by gang members. (5)
I join a bigger gang
right after high school.
The United States Army,
and saw the world,
Germany, Turkey and Italy.
I met the man who would be
my Kung-Fu master,
three years later he had made me
a very dangerous man.
Back stateside I became
DJ Bobby K “The One to Know”
For a little over fourteen years,
I played the music
that made the difference.
All the while I heard the voices.
In the year 2,000
I took a course
in creative writing,
and Bobby K
“The Poor Man's Poet was born.”
Now when I go out to speak,
I mean to be heard,
giving voice to the spoken word.
To Build a spaceship you need:
Saucepans. For intergalactic transmissions to other planets like mars,
Planets to orbit. If not what else would a spaceship do?
Aliens. Every Spaceship needs aliens!
Captain. Before you even start to make a spaceship you need a captain,
Egg cups. To act as buttons as they are too expensive.
Sky’s the limit! In this case its actually not in a spaceship, but what I mean is let you imagine
run free, nothings too difficult when building a space ship,
High-fives, are always necessary when something goes right
Intergalactic. Be sure to write intergalactic on various buttons and levers to make your
spaceship look more hi-tech,
Pie. When the spaceship is finally finished, tuck into some pie!
By: Ava Douglass Age 12
ONGOING ELEGY
The words you’re about to read are part of an ongoing elegy that began in 1999
after 12 students and one teacher were killed in the halls of Columbine.
We immediately looked to our leaders for a beacon of hope…a sign…
that they would try to keep us safe…after Columbine
We hoped they would do something….perhaps put a law upon the books…
We knew they wouldn’t let this continue…
then came Sandy Hook.
And again we looked to our leaders…
they wouldn’t sit back and watch more people die…
Surely this time they would do something…
then came Parkland and Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High…
They should have offered us more than their prayers and hopes and thoughts…
but after Columbine,
after Sandy Hook…
after Parkland…
they did not
And so we add more names to this elegy…after another senseless shooting spree…
more children and adults gunned down…in a school in Tennessee
We like to think we are not a heartless people …although we often act as if we are
but at what point do we as a nation say…this has gone too far?
Yes, we thought they’d come up with a policy, a strategy…some kind of design…
but here we are still waiting…24 years after Columbine.
24 years still waiting for our leaders to address a problem
whose solutions are plain to see….
for until they do,
with sorrow in my heart,
I’ll keep adding to this elegy.
Empowerment
Inticement
Power
Promotion
Selfishness
Greed for more Michael Douglass in tow
Control
Warhol
Acid
Mitigation
Solitude
Alone
Shady
Pilgrims on the highway out of control
Wasted
Bondage
Societal influx
Caged fury in delusion
Bondage
An adaptation toward self alone
Control
Loose Cannons
Minds controlled by destruction marked on its blotted page intact
Evil empire
Dwarfed in decision making
Out of control
Bondage
Savage beasts brute in desire for more?
No soul,
Divination
Welcome to America!
Nobama
Reckless warriors in soldiers fragmentation
Nazi
Shaded Soprano
Branded eyes with skulls fractured among us
The garden of Eden in exchange for death
Loose cannons approaching the river Nile
Hypocrisy!
Smokescreen for the captitalists agenda!
It was 20 years ago…the year was 1999
and we thought the world would change….after Columbine
We hoped something would be done
after children were gunned down with their books
We thought the world would change…
and then came Sandy Hook
And we hoped something would be done
we can’t sit back and watch our children die…
and we thought the world would change
then came Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High…
But nothing has been done…
Today these mass murders persist
as we sadly add El Paso and Dayton to the list.
We should have learned our lesson
that was in that first mass shooting taught…
but after Columbine,
after Sandy Hook…
after Parkland…
we did not.
We like to think we are not a heartless people
although we act just like we are.
At what point do we as a nation say
this has gone too far?
So once again I pray we find a solution…?once again I pray we’re ready draw the line…
so we don’t have to wait another 20 years
after Columbine.