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Survivors
SNATCHED FROM THE MOTHERLAND, SUCH A HORRIBLE CRIME. FORCED INTO SLAVERY, YET NO ONE SERVED TIME. BEATEN, KILLED, FORBIDDEN TO LEARN, RAPED, HUNG, TORTURED AND BURNED; BUT BUYING AND SELLING US WAS THERE MAIN CONCERN, THEN THE TABLES BEGAN TO TURN.
IN 1865, SLAVERY CAME TO AN END AND OUR FREEDOM WE DID WIN. WE THOUGHT THE STRUGGLE WAS OVER AND EQUALITY WOULD BEGIN AND THAT’S WHEN RACISM SET IN.
OPPRESSED, DEPRIVED, DEPRESSED, DENIED, LABELED INFERIOR BECAUSE OF OUR BLACK SKIN. SEPARATED FROM SOCIETY TREATED LESS THAN HUMAN.
THIS WENT ON FOR YEARS, AND YEARS, OTHERS TAKING CREDIT FOR OUR BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS; AND INSTEAD OF SUCCUMBING TO OUR FEARS, WE DECIDED TO SHIFT GEARS.
THE TALENTED TENTH, THE N.A.A.C.P., THE NIAGARA MOVEMENT. THEY BEGAN TO EDUCATE OUR PEOPLE ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT. WE GAIN CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND A PROMISE OF A BETTER TOMORROW; AND HOPES THAT THIS WOULD BRING AN END TO THE BLACK MAN’S SORROW. THEY INSTILLED IN US THAT YES WE ARE OF A DIFFERENT CULTURE BUT STILL EQUAL TO THE WHITE MAN; THEN FROM THE RUINS OF HELL ROSE THE KUX KLUX KLAN.
BURNING CROSSES IN OUR YARDS. THE LAWS ABILITY TO DISREGARD. SNATCHED OFF OUR OWN LAND, DRAGGED TO THE NEAREST TREE; AND THEY WANT US TO FIGHT AND DIE FOR THIS COUNTRY? WHEN WE ARE STILL FIGHTING AND DYING JUST TO BE FREE.
BEWILDERED, BUT YET STRONG. WE FOUND THE STRENGTH TO CONTINUE ON. OUR PRAYERS CARRIED US THROUGH AND KEPT US TOGETHER. OUR FAITH ENSURED US THAT THINGS WOULD GET BETTER. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING STARTED A MOVEMENT THAT SPARKED A DORMANT NATION. MEDGAR EVERS, DEMANDED EQUALITY AND AN END TO SEGREGATION. MALCOLM X. UNLEASHED HIS ANGER THROUGH DEMONSTRATION. THEY ALL WERE KILLED BECAUSE OF THEIR POSITIVE MOTIVATION.
HEARTS FILLED WITH GRIEF, BUT WE DID NOT CRUMBLE, WE SEARCHED FOR RELIEF. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE CLAIM TOTAL VICTORY. FORE WE HAVE ENDURED THIS PAIN AND MISERY. THE STRUGGLE IS NOT OVER, BUT WE ARE SURVIVORS IN OUR OWN RIGHT AND UNTIL THE CONFLICT IS OVER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT...
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