By: Cedric McClester

From the lynching rope
We clung to hope
Fought for the right to vote
And also take note
We spent long days and nights
Fighting for civil rights
And the salient fact is
We’re not going back

We take two steps forward
And three steps back
I can’t help but think
That’s because we’re black
As for others of color
The same thing applies
They impede our progress
Through half truths and lies

But what they should know
Is there’s an ebb and flow
To how things will go
And time will show
The check is in the mail
And we will prevail
Our option’s not to fail
Or go off the rail

From the lynching rope
To the scourge of dope
It’s been a slippery *****
Though we’ve learned to cope
So as a matter of fact
We’re not looking back
We want what we lack
Not to subtract

Cedric McClester, Copyright (c) 2021.  All rights reserved.