Category: United States
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“Beehive”
“Silver bees intently buzzing, Silver honey dripping from the swarm of bees Earth is a waxen cell of the world comb,”— from “Beehive” by Jean Toomer
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“If We Must Die”
“Oh, Kinsmen! We must meet the common foe; Though far outnumbered, let us still be brave, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!…”— from “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay
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A Song for Myself
“The corn Will fat A hog Or rat:” — from “A Song for Myself” by Melvin B. Tolson
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On Being Brought from Africa to America
“Some view our sable race with scornful eye, “Their colour is a diabolic die.” Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain, May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.” — from “On being brought from AFRICA to AMERICA.” by Phillis Wheatley
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“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light,” — excerpt from “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson
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“Rhapsody”
“Are the entrance-place of wonders, Where dreams come in from the rush and din Like sheep from the rains and thunders.” — from “Rhapsody” by William Braithwaite
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The Streetsweeper
“Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, JR.
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On Quitting
How much grit do you think you’ve got? Can you turn from joys that you like a lot? Have you ever tested yourself to know How far with yourself your will can go? If you want to know if you have grit, Just pick out a joy that you like, and quit.
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“A Jelly Fish”
The blue Surrounding it Grows cloudy, and It floats away From you.
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“And What Shall You Say?” by Joseph S. Cotter, Jr.
I mock no peoples, My people are mocked.” And, brother, what shall you say?
Stanza & Story 