And We Rise: The Civil Rights Movement in Poems

It’s 1877 whenJim Crow laws say it’s                        acceptable                        legal                        lawfulto segregate Blacks&                        whitesbased on the color oftheir skin.In                        schools                        hospitals                        churches                        cemeteries                        prisons                        public transit                        restaurants—-if you were not                        whiteyou were lesser                        less thanhuman.For years&years&years&years nothing changed, until 1954when the Supreme Court reversed its decision& ruled segregation unconstitutional. Yet still,nothing changed.Because a ruling is only as effectiveas its real–world execution.   the Supreme Court rules in 1896Blacks are“Separate but Equal”yetoutsidein the middle of Julyin Birmingham, Alabama,sweat drips downyour foreheadyour neckyour back drenching your shirtyour shortsyour socks                                                                                                s e p a r a t e                                                                                                but equal you find a water fountainyour water fountainand press the small rusty button water arches                                                up                                                                        and outwaiting                        for yourpuck ered                        lips                                                                                                s e p a r a t e                                                                                                but equal onlyit’s hotbrowntastes like dirt you glance aroundchecking for themthen sneak a sipfrom their fountain                                                                                                                         s e p a r a t e                                                                                                                        but equalit’s coldice–coldand refreshingyou sighs e p a r a t ebut equalyou arenot.    the Civil Rights Movement was more than justDr. King                        marching,Rosa Parks                        sitting,Malcolm X                        fighting. it was your momyour grandmayour best friend’s great–aunt. it waseveryday peoplelike you                              and me.    1954 May 17 Brown v. Board of Education+inherently unequal, an unconstitutional violation of the fourteenth amendment=white schools +Black  schools=a great day for America and its court.= segregation in public schools                          now illegal in theory.   SIGNS, EVERYWHERE YOU GO . . . whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only WHITES ONLYfor colored                        their (other) signs read  funny thing is white is still a color