30hirty 9ine

Photo: Library of Congress

Threescore years and ten

The years of life given to all men

And if the creator smiles at us even more

By reason of strength, they might be fourscore

Their times were set, since the day they were conceived

Neither knew of the impact they would have on us today

Though they were not friends, their ends goals were the same

To see a world where people from sub-Saharan African ancestry could exist and freely be

In thirty-nine years they laid a foundation

Ridiculed for daring to speak up about injustice

Mocked for aspiring to thrive

Rejected for wanting to change the narrative of their story

Threescore years and ten

The years of life given to all men

And if the creator smiles at us even more

By reason of strength, they might be fourscore

To Coretta, Martin Luther III, Bernice, Yolanda, and Dexter

To Betty, Malikah, Ilyasah, Gamilah, Malaak, Qubila and Attallah

For Carter, Charles, Harry T., Hariette, James, Julian, Mary

Medgar, Myrlie, Oscar, Rosa Parks, Thurgood, and William

Ridiculed for daring to speak up about injustice

Mocked for the right to life

Scorned for being born with the wrong complexion

Assassinated for standing up for the black man’s glory

Threescore years and ten

The years of life given to all men

And if the creator smiles at us even more

By reason of strength, they might be fourscore

Out of sight but not out of history

The journey continues through different bodies

To be continued…