“Idea of America”
by Chip Williford
Looking back and knowing where we’ve come from
At all the obstacle that have been placed in our way
The hangings, the torture, even the many mysterious killings of some
Makes me wonder how am I even alive, sane and here today
I will never forget the stories told by my parents and grandparents
About the many sacrifices our ancestors made
Not that long ago when they were captured, chained, shackled together,
And shipped across the ocean, far away in a stockade
Even if they try to silence me by cutting off my tongue and ears
My eyes will always tell the stories of the oppressors fears
Our stories, and our fears:
Like the fear of being stripped down naked
Tied, whilst stinging lashes thrust upon our rears
Questioning, questioning the existence of God ever being there
Making us pray that god was here
And wishing this ole life’s end was near
We are the proud descendants of those who were treated worse than barren dirt
Our fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers were beaten, bought, sold, breed, rented, and traded
No words could ever excuse our hurt
Everything about us they told us was hated
Slave owners didn’t care about separating A black African man from his family
They were only concerned with their own satisfaction, status, wealth
To them we were all just a commodity
They didn’t give a damn how we felt
I will not be quite, get over it, nor will I forget
That’s right, as long as I can still remember
And as long as I have breath, I will tell our stories:
My great grandfather’s father, Peter, was born enslaved
With a value of five hundred thirty-eight dollars he was appraised
Listed Negro Boy as chattel property
Right there on the Inventory Sheet of slave owner, Allen T. Overby,
1858 recently deceased Then bequeath to another slave owner
I shame more by not mentioning the name to whom he was released
At the very early age of seven, Peter was separated from his family
Peeled violently from the loving arms of his weeping mother Jenny
Snatched, shirt soaking wet with the tears of his brothers,
Frank age 4 And two-year-old Joe
Did Peter ever see his family again?
It hurts to say I still don’t know.
Slavery, Poisoned Heirloom
Passed down from one generation to the next generation
Beginning at birth They lived their entire lives,
Most times with little or no hope at all in sight
America, Words are inadequate to describe or excuse our hurt
No matter what they say, feel, or do’t say about Slavery
It Just wasn’t right!
I will continue to tell our stories, I will not forget
With wide eyes filled with festering hatred
Coming from all directions, closely gathered did they band
By the blazing dirt with babies in their arms
And youngins held tightly by the hand
Screaming and yelling “Nigger” as they dragged me by my feet
Delivering my reckoning while still I weep
And as She was forced to spread her young trembling legs
As we cried, pleaded and begged as we bled.
Fire burns high rapidly
Loudly when generously kindled with seasoned timber of hate
No one escaped unscathed
There was no place to run
There was no place to hide
There was no place sacred, No place was Safe.
A crack to the head, neck, leg, back and knee
To the young black men, women and children
Did those with billie clubs repeatedly hit
Boastfully grinning and shouting “ Get those Niggers
As the pack of growling dogs viciously bit
Knocked down, harshly brushed and crushed
By the velocity of the firemen water-hose aim
Tar and feathered, paraded and mocked
Tightly weighed down by yet another heavy ass chain
What a damn shame!
They raped our precious little girls
Hung our boys without consequences
Took what they wanted and destroyed our businesses
Burned crosses, bombed our churches
Arrested our ministers and leaders
To them, we weren’t really human, we were only Niggers
Yet Still
There’s time to start healing from the scars of history
But, by first telling the truth
Yes The Truth!
The reality
This nation, “The land of the free”
Was formed, founded and is still being governed
With ideology embedded in racism, sexism
And other cruel and in-humane atrocities
You see, Native American Genocide and Slavery
Are just two of the Many deep scars in America’s History
Doused in blood and tears
Evoking painful memories with significance
Too important not to hear
America, will you ever learn From the scars of history?
Led by he who lies so blatantly
Here we are in the 21st century
Infected with covid-19, racism, insurgency of our capital
Threatening our democracy,
While evil, unjust people in the highest office remain
We will all be limited as to what we can gain
And again today,
Black people and people of color are the ones left
In the most immeasurable pain.
Sure, we can always hope for a better future
As no one really knows what tomorrow will hold
But I won’t fool myself into thinking after generations of hatred
They’ll break their Racist mold.
But for how long will we have to live and fight
Those who think they’re better than us because their skin is white?
Will it ever end or must we all die
Before God pays attention to our desperate cry?
I hate the thought of being shot down because of the color of my skin
But I will always remember, No, unfortunately, I am constantly reminded when I walk out the door,
That’s the hard reality all black men, women and children are in
America, will you please learn from our horrid past and not lose sight?
Any action fueled with Hate, Homophobia, Sexism, Racism,
Or the Myth of White Supremacy Ideology Just isn’t right!
Denying basic needs, treating people inhumanly,
Making and enforcing laws and degrading systems designed to disproportionately displace
And keep black people and people of color Down, in Prison, Disenfranchised, Depressed and Oppressed,
And killing our black men, women and children while no-one is being held accountable
Just isn’t right!
Please, Please Learn and let’s heal from the scars of history
America, Please don’t lose sight!
Based on the notion
If this “Idea” of “America”
Truly being “The Great Nation” “Land Of The Free”
Then Liberty, Equality and Justice Must be Inclusive
Including people who look like Me.
The Time is NOW!
We must
Speak Out
Show Up and Vote