To rise and demonstrate en masse
Is way to make the oppressor think,
And so the Negro in his Class,
Sends forth his message to the King.
The King, a symbol of the State,
Sends forth his men to find what's wrong,
And back comes word of awful fate
On which the lives of men do hang.
The State assumes its task at last,
And makes an effort to amend
The wrongs that reigned throughout the past
By giving heed, though laws defend.
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I can't help but think this was a brave man, this poet. His words are simple, but the emotion behind them is palpable. He sees the work as in the world of man, not in the world of heaven to come, which puts him to the front of thinking in his time. The final stanza is a little puzzling to me - does he mean that the laws existed but were not heeded? But he died long before his people were allowed to vote, or attend schools of choice, or sit where they chose. But more than anything, his words are prophetic, and surely foresaw the new President.
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"The State assumes its task at last,
And makes an effort to amend "
I am sure Garvey would never have truly believed that someone like him would BECOME the state.
Yet its happening! -
loved it
Fabulous I love African American poets and I want to be a famous African American poet one day!! I hope to be as great as they are!! -
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It's hard work but it's work worth doing!
Charley Noble
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