Born Black...Born Free by Rosalyn A. Knowles Ferrell
Then brought to these shores from
Across the sea.
stacked like sardines
In wooden ships
I survived the harrowing
Atlantic ocean trips
Not knowing that soon my skin
would be whipped and made to breed
...for another person’s greed
Battered and bleeding
I planted my seed
Knowing one day
My fruit would be freed
In a nation that on paper decreed
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights....
This Declaration of liberty...
For everyone but the red man and me
Nevertheless I fought and died
In every war for my liberty and pride
But somehow
that Lady in the harbor
With her lamp held high
Always seems to pass me by
So as I try to heal the many scars
caused by those who love
The stars and bars
I toil and I spoil under a burning sun
Wondering should I turn to the gun
Since that is the only thing some seem
To understand.
Bang Bang Bang can you see me now
In this hypocrisy you call a Democracy
Where the insanity
Of not seeing my humanity
has been raised to an art.
Apart from that
I am still alive
Yes I have survived
In fact I have thrived
Oh say can you see
Born black...born free
And the stars that you so admire
Are me
The songs from your lips
That make you shake your hips
Are mine
Almost everything you do
You will find
Me somewhere
In your view
Even miseducation and
Attempted obliteration
Cannot stop
My true liberation
I am a
Doctor, lawyer, scientist, chef
Singer, dancer, athlete, ref
I am a dental Resident
Oh
And did I happen to mention President
So as we stand and watch this flag rise
High into uncertain skies
This Juneteenth flag takes its station
Waving boldly over a divided nation
Division of its own creation
Hey
I'll tell you what
Just give me my due reparation
And i will handle
My own liberation
By the way...one cannot give
What God already gave
For I was always free
Even when I was called a slave
For it was He who granted me
True liberty
The Day I was born black
Born free
Over there across the sea.