Sunday, July 14, 2013

Ella's song for Trayvon

Trayvon Martin
I went to bed last night and got up this morning hearing this song in my head.

Sometimes, the only thing to soothe a troubled mind and calm a heavy, broken heart is inspiring words set to simple music.

Sometimes - in times like these - it's the only way I can really pray.

So, this blog post is a prayer for Trayvon whose senseless death must not - can not - be in vain.

It is a lament for the injustices which disrupts the false harmony of the world, calls us to the dissonance which is the Divine harmony of freedom and justice and thus disturbs the sleep of the righteous, calling us to God's mission.

It is a prayer of hope that we who believe in freedom can not - will not - rest until freedom and justice for all - all, all, ALL - is a realized dream in this country.

Thank you, Bernice Johnson Reagon. Your words of truth continue to shine light on the Path.



We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

Until the killing of Black men, Black mothers’ sons
Is as important as the killing of White men, White mothers’ sons

And that which touches we most is that I had a chance to work with people
Passing on to others that which was passed on to me

To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail
And if I can shed some light as they carry us through the gale

The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on
Is when the reins are in the hand of the young who dare to run against the storm

Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me
I need to be just one in the number as we stand against tyranny

Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot I come to realize
That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survive

I’m a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard
At time I can be quite difficult, I’ll bow to no man’s word

We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

-- Bernice Johnson Reagon
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5 comments:

  1. JCFSun Jul 14, 07:38:00 PM

    Thank you for this. Count myself privileged to have heard SHTR sing this live (NYC, 1991).

    RIP, Trayvon. Your Vindicator lives, and you WILL see justice, in God's Time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elizabeth KaetonSun Jul 14, 08:06:00 PM

    I've been listening to SHTR since I was in my 20s. They have never failed to move me.

    I do believe we're about to see GZ inundated with civil law suits as well as civil rights violations.

    Justice will be done.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Grace-WorkinProgressMon Jul 15, 11:06:00 AM

    Until we stop judging people as groups this will continue. We are shallow and put labels on people we don't even know.

    I grew up in Atlanta with a grandmother that warned me of the dangers of black people. This of course did not include her friends that were black.

    Will we ever learn?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Elizabeth KaetonMon Jul 15, 07:14:00 PM

    I fear every generation asks this question. My heart hurts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ChangWed Aug 21, 12:41:00 AM

    Cool!

    ReplyDelete

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