#Americans #Blacks
I went down to the river, I set down on the bank. I tried to think but couldn’t, So I jumped in and sank. I came up once and hollered!
I got to leave this town. It’s a lonesome place. Got to leave this town cause It’s a lonesome place. A po’, po’ boy can’t
The ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond and jade, Sit silently on their temple shelv… While the people
Have you dug the spill Of Sugar Hill? Cast your gims On this sepia thrill: Brown sugar lassie,
The rent man knocked. He said, Howdy—do? I said, What Can I do for you? He said, You know
In an envelope marked: PERSONAL God addressed me a letter. In an envelope marked: PERSONAL
To fling my arms wide In some place of the sun, To whirl and to dance Till the white day is done. Then rest at cool evening
When a man starts out with nothing… When a man starts out with his han… Empty, but clean, When a man starts to build a world… He starts first with himself
My name is Johnson— Madam Alberta K. The Madam stands for business. I’m smart that way. I had a
Where is the Jim Crow section On this merry—go—round, Mister, cause I want to ride? Down South where I come from White and colored
The census man, The day he came round, Wanted my name To put it down. I said, Johnson,
From Christ to Ghandi Appears this truth— St. Francis of Assisi Proves it, too: Goodness becomes grandeur
Listen! Dear dream of utter aliveness— Touching my body of utter death— Tell me, O quickly! dream of aliv… The flaming source of your bright…
Goin’ down the road, Lawd, Goin’ down the road. Down the road, Lawd, Way, way down the road. Got to find somebody
Now dreams Are not available To the dreamers, Nor songs To the singers.