#AmericanWriters
Remember The days of bondage— And remembering— Do not stand still. Go to the highest hill
I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh,
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
Fine living . . . a la carte? Come to the Waldorf—Astoria! LISTEN HUNGRY ONES! Look! See what Vanity Fair says… new Waldorf—Astoria:
Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right
I would liken you To a night without stars Were it not for your eyes. I would liken you To a sleep without dreams
I live on a park bench. You, Park Avenue. Hell of a distance Between us two. I beg a dime for dinner—
Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal… It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up,
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
Clean the spittoons, boy. Detroit, Chicago, Atlantic City, Palm Beach.
I know I am The Negro Problem Being wined and dined, Answering the usual questions That come to white mind
I could take the Harlem night and wrap around you, Take the neon lights and make a cr… Take the Lenox Avenue busses, Taxis, subways,
Landlord, landlord, My roof has sprung a leak. Don’t you 'member I told you abou… Way last week? Landlord, landlord,
Children, I come back today To tell you a story of the long da… That I had to climb, that I had t… In order that the race might live… Look at my face —dark as the night…
Only dumb guys fight. If I wasn’t dumb I wouldn’t be fightin’. I could make six dollars a day On the docks