"American Justice" by Langston Hughes
Justice in America...
Like a blind woman
In a dark room
Looking for a black cat.
"The Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall
"Mother dear, may I go downtown
Instead of out to play,
And march the streets of Birmingham
In a Freedom March today?"
"No, baby, no, you may not go,
For the dogs are fierce and wild,
And clubs and hoses, guns and jails
Aren't good for a little child."
"But, mother, I won't be alone.
Other children will go with me,
And march the streets of Birmingham
To make our country free."
"No, baby, no, you may not go,
For the Mayor will send the police;
They'll be on horses and have guns
And they'll beat and tear and seize."
"I won't be hurt, if I can help
To make our country free;
And if they beat me, mother dear,
It'll be a blow for me."
So the mother went to Holy Church,
And fell upon her knees,
And prayed to God to bless her son
And keep him safe and please.
And soon the streets of Birmingham
Were filled with black and white,
And children marched together
For freedom and for right.
And as they marched, the dogs came out
And bit them with their teeth,
And the police with clubs and hoses,
Came and beat them down beneath.
And when the day of marching
Was over and gone at night,
A young girl lay dead
In the streets of Birmingham.
Her name was Carol Denise McNair,
And her age was only four,
But she died for truth and freedom
And her spirit will live forever.