Freedom Bells

FREEDOM BELLS


Growing up in the era of Civil Rights
I watched black folks struggle day and night
waging a courageous and losing fight
to make the bells of freedom ring.

Their lives were never ones of ease                                                                                                                                                      pains of racism made minds diseased
they held on to dreams fueled by need
to make the bells of freedom ring.

Crumpled and stomped into the dirt                                                                                                                                                      good folks believing they could build worth
for the children they brought unto this earth                                                                                                                                              to make them bells of freedom ring.

Their joys in life, not what they had
it was making good from what was bad                                                                                                                                              working for justice in a world gone mad                                                                                                                                                      to make the bells of freedom ring.

Let no one say to the people’s shame
America’s not better than when they came.
They did their best and bear no blame
the bells of freedom have yet to ring.