“What We Can Afford” Poem By: Shavar X. Seabrooks Like the rice fields of Charleston, the wind blows limitlessly. The slaves give peace to the land that hands they have touch. In the mist of blood, sweat and tears, still the heartbeat sticks in the sweetgrass of mercy. Gathered near the Stono River, they earned for freedom press against time which is not a companion. Fort Mose just in their reach, still time is not their companion. Looking back to the Ancient Civilization, were Dark Skin People were King and Queens. Wear Kenta cloths adorning the skin like silk. And were the land being harvest for love and not for gain. The children to grow and not wanting to be enslaved and the lips of the masters impales the dreams. Yet, the circle that remains the same, but the horizon is just to come. The wind shall tell the truth and the African Experiences will be a drum of remembrance. References Higginbotham, R. D., Wickwire, F., & Wickwire, M. (1970). Cornwallis: The American adventure. The Journal of Southern History, 36(4), 591. doi:10.2307/2206317 Morgan, E. S. (1972). Slavery and freedom: The American paradox. The Journal of American History, 59(1), 5. doi:10.2307/1888384 Video clips on Ancient African Civilizations, Kente Cloth Miranda Isabella Hurt 20 October 2020 Haiku about Emmett Till Just a young black boy Stripped of all his life and dreams Where is the justice Cinquain about the Civil Rights Movement A movement ignited by Parks A peaceful dream promoted by Dr. King An education organized by Clark A call to let freedom ring The first poem is about the murder of Emmett Till. Till’s tragic tale is described in the Eyes on the Prize: Awakenings and in the study guide. On August 28, 1955, “Emmett Till, a black boy from Chicago visiting his uncle Moses Wright in Mississippi, is murdered for inappropriately addressing a white woman (page 14).” Even though Till’s murderers eventually confessed to the crime, they were never charged for his murder (because of the no double jeopardy clause in the fifth amendment of the Constitution). This is one of many instances of injustice against African Americans in the south during the Civil Rights Movement. However, even now in the 21st century, African Americans are still facing prejudices and being killed by cops, the people who are supposed to protect them. The second poet highlights three big names of the Civil Rights Movement, Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and Septima Clark. The Eyes on the Prize videos mention King a lot, because he was quite a significant man, and The Awakenings and Ready from Within discusses Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks sparked the Montgomery bus boycott by refusing to give up her seat to a white person. Septima Clark’s impact on the Civil Rights Movement with her citizenship schools was the main topic of Ready from Within. Clark played a crucial role in educating many African American.