Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Since this is the last week in the only month of the year that we set aside to acknowledge and celebrate our many accomplishments, I thought it would be fitting that I shared a poem that reaches back to a time before we were reduced to what we have become. It should be pointed out that OUR HISTORY did not begin when we were brought to these shores in chains to be made slaves. That is HIS STORY which only depicts what we have achieved in HIS world despite the discrimination, oppression and brutality we were and continue to be subjected to. So, just in case some may not know about the God-like (ability to create something out of nothing) qualities that we have displayed before the advent of slavery, I offer this piece as a source of enlightenment.

"NOW YOU HAVE THE KEY"

Copyright 2001 Written By: Mr. Marion Obafemi,

"THE PO' FOLK'S POET"

And Inspired By: God

To my brothers and sisters that find themselves

caught up in the streets

That have hopes and dreams and other things

they can not seem to reach

That find themselves, living in hell,

or swimming in waters too deep

That have two eyes, but wonder why,

still they can not see

The following words, can surely serve,

as a lamp unto your feet.

You need to understand, that you are the man,

that others want to be

The things that are hard for others to do

are easy for you and me

This has been the root and source

of envy and jealousy

You are the creator, the originator, you cause great things to be

But, your mind has been robbed and you have been starved,

of your glorious history

While others are the branches and limbs,

you are the root of the tree.

You were the first to awaken when time was born,

while others were asleep

You were there when the stars were formed, before the sun

had its heat

You were there, before there was a when or a where, and

before the creatures creped

When the earth was void and without form, it was your spirit

that moved upon the face of the deep

When the universe was in darkness, there was light because

you decided to speak

It was you, that knew, that Adam was lonely and gave him

a woman named Eve.

Who do you think is the originator of all things and were the

first human beings

That are the masters of the universe, science,

math and geometry

That could chart the stars, from Venus to Mars, and

gave the world astrology

That were the first to study chemistry and law and

built the first university

That were the first surgeons, the makers of medicine

and the curers of disease

That were the first farmers, businessmen and the first

to cook their meat

That originated politics and government and built

great dynasties

That were the first diplomats and ambassadors

that negotiated for peace

That were the builders of the great pyramids and the first

to navigate the sea

That were the first commanders of armies that

never knew defeat

That were the first to sit on a throne to be

called king or queen

That were the founders of religion, belief in one God,

including the trinity.

It was you black man, so understand, that to achieve

is your destiny

But, traps have been designed, since the beginning of time,

to keep these facts buried deep

All you have seen, are negative thing, which cause

your heart to grieve

That make you think, your ship will sink,and

you can not achieve

We are always portrayed as gangsters and thugs

on the movie screen

There is cursing, violence and sex in almost every scene

They are like farmers that are trying to plant a seed

That will take root, inside the minds of the youth,

and produce self-hating killing machines

These are the truths, that your ancestors knew, would surely

set you free

They have been concealed, for over 400 years, but

"NOW YOU HAVE THE KEY"