Celebrating Black History Month 12/12 (12 months of the year)

I came across this on U Tube and thought what better way than to begin Black History Month than with this beautiful song by Melba Moore.

Trying to understand the heart of man

One day I took pen in hand.

Burdened by the condition of the human heart,

I wondered if we’d ever make a brand new start.

Question after question formed in my mind.

It is clear we are running out of time.

Years are slipping away,

The day seems further and further away.

The messages of hate

Continues to formulate and penetrate

In such a diseased world,

Can I even hope for a different world

Before I close my eyes?

How much longer must the innocent suffer and die?

With the light of hope burning dim,
Am I holding on to a chance that is slim?

Surely, we will place our feet on solid ground
I believe the impossible will come to be
Surely,
          The insanity will end.

Hate is not the burning message in the heart of men.

Somewhere deep inside of us,

There’s a desire to love and trust.

If my soul is to find relief,

I have to hold onto that belief.

I have to believe

The gift of peace will one day be received

In every kingdom, in every land where there is discord.

Surely one day we will be on one accord.

Surely, peace is more than just a word

Surely, the message will be heard.

Surely, one day the wars will end.

I don’t know when.

Surely, we shall not fail.

One day peace will prevail.

Will We Ever?

On this King Day Celebration take a moment and pause to say thanks for Dr. King's sacrifice.  He did it all for us.   



Inspite of the years that have passed
We still remember his words, "Free at Last."
But we will never be free
as long as we view one another as the enemy.
How long will it take
Before we learn from our mistakes?
Somebody tell me,
Will we ever see peace?
Will wars ever cease?
Will we ever stand where he stood?
Will we ever understand what he could?
Will we ever envision his dream?
Will we ever understand what it means?
Will we ever?
Will we ever?
If we only could,
It would be for our common good.
Somebody tell me, will ever,
Will we ever?

copyright P. Newman-Harris

What Would You Say? Celebrating the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

It seems like only yesterday

You were taken away

You tried to prepare our hearts and our minds

For what you knew would be trying times.

You never stopped believing that if we did not stop,

One day, we would reach the mountain top.

If you were here today,

What would you say?

Would you be surprised to discover that violence is on the increase,

That we have failed at world peace?

Would your eyes fill with tears

Over the wasted years?

How would you feel to see that after risking your neck,

Some of us have failed to cash the check

Placed in our hands.

Would you understand why others chose to die
rather than live in the promised land?

You wanted us to know your dream,

See your dream,

Feel your dream,

Live your dream,

As our own legacy

To our families.

You spent your life trying to right the world’s wrongs

So we would have a place to belong.

Your vision was not just for some,

It was for everyone.

If you were here today,

What would you say?

To see us throwing it all away.

What would you say?
copyright by P. Newman-Harris

Happy King Day

                                                                                                                              

It's Time to Live the Dream

I would like to share this essay as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   It was written just after the election of President Obama.  

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming.  For almost ten years, I’ve been writing poems about racial unity, believing that one day, we’d put our differences aside and walk together with pride,  I was beginning to believe I’d never see that day come into fruition.    Then, on November 4, 2008, America did just that and elected the first Black American President.    It is a day that will go down in history.  The swearing in of America’s first Black President will signify the  beginning of a new era for our country.  For black America, it will also be the realization of a dream.    Never since the death of Dr. King, have I seen so much hope in the eyes of  Black Americans.    Like Dr King, our President has the ability not only to inspire hope, but to inspire people into action.    It is, indeed, a gift from God.  So many people are talking about how having a black American president in office has inspired them like never before.  Even the men holding  up the wall at the corner liquor store, are talking of something more.  If there ever was a time for black America to do more it is now.   Now is not the time to rest on our laurels, so to speak.  Our work has just begun.  Winning the election is only the beginning of  President Obama’s job.    We can’t expect him to change the world overnight, but we can expect him to do his best.   Just like we expect a lot from him, we should expect a lot from ourselves.  The weight of America’s success should not be placed upon the President’s shoulders alone.   Although it is very important to pray for the safety of  the President and his family, our responsibility shouldn’t end there.  We have an even greater responsibility to ourselves to be the best we can be.   It is not President Obama’s job to fulfill our dreams.  Whether or not we fail or succeed is up to each of us alone.  With the economy in such turmoil, it is going to be harder than ever before to make ends meet., but we must not lose hope.  When I was growing up I used to hear people say, “When the going gets rough,  the tough get going. “  Well, the goings are getting rough and it is time for us to get going.   A lot of us have been stagnating in fear, placing the blame for our failures on every thing and everyone else but ourselves.  If we are going to move ahead, we have to be honest with ourselves by taking responsibility for our own choices.    Just like it is a new day for America as a whole, it can be a new day for each and every one us, a day when we can finally put the past behind us and move ahead.  President Obama has inspired us to believe that we can.    We must not disappoint him, but most importantly, we must not disappoint ourselves.   We have been blessed to see this day come to pass, that alone, places a great responsibility  upon our shoulders.  It is now our task to be keepers of the flame of hope and peace.  For we are visualizing the dreams of  the many who died hoping and wishing for this day, but  it is not enough to visualize the dream, we have to live the dream.   It is time to live the dream!

copyright 2008 by P.Newman-Harris

Happy 2012

Happy New Year to all my friends and family and frequent visitors to the blog.  May your new year be blessed.  I'd like to dedicate this song to you all.  If we hold on, a change is coming.