A Credit to My Race
A credit to my race
until this by-product
of urban renewal
rendered a refusal
to occupy their selected space,
For me to be
a credit to my race.
Regarding these voices
Ellison had taught to be
aware of one’s invisibility.
Yet here I stand
Black, and in your face,
You cannot christen me
A credit to my race.
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Author:
RL Randall (
Offline) - Published: June 2nd, 2022 06:30
- Comment from author about the poem: Growing up in the 1950's -1960's, I hated the phrase " you're going to be a credit to your race" hence this piece.
- Category: Sociopolitical
- Views: 11
Offline)
Comments2
This is wonderful dear poet, I will never stop fighting for the human rights. And this is a spectacular piece you've conveyed. Freedom and equality for all.
Thank you for your comment. All to often people want you to be what they want you to be, rather than accepting your choices you made to travel the course you set for your life.
I met Mr Ellison at a poetry reading with Gwendolyn Brooks when
I was in College. Both powerful writers...
I have to agree. Your meeting them in the flesh must have been a great experience.
It was. I actually got to have lunch with Brooks. I had just transferred
back East from a Midwestern University, and being a midwesterner, she
seemed interested in my take on Iowa.
I haven't spent any time in the mid-west but it's on my bucket list. I lived in New England all my life but spent time with relatives in the south and west. My greatest pleasure no matter where I am is listening to folks talk about what's on their mind at any give time..
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