Wake Up

Somebody wake up Langston Hughes

Wake up Dred Scott

Wake up Josephine Baker in her couture of different hues

Tell all those who were shot

That their struggle was not in vain

Diffuse the nealistic threat, abolish the pain

Today is a new day haven't you heard?

No more dreams deferred

He "summoned a new spirit" Yes He Did.

Didn't you hear about the biggest fairytale?

Didn't you see the overflow of tears of joy around the world?

Do you know what the materialization of that dream entailed

Sojourner's tears, Gandhi's heart, the strength of many who swooned

Harriet Tubman's feet deteriorating with wounds

My father: Dr. M and his emphasis on education

Those who give, who love who help-and ask nothing in return

like my grand-parents and mother- the humanitarians

The Tombs of children and soldiers of freedom

The sacrifice of Martin and Malcolm's life

Leaving a generation of singles wives

Widows perservering and fighting for our rights

Add an outro to Billie Holliday's unfinished song

Please reverse the melody to an up-tempo tune

Something she craved to sing- for so long

But never got the chance

Tell Countee Cullen and all those who left America for France

That after the rain a rainbow really does appear

A confirmation of the removal of fear...yes it is finally here

Didn't you watch the news? We danced for hours, now wipe away your blues

Oprah Winfrey's use of power -to inspire... empowered us all

Opening our eyes to believe in a stranger who managed to cope

Through every distraction by the audacity of hope

Faith often confused as fantasy

Has now become a reality

Wake up everybody

We have every reason to be overjoyed

Believe again, smile again, have faith again

And tell Pac it really was heaven sent

Barack Obama IS our new president

A cultural exchange

Between Africa and America

Resulted in a whole new page

For everyone around the world

Publish the poem, say it all so simply

And dedicate it to Phyllis Wheatley

Wake up, wake up it's a new day.

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