S.J. W. (“Miss Up Lifter”); Atlanta Independent, October 29, 1910

Stop, young man, for a moment;
  I want to talk to you
About a question of importance;
  The subject concerns you.There is a problem that confronts us,
  Famous the world around;
Legislatures are discussing it,
  How to keep the Negro down.

I can not understand them;
  Men of intellect and might
Would brood such prejudice in them,
  When they know it isn't right.

The claim to read the Bible
  And know the things therein,
Yet they struggle daily
  To hold back other man.

The sun that kisses the morning,
  That wipes away the mist,
Finds them still pondering
  How they shall do this.

The speaker with his gavel
  Raps it loud and long.
"We must pass this law, boys,
  Yet we know it's wrong.

"We must stop the Negro's aspiration
  For position, fortune and fame.
If we continue to let him climb,
  He'll surely reach his aim."

"Silence!" cries the speaker,
  With profound logic he said,
"Beat the black man back, boys,
  Or else he'll get ahead."

Just then a son of Ham said,
  "Do whatever you might,
We are going to win, sir,
  Because God's in the fight.

"The battle is now on, sir,
  Fighting to the gate.
Wake, you slumbering young men,
  Or else you'll be too late.

"Yes, I will rise from my slumber
  And get within the chase.
Through me, if God will help us,
  We'll surely win this race."

And up the hill he staggered,
  Though wounded with bayonet and ball,
"I'll lose my life in battle.
  That being my all in all."

And now we see him dying
  On a field green and bright;
The last words that he said were,
  "I'm dying for the right."

[This poem appears in two categories: "Injustices and Barriers" and "Hope and the Future."]