litnews5at5-blog

[litnews5at5-blog]

"In every human Beast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance." - Phillis Wheatley

[litnews5at5-blog]

"I believe there are few events in my life which have not happened to many; it is true the incidents of it are numerous, and, did I consider myself an European, I might say my sufferings were great; but when I compare my lot with that of most of my countrymen, I regard myself as a particular favorite of heaven, and acknowledge the mercies of Providence in every occurrence of my life." - Olaudah Equiano

[litnews5at5-blog]

"Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and friends, to toil for your luxury and lust of gain? Must every tender feeling be likewise sacrificed to your avarice?" - Olaudah Equiano

[litnews5at5-blog]

Watch it here, “The New Olreans Creole" by Maurice Martinez, PhD.

[litnews5at5-blog]

"Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one's thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble, if men are allowed to reason... Equally clear is the right to hear. To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker." - Frederick Douglass

[litnews5at5-blog]

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle." - Frederick Douglass

[litnews5at5-blog]

"Never forget that intelligence rules the world and ignorance carries the burden. Therefore, remove yourself as far as possible from ignorance and seek as far as possible to be intelligent." - Marcus Garvey

[litnews5at5-blog]

"We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended for that, then he would not have given us a mind. Whatever you want in life, you must make up your mind to do it for yourself." - Marcus Garvey

[litnews5at5-blog]

"The only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it." - Langston Hughes

[litnews5at5-blog]

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." - Langston Hughes

[litnews5at5-blog]

The instructor said,    Go home and write    a page tonight.    And let that page come out of you—    Then, it will be true. I wonder if it’s that simple? I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem. I went to school there, then Durham, then here to this college on the hill above Harlem. I am the only colored student in my class. The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem, through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas, Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y, the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator up to my room, sit down, and write this page: It’s not easy to know what is true for you or me at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I’m what I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you: hear you, hear me—we two—you, me, talk on this page. (I hear New York, too.) Me—who? Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life. I like a pipe for a Christmas present, or records—Bessie, bop, or Bach. I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same things other folks like who are other races. So will my page be colored that I write? Being me, it will not be white. But it will be a part of you, instructor. You are white— yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That’s American. Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you. But we are, that’s true! As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me— although you’re older—and white— and somewhat more free. This is my page for English B.

Langston Hughes

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/theme-english-b

[litnews5at5-blog]

Breaking into the 1920′s...

African Americans were on their way.

WE still are.

[litnews5at5-blog]

Have you heard? Here’s the scoop with Lit News5 @5pm.

Do you have questions? You want to know more? Submit your questions and concerns in our answer box. 

[litnews5at5-blog]

The Memphis Riots of 1866. Here is more information with your favorite News team. 

[litnews5at5-blog]

The Cornerstones Refused.

If you listen closely, you can hear the hammers beating away in a distant land. The popping of air bubbles, listen. You can hear the potter tussling for more clay as he smoothly yet precisely molds the silhouette before him. Rough and rigid, the hands of the men who is currently mixing the cement while the subbase is being prepared. Look close enough, a couple inches over you can see the brother in the overalls laying the wooden perimeter. Close your eyes, I need you to envision this as clear as possible. You remember those hot summers you spent with your cousins at your grandmothers? Remember your adrenalin bursting as you thought about cannon balling into the luxurious cool tempered pool something would hold you back? The screen door. Iron rounded and a meshed middle. It kept you back before you could take the plunge. Keep that mental picture. Reinforced oppression. Their laws, views, and prejudice served as the rebar. Before the out pouring of cement…You, our people were positioned as the structural integrity used to upkeep the concrete.

In this great America we've seen things that shouldn’t have been, and some have even been the replaceable variable in several social and racial experiments. Imagine being a part of a building project and upon completion you were told your services were no longer needed. After you invested a substantial amount of your time, strength and skill set. The tears pushed by challenging work and humiliation could easily be seen miles away. Compassionate hearts bleed at the thought of such betrayal. It's enough to send the sanest person a bit insane. The four pillars that supported the casting towards the building is the black men and women of the United States.

Undocumented and unscripted, they silenced the roles of our people in the conducting and construction of these four walls we all call home. There was the 13th, 14th and 15th amendment which all were shhhhh plans. Ms. Hill stated it best.

“Legal actors Babylon's benefactors Masquerading as the agency for the clients Hypocritical giants Morally non-compliant Orally armed to do bodily harm Polluted, recruited and suited judicial charm And the defense isn't making any sense Faking the confidence of escaping the consequence That a defendant is depending on the system Totally void of judgment purposely made to twist em' Emotional victim blackmailed by the henchmen Framed by intentions Inventions whereby they lynch men Enter the false witness slandering the accused Planting the seed openly showing he's being used To discredit, edit, headed for the alleged Smearing the individual fearing the unsuspected.”

Damnit! Lives were lost. Black bodies were beaten, and blood had shed for rights like this. Rights owed. Our voices should be heard. We should have a part in the say. Mr. Lyndon B. Johnson, though the mesh well up, thank you for poking the hole needed for our people to push and break through. We shouldn’t be silenced. You don’t work hard to have someone else spending your money, do you? We should always enjoy the fruit of our labor and having a say so is the fruit well deserved.

In hopes of moving forward, lets all prepare and get our hands ready to work towards to a freer and accepting society. It starts with us. Prepare to speak. Prepare to stand. Prepare to defy the odds. We’re aiming for a better tomorrow. We have gotten far in retrospect but further would do. What kind of world and law order do you want your kids growing up to?