(When we thought times were bad)
Remember penny candy and the 5-and-dime,
getting there early and still having to go to the back of the line.
Remember hopscotch,
and knee socks.
black-owned stores,
segregated schools and open front doors.
Remember teachers caring,
people sharing,
going shopping on side streets
and movie theater balcony seats.
Remember hard work, low pay, too much time spent,
But still able to make a dollar out of fifteen cents.
But God…
Excerpt from the new book, " Black Misery, Black Joy and other Slave Songs, Stories and Poetry of the African Diaspora