Perseverance. A striving to reach new heights. A struggle to overcome hardship and injustice. The determination to keep moving forward. The indomitability of the human spirit is a marvel to witness. Our ability to grow as a society, to wrestle with long-standing wrongs and fashion new hope, is one of the great strengths of the United States.
A poignant poem of the heart, infused with the strength of a mother who has truly "overcome". And wants only that for her son. In an America that sadly still requires such indomitable spirit.
The person reading the poem was the late Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated in 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civl rights leader who was considered a threat to the interests of powerful white men. I believe at least one powerful white person was behind this mans assassination. Anyway the poem it appears was from a mother to a son. I think it was an African American woman to her son.
Thank you Elliot and Dan, I'm guessing that the best way to stop denial is to shine a big old light on it . This white wash of our history as a country has got to stop ✋️ it happened and the best way to, well we can't fix it per se but we should acknowledge it so we can move on as a whole country. Banning a poem this powerful and insightful is wrong and hurts our society as a whole we keep going in this direction and it's going to fester like the Civil War has.
Banning books didn't work out for the Nazis and we forget history and we tend to repeat it these days.
You know I will never underestimate the importance of perseverance. Our Sunday School class recently finished discussing White Too Long by Robert Jones. Although I did not attend church growing up, I can understand what an eye opener this history was for the author. I suggested we read the writings of Martin Luther King next year.
😪THANK YOU, I had no knowledge of this poem😪 Growing up white in Freeport Texas we all took Juneteenth for granted and understood it was their holiday, but never pursued much detail about it. So sad that now we have the opportunity to learn more and teach our children the significance of slavery and to have respect for black people, our male white legislators and racists in the state are blocking that opportunity!😪🙏🏻😪
I am 82 years old and my mom read a poem to me when I was a child. It was about a mother and a young lad. It always brings a lump to my throat, but I am hopeful that it still applies to the children of today. It is:
Somebody's Mother
by Mary Dow Brine
The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the Winter's day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman's feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street, with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of "school let out,"
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray
Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her--
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop, The gayest laddie of all the group;
This recitation by Martin Luther King, Jr of Hughes’ beautiful “Mother and Son” poem is breathtaking and a glorious gift to us on the eve of the Juneteenth celebration. Many thanks!
A poignant poem of the heart, infused with the strength of a mother who has truly "overcome". And wants only that for her son. In an America that sadly still requires such indomitable spirit.
The person reading the poem was the late Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated in 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civl rights leader who was considered a threat to the interests of powerful white men. I believe at least one powerful white person was behind this mans assassination. Anyway the poem it appears was from a mother to a son. I think it was an African American woman to her son.
Moving words on paper, though beyond stirring from Dr. King’s powerful, inimitable voice. Thank you.
Langston Hughes a great poet right along with Maya Angelou. Thank you for the poem.
This one from Hughes always brings tears, but hope helps us fight despair.
Powerful, and necessary to learn, understand and respect.
Thank you Elliot and Dan, I'm guessing that the best way to stop denial is to shine a big old light on it . This white wash of our history as a country has got to stop ✋️ it happened and the best way to, well we can't fix it per se but we should acknowledge it so we can move on as a whole country. Banning a poem this powerful and insightful is wrong and hurts our society as a whole we keep going in this direction and it's going to fester like the Civil War has.
Banning books didn't work out for the Nazis and we forget history and we tend to repeat it these days.
Just a heartfelt thanks for your message of hope and guts!
Powerful! It rings true of women of all colors for me.
Thank you So touching
You know I will never underestimate the importance of perseverance. Our Sunday School class recently finished discussing White Too Long by Robert Jones. Although I did not attend church growing up, I can understand what an eye opener this history was for the author. I suggested we read the writings of Martin Luther King next year.
Reality for so many — a mountain to climb and haven’t reached the top yet.
Extremely moving poem to read, but to hear Dr. King recite it brought tears to my eyes.
😪THANK YOU, I had no knowledge of this poem😪 Growing up white in Freeport Texas we all took Juneteenth for granted and understood it was their holiday, but never pursued much detail about it. So sad that now we have the opportunity to learn more and teach our children the significance of slavery and to have respect for black people, our male white legislators and racists in the state are blocking that opportunity!😪🙏🏻😪
I am 82 years old and my mom read a poem to me when I was a child. It was about a mother and a young lad. It always brings a lump to my throat, but I am hopeful that it still applies to the children of today. It is:
Somebody's Mother
by Mary Dow Brine
The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the Winter's day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman's feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street, with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of "school let out,"
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray
Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her--
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop, The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low,
"I'll help you cross, if you wish to go."
Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.
"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,
For all she's aged and poor and slow,
"And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand,
"If ever she's poor and old and gray,
When her own dear boy is far away."
And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was, "God be kind to the noble boy,
Who is somebody's son, and pride and joy!"
This recitation by Martin Luther King, Jr of Hughes’ beautiful “Mother and Son” poem is breathtaking and a glorious gift to us on the eve of the Juneteenth celebration. Many thanks!