"I, Too, Sing America"  Inspired by Walt Whitman | Teen Ink

"I, Too, Sing America"  Inspired by Walt Whitman

May 30, 2024
By Samson111 BRONZE, Cherry Hill Nj, New Jersey
Samson111 BRONZE, Cherry Hill Nj, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

I HEAR America singing, I hear the cries for freedom 

Those of My Melanin skin people —each one singing his, as it should be


The singing for a difference 

The singing for their children and their children and their children's children, 

The singing for Privilege of Freedom and the pursuit of happiness


They sing hope  

The hope for equality

The hope that would spark a change 

The hope of people singing for equal rights

The hope of beacons fighting for their peoples rights

The hope for a lIght to shine through Darkness

The hope for better Days


Defying the odds in a society filled Unjust and prejudice Beliefs 

Defying all the Barriers they faced 

Defying the endless pain and sorrow they faced

Defying Animosity


The Hatred that Ignites like fire 

The Hatred that impacts their lives

The Hatred of people filled with Melanin


But still they sing for all the inequality they endured

They sing in tribute for those they lost

They sing for the pursuit for their rights and their peace

They each sing what belongs to them, and to none else 

This is the Civil Rights Movement


The author's comments:

I'm an 8th grade middle school student. While we were studying Civil Rights Movement, my teacher read Walt Whitman's poem and I wrote my own version using my own personal experience about the things I've learned about the civil rights movement.


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