And We Rise Quotes

“history has become
a beautiful American lie
Overseers rewrite it
and always deny

people the right
to know the ugly truth
only tell part of it
especially to the youth

peace peace peace
they always insist
while lawmakers attempt to
cease and desist

the full story
from impressionable minds
there's no better way
to keep everyone in line

from the Civil War
to civil rights
they'll never stop downplaying
the brutality of our fights

so now you know
some of the things they keep from you
I can only hope
you'll spread the knowledge, too

because there's one way
to set everyone free
it starts with making a difference
it starts with you and me”
― Erica Martin, And We Rise: The Civil Rights Movement in Poems