Paradoxically, slavery showed equanimity—
Its suffering displayed no discrimination;
We all shared equally, its debilitation,
And were equally denied any sympathy
Over the Middle Passage odyssey;
Black men were prized; and black women too;
Children were also part of the stolen crew—
You see, when it came to you, the children and me,
Misery was equally shared by the slave family;
A peculiar institution indeed, was chattel slavery—
Its bitter legacy equally shared by today’s black family;
Heirs to the cruel legacy, lets fight ‘til we’re all totally free.
Rise up black man! Rise up black woman! Rise up black child!
No longer be defiled! We’ve already too many centuries to reconcile!