Narrative for Refugee in America and I, Too
Riots in the streets, racism, discrimination, persecution plague the streets. I am told that I am a free citizen of the united states, but then why am I not allowed to eat in the same restaurants as the white citizens? Why am I not allowed to drink from the same water fountain, attend the same theatre, go to the same bathroom? I am not ill, so I will not cause others to be sick. I am not poison, so I will not cause others to die in my presence or upon my touch. I work harder than most, yet I am paid less than half that of my white counterparts. Crimes punishable with jail for a white person are punishable with death for someone of my race. Although my race is no longer enslaved, we are not free. Free constitutionally, but not liberally. My actions are controlled by those who once forced my race to work in fields under the threat of slaveholders. Now they say I am a free man, yet they continue to control me.
I am an African American in a racist American society, which says I am free but continues to control me. "On my heart-strings freedom sings", but my liberty is still a slave under the thumb of the white man. I am no longer bound by chains, but a rope is still hung around my neck, forcing me to follow. Though, I know that one day, these days will not be such. The days of hate and persecution of a race that is as equal as the next white man will be gone. The days of murder as a punishment, riots, and racism will come to an end. I may not see those days in my life time, but I maintain faith that they are soon coming. The white men will realize the wrong he has done, and "they'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed."
Martha and I have suffered for too long. She works as a house servant for only 3 dollars a week, and I work in a textile factory for 5 dollars a week. The payment on our tiny house, groceries, and transportation is enough to leave us dry by the end of the month. Because of my race, I cannot simply find another job for higher pay, for I am more unlikely to succeed in finding a high paying job than a white man who never finished high school. Money is tight; times are tough; and there may not be relief in my life time, but generations ahead of me will live without the burdens of discrimination as I do. They will go to school with white boys and girls and others of different races as well, and receive equal education. They will be able to attend the same theater, go the same restrooms, drink from the same water fountains. They will be just as likely as a white man to get a job and succeed, and they will be paid equally. Times of peace are coming. When I do not know, but, for the sake of the people who cannot support the burdens upon their shoulder, I hope it comes soon.
I am an African American in a racist American society, which says I am free but continues to control me. "On my heart-strings freedom sings", but my liberty is still a slave under the thumb of the white man. I am no longer bound by chains, but a rope is still hung around my neck, forcing me to follow. Though, I know that one day, these days will not be such. The days of hate and persecution of a race that is as equal as the next white man will be gone. The days of murder as a punishment, riots, and racism will come to an end. I may not see those days in my life time, but I maintain faith that they are soon coming. The white men will realize the wrong he has done, and "they'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed."
Martha and I have suffered for too long. She works as a house servant for only 3 dollars a week, and I work in a textile factory for 5 dollars a week. The payment on our tiny house, groceries, and transportation is enough to leave us dry by the end of the month. Because of my race, I cannot simply find another job for higher pay, for I am more unlikely to succeed in finding a high paying job than a white man who never finished high school. Money is tight; times are tough; and there may not be relief in my life time, but generations ahead of me will live without the burdens of discrimination as I do. They will go to school with white boys and girls and others of different races as well, and receive equal education. They will be able to attend the same theater, go the same restrooms, drink from the same water fountains. They will be just as likely as a white man to get a job and succeed, and they will be paid equally. Times of peace are coming. When I do not know, but, for the sake of the people who cannot support the burdens upon their shoulder, I hope it comes soon.