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POEM OF THE MONTH, February 2008 |
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Written by Karega Hart
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Monday, 18 February 2008 |
Free The Charleston 5
Dockworkers in Charleston, South Carolina
Are direct descendants of Africa and Slavery
Unloading the ships
Moving the cargo from all over the world
Stocking the warehouses
Flexed muscles
Tight backs
Tired knees
But their spirit remains strong
Dockworkers, a stable component of Charleston’s Black Community.
Life givers
Church goers
Blues makers
Jazz wailers
Rythmn makers
Movement builders
Dockworkers still got the fighting spirit
No bowed heads here
No lashes on the back
No shuffling for the boss
Spirited Black unionist filled with the desire to fight back
Dockworkers, Organizing the South
Challenging the Confederacy and White Supremacy
Dockworkers, organizing unions and communities,
Putting their big foot in the butt of International Capital as they
Search for cheap Black and Latino labor and a union free south
Dockworkers, bringing down the Confederate flag and still fighting for a
ML King holiday.
Dockworkers, putting undeserving politicians in office
that betray them.
Forbidden from participating on state commissions
Attacked for defending their jobs and their community
Denied the right to Picket
Arrested for exercising their rights
Placed under house arrest
Attacked by the State
Sued by private contractors
But no bowed heads here Black unionist still fighting back
Clubbed by the police
Breaking bones
Busted heads
Arrested
Detained
Arrested
Detained
They will still all be free!
April 24, 2001
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