Feeling the Bitterness
by Maddie McAfee '19
You feel the stinging
darts of segregation,
Vicious mobs are trying
to hurt your family,
Hate-filled police officers
curse, kick, brutalize,
and even kill right before
your eyes
You often find your
tongue twisted when
you try to explain
to your children, why
they can’t go to the
public amusement park,
You see the depressing
clouds of sadness begin
to form in their little minds,
You are humiliated everyday
when you see the “black”
and “white” signs hanging
around the city,
You shield your face
when you look in the mirror,
knowing that you are
a negro, living constantly
at tiptoe stance,
You are plagued
with inner fears,
And,
you are forever
fighting a degenerating
sense of nobodyness
darts of segregation,
Vicious mobs are trying
to hurt your family,
Hate-filled police officers
curse, kick, brutalize,
and even kill right before
your eyes
You often find your
tongue twisted when
you try to explain
to your children, why
they can’t go to the
public amusement park,
You see the depressing
clouds of sadness begin
to form in their little minds,
You are humiliated everyday
when you see the “black”
and “white” signs hanging
around the city,
You shield your face
when you look in the mirror,
knowing that you are
a negro, living constantly
at tiptoe stance,
You are plagued
with inner fears,
And,
you are forever
fighting a degenerating
sense of nobodyness