Unsung Heroes & Heroines [Sheroes] of the Civil Rights Movement Era By Leroy F. Moore Jr.   Al Hibbler
			As we celebrate Black History Month, think about the unsung Heroes and Heroines [Sheroes]! It was after skimming through Deric Gilliard's book, Unsung Heroes and Sheroes, those who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, I have written this poem. The King & His Unsung Heroes & Sheroes "Tho' I'm blind I can see the injustice here" Al Hibbler Happy birthday Not only you but to the movement To the Unsung Heroes & Sheroes Who marched with the King Ordinary people with extraordinary faith and talents Over shadowed by names like Jackson and Young No time to fight for the spotlight Like then today’s police dogs don’t care about a name Deric Gilliard’s pen erased the shadow over the masses Penned them onto paper and into a book Kept mothers, union workers, musicians and community activists alive For us to read today Oh what I found in those pages My Black disabled elders Key in organizing and implementing Demonstrations all over the south Hard choices for Black musicians From Ray Charles, Nina Simone Stevie Wonder to Al Hibbler Some protest on stage others marched in demonstrations All felt the sting and bullets of racism Hard to be an artist\activist in the 60’s Not IMPOSSIBE Paul Robeson gave an example a decade earlier Read about the dual life of Al Hibbler A blind jazz singer turned civil rights activist Blacklisted by record labels Kept on singing on protest lines Arrested in New Jersey and Alabama Kept on coming back to the frontlines along side of MLK Al use to say “Thou I’m Blind I Can See the Injustice Here!” The name Hosea Williams stirred up fires Of freedom and equality throughout the South “A man without fear because God was his armor” His motto “unboss and unbought” A son of Blind parents and was a caretaker Disabled in WW11 Almost died in a racist attack Jumped back to fight for the Civil Rights Act Masses surrounded the King On Bloody Sunday Many lives gone MLK answered the question Why We Can’t Wait Hate in the face of Non-violence Didn’t crack under pleasure Made the people stronger MLK preached to turn the other cheek “You shall reek what you sew!” His answer to police brutality Another Black Blind Brother One of MLK key organizer In Birmingham Pulled all the strings behind the scenes The youth filled up the streets Elders boycotted the stores, buses and the workplace The Black Masses halted everything to a stand still Study the terms Black Masses and Black Revolution They are inclusive one leader but many stories January Black Hero and Sheros Month Before MLK’s birthday is Rev. Hosea William B.day After is the birth of a sister who lead us to freedom I’m talking about Harriet Tubman The Civil Rights era lasted more than a month Look down to your hands Black people we built this land The next Generation of Unsung Heroes & Sheroes Standing on MLK’s foundation that many helped built Leroy F. Moore Jr. On The Outskirts: Race & Disability Consultant sfdamo@yahoo.com, www.leroymoore.com www.nmdc.us  www.poormagazine.org  www.molotovmouths.com Home