4TH OF JULY REFLECTIONS

[shipahoy41]

We are about to celebrate the 4th of July. Let us pause and say a prayer for traveling Grace and arriving Mercy for all who are going to spend time with those they love. Let us NEVER FORGET THE INSPIRATION AND THE COURAGE it took for our founding fathers to write the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and all the military who have served, who are still serving and especially those who gave their lives to preserve the freedoms we now enjoy. We salute Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force Coast Guard and Space force veterans on this holiday.

I am also reminded of a poem by Langston Hughes called "I Too Am An American" My mother would read this particular poem to me a lot in my youth to help mold my thoughts, actions, and the man I would become. Please allow me to share this poem with you this 4th of July.

I, Too
BY LANGSTON HUGHES

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.


That poem was the basis for my thoughts when I wrote "Is America Listening?" back in 1965.

Coretta Scott King has this book in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library







God bless all of you and have a safe holiday.

Mike