White, black, short and tall
I'd like to thank you all.
Strong and frail, made it to Heaven but was forced to travel through hell.
You all lived to break the barriers.
One of the most powerful movements, because of you
I am now judged on the content of my character not the color of my skin.
I'm able to sit and talk, laugh and love with all ethnicities.

We all fit in, my mouth forms a slight grin,
Because, I look at myself and I love my skin.
Then I look at you and realize, I love yours too.
Love, faith, justice and peace knows no color.

I'm a reflection of you and you're a reflection of me.
Equal is all we ever wanted to be.
Tranquility and righteousness was all we ever wanted to see.
Thank you MLK and Ralph Abernathy.
Intelligence, perseverance and dedication rested in the heart and soul of all
Civil Rights devotees.
They pulled off a peaceful, moral revolution.
Harry Belafonte and Sarah Patton Boyle.

Paying my respects to you who sat at not only Woolworth's, but other lunch counters.
You,who was jailed, murdered, and beaten.
You, who said "No we can't wait."
You, who didn't retaliate, discriminate, or possess hate.
You all paved the way.

You fought for freedom, gained freedom, now its my turn to use this freedom wisely.
Appreciate this freedom often.
In the words of Martin Luther King "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; It must be demanded by the oppressed."

I would like to thank those that were oppressed.
White, black short or tall
I'd like to thank you all.