Langston Hughes was a poet and writer of the 1900s. His poetry lended strength and truth to the civil rights movement of the 1950s.
I’ve been reading some of his poems lately, pointing to race injustice and race inequity that was then in his time, and, that is now, at the roots of broad protest and demonstration.
I’m encouraged to think that we are in the time of “We’ll see” rising up in broad support, to create awareness, healing, and changed streets.
Who But The Lord
by Langston Hughes
I looked and I saw
That man they call the Law.
He was coming
Down the street at me!
I had visions in my head
Of being laid out cold and dead,
Or else murdered
By the third degree.
I said, O, Lord, If you can,
Save me from that man!
Don’t let him make a pulp out of me!
But the Lord he was not quick.
The Law raised up his stick
And beat the living hell
Out of me!
Now I do not understand
Why God don’t protect a man
From police brutality.
Being poor and black,
I’ve no weapon to strike back
So who but the Lord
Can protect me?
We’ll see.
