DEMOCRACY SINGS - Poetic verse
Hey Harlem!
Upon Which We Stand
DEMOCRACY SINGS!
Hey Harlem!
By Dr. Pamela V. Eatman – Skinner
Hey Harlem!
You Still Singing Your Song?
The beat of these streets is in you
And Your Rhythm amplifies Democracy’s Song
Hey Harlem! You Still Here?
Your undaunted presence is passed down like a sacred trust
That’s got to be renewed from year to year.
From the streets that Hughes, Hurston and Counte
Hey Harlem!
By Dr. Pamela V. Eatman – Skinner
Hey Harlem!
You Still Singing Your Song?
The beat of these streets is in you
And Your Rhythm amplifies Democracy’s Song
Hey Harlem! You Still Here?
Your undaunted presence is passed down like a sacred trust
That’s got to be renewed from year to year.
From the streets that Hughes, Hurston and Countee Cullen trod
Alain Locke and Claude McKay…
Don’t forget your history, baby…. Don’t forget the pain?
On any given Wednesday… they worked it out in kind
In Ginny’s, Minton’s, Showman’s too
In The Cotton Club on Saturday night…
They moved to the rhythm of Bee Bop, Show Stop, Doo Wop….with Harlem in mind-
To move, to build, to work….to unify…
Hey Harlem…. You Still Here?
The ancestors whispers will give you help…
Mama said, “If you can huh’ you can hear….
Hey Harlem!
You Still Singing Your Song?
You’ve got to walk together children -
When the fight is long….
When the fight is on!
Hey Harlem!
DEMOCRACY SINGS!
Upon Which We Stand
DEMOCRACY SINGS!
DEMOCRACY SINGS
By Dr. Pamela V. Eatman-Skinner
DEMOCRACY sings….
She shouts,
You should never count her out…
With hands on heads AND heads and hearts to the sky-
Through Whispered Prayers,
Warm Tones…Groans and Sighs
She waits for us
And quietly bides her time…
Democracy stands at the voting booth with a ballot in hand
But she needs our hands and
DEMOCRACY SINGS
By Dr. Pamela V. Eatman-Skinner
DEMOCRACY sings….
She shouts,
You should never count her out…
With hands on heads AND heads and hearts to the sky-
Through Whispered Prayers,
Warm Tones…Groans and Sighs
She waits for us
And quietly bides her time…
Democracy stands at the voting booth with a ballot in hand
But she needs our hands and feet
To execute the plan…
Democracy……Sings!
She Shouts! (Yes!)
You Should Never Count her out!
Upon Which We Stand
Upon Which We Stand
Upon Which We Stand
UPON WHICH WE STAND
by Dr. Pamela V. Eatman - Skinner
The Shoulders Upon Which We Stand…
Are Strong Shoulders
Those of our grandfathers…and father’s…Strong!
Worn and Wearied by time
Yet Determined to fight on!
The Shoulders Upon Which we Stand
Are Stout Shoulders -
Bearing the weight of the cross
Though calloused and splintered they endured...
So,
UPON WHICH WE STAND
by Dr. Pamela V. Eatman - Skinner
The Shoulders Upon Which We Stand…
Are Strong Shoulders
Those of our grandfathers…and father’s…Strong!
Worn and Wearied by time
Yet Determined to fight on!
The Shoulders Upon Which we Stand
Are Stout Shoulders -
Bearing the weight of the cross
Though calloused and splintered they endured...
So, we wouldn't be lost!
The Shoulders Upon Which we Stand
Are Stately Shoulders,
Never bowed in indignation or defeat
Standing… though the battle long
Sensing Impending Victory!
The Shoulders Upon Which we Stand…
Used to Hoist us to Higher Heights
Must never be forgotten,
Nor their contributions denied.
And when we look Into their eyes
We can see Generations of Shoulders upon Shoulders... Upon Shoulders
Holding us High ...
The Shoulders Upon Which we Stand….
DEMOCRACY SINGS - Poetic verse
God Bless the Child
God Bless the Child
God Bless the Child
GOD BLESS THE CHILD
by Dr. Pamela V. Eatman - Skinner
And a little child shall lead them.
Child of wonder, joy and grace
Awaken our hearts from indecision,
Soothe us from the weariness of this race.
And a little child will lead us-
To a song of victory…
Songs of love and inspiration-
Pave the road to destiny-
SACRED TO THE SOUL
God Bless the Child
God Bless the Child
SACRED TO THE SOUL
by Dr. Pamela V. Eatman - Skinner
The music of the Harlem Renaissance from the sacred to the soul…
From high pulpits on Sunday morning….and storefronts….(pause)
Bringing Sunshine to the soul-
Hands clapping, tongues wagging, sanctified songs-
Old Spirituals, Hymns and Gospel tunes
Bringing Sunshine to the soul-
Sunshine to the Soul-
ODE TO HARLEM
God Bless the Child
ODE TO HARLEM
ODE TO HARLEM
by Dr. Pamela V. Eatman-Skinner
Give ear, Oh Harlem’s masses—
Every person, Everywhere,
Everyone—born unbound and free.
Whose inalienable rights of life, liberty,
And the pursuit of happiness,
Place them in a curious quandary…
How did we get here?
Fallen through time and place—
So many, many souls have fallen—
So many have go
ODE TO HARLEM
by Dr. Pamela V. Eatman-Skinner
Give ear, Oh Harlem’s masses—
Every person, Everywhere,
Everyone—born unbound and free.
Whose inalienable rights of life, liberty,
And the pursuit of happiness,
Place them in a curious quandary…
How did we get here?
Fallen through time and place—
So many, many souls have fallen—
So many have gone without a trace.
From the early days of 1619,
Bearing the weight of disgrace
And the piercing sting of the lash…
Often separating mind and soul
Leaving a strong but silent mass—
Four hundred years after fate’s design
Some still thrive, strive… and writhe
Like sticky caterpillars from a silky rind,
Seeking clean air, hope, and freedom in the land of the benign.
While others…
Hardened by the very air they seek,
Become drenched in the floods of apathy…
Stuck in the sins of yesterday
And burned with the fire of depravity—
Remaining…
Naked, chained, and filled with dis-ease—
Give ear, Oh Harlem,
The beautiful, illustrious people of the darker hue,
Your secret splendor and the grace of God have still brought you through—
May you stretch forth your mighty hands
Creative, innovative hands, beautiful hands… industrious tools—
Ode to Harlem,
May we craft and cultivate and strengthen and renew—
Oh let us ne’er forget the battles we have fought and those we still must subdue…
May we enter a bright, sunlit morning of who…
With God’s grace and our work… and unity
We may still emerge anew...
Oh Harlem!