"The Strength You Contain"
by Shenequia Johnson
The birth of a slave’s strength
Came through the enemy’s rage.
Like ole Pharaoh in Moses’ days
Working in the fields of heat like fire.
Bound with shackles yet building empires
“Oh Mass’er, you got me bleeding and bent,
with them whips in your hands trying to take my strength.”
But We Are Not Your Victim
Though we labored 18 hours a day
We are God’s mighty army!
And this suffering built our faith
Yes, you whipped our backs
And scarred our skin
Took our virtue
And mixed our kin
But still, you could not break our strength
Because it is on our God we depend
And He will surely be our defense
So, you may have broken our pride
Scrambled our names
Hung us from trees
And brought us shame
But with our secret songs
Our freedom was proclaimed
And our strength still remains.
The more you afflict us
The more were multiplied
That is why
Harriet Tubman saved 300 lives
And Maya Angelou had a poetic reply
While Martin Luther King Jr. died having a dream
So, President Barack Obama could serve twice on the scene.
Remember, there is a purpose in your pain
And it is the strength you contain.
