MY PEOPLE, OUR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS A budding Poet and Writer, as early as the third grade when he composed his very first poem, Florida raised writer Anthony Arnold fell in love with words finding them to be a comfort and mainstay throughout his life. Raised to be a reader by his Grandmother, he soon developed a keen awareness and love for Black History. He has a particular gift in this genre although he is one of the most versatile Poets of his generation. As an avid reader of all genres of literature, he has found a particular passion for Black History. He believes his ancestry and the legacy of those who came before him, gave their blood, sweat and tears to make it possible for him to live a life of freedom and liberation. He is saddened by the fact that it appears the current generation has little knowledge of and doesn’t seem to know or speak of Family History, especially Black History. He hopes through his writing he is able to educate others more about the historical significance of the challenges African Americans as well as the contribution of African Americans throughout history including those events which are very rarely discussed or taught in public schools, such as African American roles in the Civil War. He hopes to shed more light on the strength of Black People throughout history. Although his writing passion is focused a great deal on his own African American Culture Anthony Arnold has a deep love for all mankind that grew during his service to his country. Anthony Arnold has proudly retired from service in the US Air Force. During his career he was awarded numerous medals, including Air Force Achievement Medal-1986, 1993 and 2001 and many more. Through poetic expression, this book is the beginnings of fulfilling his desire to share knowledge with the younger generation with more about their ancestors and culture; letting them know they are much more than what some in society has labeled them. Anthony is a humble man that uses poetry to express what he knows, believes and passionately feels about culture and history. He appreciates everyone willing to have the courage to take this journey with him for a better understanding of MY PEOPLE, OUR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.
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Poetry by Anthony Arnold Nubian woman Nubian woman where are you, where you be Strong and lovely there to support your king Queen beyond compare, strength for the masses Our help, our wisdom, our love Nubian woman, neglected by our brothers Disrespected, abused, misused Set aside, blacked-eyed No love shone. Nubian woman, woman hood taken Slave masters removed dignity Pickaninnies born No love no peace My sisters fought all their lives No recognition, no compassion I am a woman hear me roar Silence abounds Masters of the Underground Railroad Set my people free Harriet and Sojourner T. Our women understood what it meant to be free Nubian women, azz out breast shown Is this what you are what you have become Your ancestors cry at the sight Their queens, the future Nubian woman where are you, where you be Strong and lovely there to support your king No matter what ever problem we may have You still be a queen to me Šaa2012
Untitled #11 I sit here my heart beating The thoughts of my ancestors in my head Wondering why Why me? An ordinary man I am With a yearning to teach my history Our history The history of a chosen people Things we have endured Dislocation from our homeland Treated worse that the lowest animal Killed for looking the wrong way at the wrong time Why do I see the things that I see? Feel the things that I do The pain and the anguish The blood sweat and tears I watch the children go astray Because they do not know They have not experienced They expect it all to be handed to them I am yet but one man But I am willing to give my all To teach and educate Those who come after My time on this earth is limited But I am willing to give My life To spread the word My history Our history The history of a chosen people Šaa2012
Love Jones I sit here with my heart in my hands I don’t understand this feeling that surrounds me This glow that I feel whenever I hear your name Whenever I see your face I knew from the minute that I saw you My heart would never be mine again That my life would never be empty That I would share my love forever I find myself waiting to hear your voice Over the distance, over the miles Just for a little while My heart beats just a little faster, a little stronger Right now this house is not a home Because you’re not here But our love will survive It is too strong not to be I was blessed when God brought you into my life I didn’t know what I had done to deserve you But I promise that I will love, cherish and honor These things for you I will do Let me be your rock, your shelter in a storm When your cold, let me keep you warm When you’re sad, my shoulder you can cry on When you need, let me be the one to give I’ll be here whenever you may need My heart for you I’ll bleed Blessed I am from up above With you I’ll always share my love ©aa2012
Memphis April 4, 1968, in a Tennessee town In the Lorraine hotel on a quiet evening A shot rang out, freedom cried out And the heartbeat of the movement stopped On the night before we had all been to the mountaintop We felt we could do anything, be anyone Little did we know when he said that he wouldn’t make it with us How true those few words would be Death threats abounded during those times But they were a part of the life Maybe we should have took them more serious Maybe One bullet. One shot. One life taken. Silence. Then yelling. Then pointing There, over there they said But it was too late, he was gone 44 years later we still feel the pain The emptiness and the sorrow There is no one to lead the masses Our leader is gone On a quiet evening in Memphis. Tennessee April 4, 1968 at 6:01pm The world changed, we made it over the mountaintop But we came alone Šaa2012
My heart My heart beats for my people With strength, love and determination To carry the children to the future With a view from the past My heart beats for the African prince Royalty unleashed, power unbound Pride for his people, love for his queen So let it be written, so let it be done My heart beats for the slave Taken from his homeland His faith tested His life forever changed My heart beats for the civil rights marcher Protesting Jim Crow, inequality Lynched, beaten and attacked But we shall overcome My heart beats for the children Standing up to segregation Sometimes having to sacrifice Sometimes paying the ultimate price My heart beats for the future For the ones to carry on For he who sits in the house of power May god forever guide his hand My heart beats for my people With strength, love and determination To carry the children to the future With a view from the past Šaa2012
Vote I struggle to make my way to the booth My bones are brittle, and I am in constant pain But in my old age I would not miss this for the world Because I know what it took for me to able to do this We marched and were beaten We sang and were lynched We prayed and were bombed We sat in and were arrested I watched as my people made change I swore that I would do the same I have voted all of my life Their sacrifice would never be in vain I watch the young folk walk around in a daze They know nothing about our history They think because they are black they are entitled You are entitled to nothing, because you know nothing You complain about everything, yet you do nothing You complain about not having a job, but yet you do nothing to get one You say they complain about the way you dress, we’ll have u looked in a mirror You say they just don’t understand, we’ll have you made your self-known? Until the master calls me home, I will vote I will make my voice heard I will let myself be known I will honor those before me VOTE! ©aa 2012