A Crown for King #5

The promise now is in our hands,
like the bearded face with his guitar onstage;
his band's leading man screaming the words
Free at last, they could not take your pride.

Young white boys raise their arms in a V,
as if their rock heroes dressed in leather
have led everyone here to victory
tonight; to being less of a stranger

to their darker brothers and sisters beside them.
Dr. King’s words were meant to inspire
more than ticket sales and shiny platinum
records; more than lighting a fire

in equality's campground. Together we must work
to make crooked plains straight. White and Black.

—Joey Nicoletti

Links:
A Crown for King (project description)
A Crown for King #4 by Jeffrey Skoblow
A Crown for King #6 by Margo Dean