Tick Tock Poem by Joshua Butler

The year is 1924
And I’ve been thinking
About my struggles
In the 1920’s

My name is La'Rae Jackson and
I am tired
I am tired of working more than most because
Of something out of my control

The struggle is insane
For me and my family
We are citizens of the great America
But still not equal

Yes equality is something unknown to me
Time is ticking away and
My fear…..
Is drawing near

Tick tock goes every second of my life
Every second……
Every second that I am mistreated
Even in my freedom

Every minute I feel someone judge
Myself, my family, my culture…
And this is not what my father told me
The future would be like

He said we would be treated
Equal …..
I am now at the time of my life
When I have lost hope

Hope that my people will be equal
Not this minute, hour, century…
Even if I worked harder I would still
Hear racial slurs I don’t approve

Words that hurt too much to say….
I feel that all should be equal
Every minute of every day
Ever race and every gender

Every man and woman should be together, the same
But no! The slave masters that run this place
Still have the whites in charge over me and
My time…..

I am getting old and tired
My last wish before I die is
That my children taste equality
Before they die….

Tick Tock
Tick Tock