A Strong Black Man Poem by Eric Washington Washington

I treat people with respect,
Went to college as was planned;
For I was always brought up
To be a strong black man.

You may lie or you may jail me,
Try to shoot me where I stand;
But I will always rise up
As a strong black man.

You may deny me my promotion
Or try to chop away my hand;
But I will always stand up
As a strong black man.

In wartime while others flee,
I will fight hand to hand.
For I will always stand up,
As a strong black man.

On the tombstone as it reads
(Bravery)
With the words as it stand,
That "He had always stood up
As a strong black man."