Ghetto Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Heads up.
A clarification,
Of a definition descends.

Ghetto,
Associated with inner city blacks.
Living deprived and needy,
Near railroad tracks.
Was a word first used,
Where Jews were forced to live.
And required to do it,
Before that word...
Was applied to moving in Negros.
As Jews migrated to places,
Now referred as 'Suburbs'.
With a removing of Stars of David,
On buildings I remember,
As a 'kid' to reminisce...
A doing of that.

And 'if' the word 'ghetto',
Still offends as it does...
Those who are 'black',
And also African-American too...
Why do most defend,
The singing of hymns referring to 'Zion'?
In most Baptist churches,
To worship with a praising...
On Sundays with this done to do?

Heads up.
A clarification,
Of a definition descends.
Who is it that is really ghetto?
And who continues to march to 'Zion'...
Wishing for this beautiful place,
To open up its gates to let them in...
After their lives lived,
Depraved in 'ghettos'...
Comes to an end.