You Were Mad Poem by Randy McClave

You're mad because a black man was just kneeling
To all Americans his soul was appealing,
He was making a peaceful protest and a personal stand
While liberty and justice was holding onto his hand.

You was mad because Rosa Parks was sitting
And she wasn't swearing or threatening or even hitting,
She refused to relinquish her seat without a fight
She stood strong and alone because she wasn't white.

You was mad at Martin Luther King for his marching
When you think about that, like a cat your back is arching,
Then when a peaceful march for the black people rights he lead
Then by a while man he was then shot in the head.

You hated Muhammad Ali when he refused to be drafted
And you screamed that America he had shafted,
You threw Muhammad Ali in prison for not fighting in Vietnam
But, you didn't care when a privileged white man with bone spurs refused Uncle Sam.

You said what the blacks did wasn't for freedom or for bravery
And you're still not mad at yourself or your country about slavery,
Still you stand against immigration with honor and pride
And you're not even mad at all, about the native Americans genocide.

Randy L. McClave