Nikki Giovanni Releases Poem Remembering March On Washington

Nikki Giovanni, one of America's most celebrated and honored poets in history, scribed a new poem for Prospect magazine in honor of the 50-year anniversary of The March On Washington, titled "We, Too." Giovanni also spoke at-length with Prospect about the March in 1963, as well as racial injustices that exist today.

 

I was home

In Lincoln Heights

Named for Abraham

As many other small black

Communities are

 

Only 20 years old

Not cowardly

I had picketed Rich’s

Department Store in Knoxville

I sat in with Fisk University

In Nashville

 

But not all that Brave

 

Mommy didn’t want

Me to go

Neither did my father and I wondered

Would it matter

 

50 years later I know

It did

We watched

We prayed

We, too, were

inspired

 

I didn’t go

 

I stayed home

And reminded myself:

We also serve

Who sit

And Wait

 

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