Black Topics

When in the enfranchisement of the black men [women] saw another ignorant class of voters placed about their heads, and beheld the danger of a distinctively “male” government, forever involving the nations of the earth in war and violence; and demanded for the protection of themselves and children, that woman’s voice should be heard and her opinions in public affairs be expressed by the ballot, they were coolly told that the black man had earned the right to vote, that he had fought and bled and died for his country.
It was not because the three-penny tax on tea was so exorbitant that our Revolutionary fathers fought and died, but to establish the principle that such taxation was unjust. It is the same with this woman’s revolution; though every law were as just to woman as to man, the principle that one class may usurp the power to legislate for another is unjust, and all who are now in the struggle from love of principle would still work on until the establishment of the grand and immutable truth, “All governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)

Ladies and gents. The time has passed. The time has passed. Got to be a better way. I say to you, can’t any longer, oh no, can’t any longer, play off black against old, young against poor.
This country cannot house its houseless. Feed its foodless. They’re demanding a government of the people. Peopled by people. Our faith. Our compassion. Our courage on the gridiron. The basic
indifference that made this country great.
—Jeremy Larner, U.S. screenwriter, and Michael Ritchie. Bill McKay (Robert Redford)

I could see the thing
with its black head
but there wasn’t a tear left
and the scar of my wound
was hard.
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)