Classic Poem

Comes the question, loud, insistent,
Borne upon the winds afar,
In the ears of black men ringing—
“Shall we fight the Jim Crow car?”

Mounts the hot blood to the forehead,
Angry passions leap to life
At remembered wrongs committed
'Gainst a mother, sister, wife.

And the milk of human kindness
In the proud heart turns to gall:
Is not every hand against them,
Every ear deaf to their call?

Disregarded all entreaties,
Stern protests unheeded are;
Impotent words or achievements,
To remove the color-bar.

Shall such base, unworthy treatment
Be by brave men tamely borne
And the title “Non-resistant,”
As a badge of honor worn?

No; by heaven, they swear it, swear it!
List ye, farthest glitt'ring star,
Ten thousand black men shout in chorus,
“We will fight the Jim Crow car.”