When I was in undergraduate school I minored in African American Studies. In one of my classes as I was watching a documentary on the history of the civil rights movement in the United States I heard a true story about a bright, young black man who was murdered by a white store owner who was acquitted of all charges. This touched my heart very deeply because It happened in 1954, the same year as Brown vs. the Board of Education, which for those who are unfamiliar was a milestone decision by the supreme coart to desegragate schools. The poem is as follows:

“Mississippi Madness"

Emit Teal, sharp eyes of brown, strolled through town letting nothing get him down.
He held his head high and his shoulders strait.
His face bore a youthful smile as he strode with a prideful gait.
His glossy chocolate skin and his sculpted ebony hair,
Caused all the girls to stare without the slightest dare.
His aunt lived with worries as she cautioned him in tears.
But her words of weary scolding never caused young Emit fear.
He chose in simple matter to ignore the hearts of stone,
Where cold and calculated senseless hatred claimed its thrown.
Then one day as human souls succumbed to spirits from Hell,
Davie Jones saw Emit Teal say Hello to young Belle.
Young Belle was like a dream with her sultry locks of gold.
It was too late for Emit as humanity fell dead cold.
Davie Jones said, “I’ll kill that fresh nigger’ “
Without the slightest hesitation, the Crackin’ pulled its trigger.
On the banks of Tallahassee’s flow Mississippi madness struck its blow.
Before the weight of hatred could break his lively shoulders to slouch with shame,
Emit Teal was found face down simply because his skin was brown.