We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants

From the lands of West Africa

to the shores of the American colonies

Our ancestors dreamed and prayed for a better day

While they worked from sun up to sundown

Facing torture and pain they prayed and dreamed of a better day

As they ran and hid in the darkness pressing toward freedom they prayed for a better day

While witnessing a war for unity of our nation

They prayed for a better day

As they saw crosses burning and towns they built destroyed by hate they prayed

For a better day

As they marched, boycotted, staged sit-ins

As they were beaten, hosed, and bitten by dogs

They prayed for a better day

As they heard slurs and were escorted by the national guardsmen to integrate schools

As they endured on jobs that kept them down

They prayed for better days

Here we are today standing on those prayers and actions

We are who we are because of their unwavering hope

They never gave up because they knew that we are next

We are the here and now

We stand on the shoulders of giants

There is no quit in us

There is no turning back

We have work to do

We have no excuse

We must continue to build on the legacy that paved the way towards the ultimate goal of freedom

Freedom for every human being

Freedom in every aspect of life

Freedom from the mentality of mediocrity

Freedom from self-hate

Freedom from spiritual depression

We stand on the shoulders of giants

They need us to wake up and build on the foundation they laid

So that one day our children can be able to stand on our shoulders in a better tomorrow