None of us are free, performed by Solomon Burke
Well you better listen my sister's and brothers,
'cause if you do you can hear
There are voices still calling across the years.
And they're all crying across the ocean,
And they're cryin' across the land,
And they will till we all come to understand.
None of us are free.
None of us are free.
None of us are free, one of us are chained.
None of us are free.
And there are people still in darkness,
And they just can't see the light.
If you don't say it's wrong then that says it right.
We got try to feel for each other, let our brother's know that
We care.
Got to get the message, send it out loud and clear.
None of us are free.
None of us are free.
None of us are free, one of us are chained.
None of us are free.
It's a simple truth we all need, just to hear and to see.
None of us are free, one of us is chained.
None of us are free.
Now I swear your salvation isn't too hard too find,
None of us can find it on our own.
We've got to join together in spirit, heart and mind.
So that every soul who's suffering will know they're not alone.
None of us are free.
None of us are free.
None of us are free, one of us are chained.
None of us are free.
If you just look around you,
Your gonna see what I say.
Cause the world is getting smaller each passing day.
Now it's time to start making changes,
And it's time for us all to realize,
That the truth is shining real bright right before our eyes.
None of us are free.
None of us are free.
None of us are free, one of us are chained.
None of us are free.
Songwriters: Barry Mann / Brenda Russell / Cynthia Weil
*****
Writer Ally Henny gave me food for thought in this post on Facebook yesterday. It begins,
I need people of whiteness to think really hard before y’all speak about your existential dread tomorrow (and in perpetuity, honestly).
Please go read the whole thing. It’s not that long. The essence of it is this:
When you talk about your (very valid) concerns, take a beat to think about how your words might land for someone who doesn’t benefit from white privilege.
Today - - for many, many reasons - - is a good day to be mindful of that. And to stay mindful. I am honestly more fearful for those who have less privilege than I do but I can’t deny that all of this is a very different experience for those who have privilege.
Do we have the determination to resist centering ourselves? Do we have the self-discipline to lift up and really listen to the voices of those who don’t look like us, who have long been oppressed and marginalized, who stand to lose the most? Does our concept of solidarity involve building /joining movements where we are not necessarily in charge?
Today people I love become less safe. People who are in my community are more endangered. Students in our schools face greater harassment and persecution. Today is that day. It doesn’t matter whether they are a friend, a member of my family, or someone I have never met.
None of us are free.
None of us are free.
None of us are free, one of us is chained.
None of us are free.
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