I Was Only a Child

Standing as one of the most-heinous, race-motivated crimes in America’s history, the kidnapping and savage lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi still stirs embers of anger in the minds of many who have endured racism and injustice. Considered a trans-formative moment in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, Till’s death shocked a nation and still resonates deeply in the minds of

 Mississippians and others abroad.

The piece below was written by my daughter when she was in Middle School, she's now 21 years old. You can read this and more in my upcoming book POEMS IN THE KEY OF LIFE. 

I WAS ONLY A CHILD

by Ambrea Clark

i was born a black boy from Illinois

racism, discrimination

a child of Louis Till 

i suffered from polio and it conflicted with my speech

i was cursed with a stutter 

but it didn’t make my personality a demon

in 1955 I was sent to live with my kin

Moses lived in Mississippi

a different world than where I lived

abuse, dislikes

a child of confusion

pickin cotton half the day

and relaxin at Bryant’s grocery

by the end of the way

when you see a white woman

get off the street

reply “yes sir, no sir”

when and if a white speaks

if white folk dis ya just say nothin

all the things I heard from my mama

lynchin, racially motivated murders

i was a child of it all

i whistled at his wife

according to the other folk 

so i fled for my life

i stayed away for a few days

thinkin everything was fine

but in reality Mr. B 

was waitin for the right time

he dragged me out of my house

and into his truck

told my kin to be quiet

as if he had their trust

beat me, hit me but you will never break me

thoughts runnin through my mind

to stay strong and they will soon neglect me

he saw my straight face

and thought i wasn’t scared 

so he took me by the river

and planned to leave me there

determined to live my life and hoping to survive

he chose to make peace with piece because he wasn’t satisfied

no respect, no justice

a child of the Tallahatchie River

mama had no idea 

until they found me afloat with a fan from a cotton gin 

tears, screams and pain

went all through my kin

it was an open funeral the world saw my face

thousands and millions saw the pain I went through

but i was happy that they saw cause now they know

what Mr B and his friends really like to do

racism, discrimination and abuse

dislikes, no respect and no justice

lynchin and racially motivated murders

i was a child of Louis Till

i was a child of confusion

i was a child of the Tallahatchie River

i was a child of it all