Emancipation’s long legacy of proclamation
Lives on the air of Lincoln’s words
And of Lincoln’s lost letters.
Speeches sought an end to strife
An end to slavery -
Sans equality.
Equality in rights unequal.
Sameness not the same
Freedom.
Liberty.
Liberty on the wings of justice for all but not on the definition of equality.
Emancipation proclaimed
But emancipation is not exact
And all men are created equal dies on the wings of well-worn words
Equality never the intention of emancipation.
A prodigious protagonist pondering some rights
Not all rights
And never equal rights.
A fight still fought in force
As thin blue lines boldly break the promise of equity
In favor of a freedom without all rights
Never equal rights
Never the same as white right
Just not bound in the bondage of servitude.
Suppression.
Oppression.
Exception not made.
Jim Crow bred of voices viral
Singing hymns on high
With sighs unheard.
Emancipation was never to amount to equality
Read it in history
Read the words whisked away
Righteous speeches, letters, lessons unlearned.
Heroes astray
Never intending true blending.
Unalike in dignity is where we lay our scene.
From ancient grudge to Gettysburg
Chivalrous soldiers when allowed
Not allowed
Brave, bold, emancipated
But never equal.
Elizabeth Chapin-Pinotti
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