They, Too

They, Too
after I, Too by Langston Hughes

They, too, sing America.

Our brothers with slightly darker skin,
who built the table, and all our sisters,
who cook our suppers, they deserve their place
beside us and not to be confined to the kitchen
or the bedroom.

Despite what we see on television
or the rabid internet, there are plenty
of seats and they’ve earned their spot
with sweat and blood. They are so beautiful
and I am so ashamed—

They, too, are America.

About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is one of the organizers of Living Poetry, a collection of poets and poetry lovers in the Triangle region of North Carolina. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he makes money as a computer programmer to fund his poetry habit.
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17 Responses to They, Too

  1. JeanMarie says:

    Indeed there are plenty of seats at the table..

    Liked by 2 people

  2. trE says:

    ” there are plenty
    of seats and they’ve earned their spot
    with sweat and blood.”

    I teared up reading this, Bart.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Cassa Bassa says:

    Uniting and sharing at the table is just natural and right.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. berniebell1955 says:

    They – we – are the world.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Annette Kalandros says:

    I love this.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Annabel says:

    Beautiful and wise sharing!👍🌸 I, however, sometimes wonder why there’s no one advocates for the rights of Asian Americans😅. It sometimes breaks my heart to see my Asian fellows suffering on this land so silently….

    Liked by 1 person

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