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photo via Wikimedia Commons
Fannie Lou Hamer headshot from political poster; c. 1971
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Fannie Lou Hamer
You traveled from rueville to indianola
you would not yield
you wanted to register to vote
you would not yield
the plantation owner said you had to leave
you would not yield
even if you changed your mind, you had to leave
you would not yield
the cops yelled “Can you say, yes sir, nigger ?”
you would not yield
“i don’t know you well enough” she said
you would not yield
they made you lie on the bed, on your face
you would not yield
they raised your dress and beat you
you would not yield
you pulled you dress down, but they beat you more
you would not yield
they hit you in the head with a blackjack
you would not yield
16 bullets fired into a home
they would not yield
2 girls shot for the right to vote
they would not yield
Today, in georgia and beyond
fannie lou’s battle cry lingers
i will not yield…
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Erren Kelly is a two-time Pushcart nominated poet from Boston whose work has appeared in 300 publications (print and online), including Hiram Poetry Review, Mudfish, Poetry Magazine, Ceremony, Cacti Fur, Bitterzoet, Cactus Heart, Similar Peaks, Gloom Cupboard, .and .Poetry Salzburg.
Click here to read “Under Quarantine” — COVID-era poetry of Erren Kelly, published by Jerry Jazz Musician
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March is Women’s History Month
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Listen to the 1990 recording of Abbey Lincoln singing “I Got Thunder (And It Rings) [Verve/Universal]
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Click here for information about how to submit your poetry
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