Summer Be Free
An ode to Juneteenth
This is my Independence Day. In with the heat and out with the cool.
Like every summer beginning it means the end of school.
The school where Blacks were always taught to hate ourselves.
Now we emancipate and elevate ourselves from lies told to us.
Broke the chains off our minds from lies they sold to us.
We dare not buy it back now that we’re on a brighter track.
Our right to freedom was under attack, but we were fighting back.
With peace like Martin and Nelson and force like Malcolm.
Black excellence is always the sought after outcome.
African America unchained. Self explained and not in vain.
We look up to every one of our ancestors without a nod of shame.
They told us one day we’re gonna be free. Liberty wants you and wants me.
That’s what they’d love to see. Every June 19th for Black children means summer be free.
About the Creator
Joe Patterson
Hi I'm Joe Patterson. I am a writer at heart who is a big geek for film, music, and literature, which have all inspired me to be a writer. I rap, write stories both short and long, and I'm also aspiring to be an author and a filmmaker.
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Comments (7)
Outstanding work, Joe! Congrats on your Top Story! 🎉
This is powerful, uplifting, and beautifully rhythmic — a declaration of pride, freedom, and truth. I love how it weaves personal and collective emancipation with poetic force. Lines like “African America unchained. Self explained and not in vain.” gave me chills. What a meaningful way to mark Juneteenth and celebrate Black excellence. Thank you for sharing this!
Glad you wrote this one Joe! Big top story congrats! 🎆🎉🎆
So powerful and beautiful 💗💗💗💗enjoyed this lovely piece. Subscribed! Plz lmk what you think of my newest poem thank you and lots of luv!
Congrats on the Top Story. Wish our country could erase the last 200 years of history and do everything differently.
Beautiful! Keep up the great work.
So much power in this piece :)