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THE BLACK HOUSE! If President Obama had repainted the White House...

The unnecessary RHYME. I mean line.

By Novel AllenPublished a day ago 2 min read

Discrimination is Dead. But...Long shall discrimination Live.

Just imagine, if the White house were Black, repainted to match the man of the hour - and excluded every other color but BLACK from the 'Politics of Change'.

There is a rhyme - which we had hoped would, by now, had become an 'unnecessary rhyme':

"If you're white, you're alright;

if you're brown, stick around;

if you're yellow, you're mellow;

if you're black, stay back".

~~~~~~~~

There is a song - which we had hoped would, by now, had become an 'unnecessary song':

Get Back -Song by Big Bill Broonzy

This little song that I'm singin' about

People you all know is true

If you black and gotta work for a livin' now

This is what they been sayin' to you

They said if you white, you's alright

If you is brown, stick around

But if you's black, oh brother

Get back, get back, get back...

I was in a place one night

They was all havin' fun

They was all buyin' beer and wine

But they would not sell me none

They said if you white, you's alright

If you is brown, you can stick around

But if you's black, mm mm brother

Get back, get back, get back...

I went to an employment office

I got a number and I got in line

They called everybody's number

But they never did call mine

They said if you white, you's alright

If you is brown, you can stick around

But if you's black, mm mm brother

Get back, get back, get back...

Me and a man was working side by side

And this is what it meant

They was payin' him a dollar an hour

But they was payin' me fifty cent

They said if you was white, you'd be alright

If you is brown, you could stick around

But if you's black, whoa brother

Get back, get back, get back...

I helped win sweet victories

With my plow and hoe

Now, I want you to tell me, brother

Whatchu gonna do about the ol' Jim Crow

Now, if you's white, you's alright

If you is brown, stick around

But if you black, whoa brother

Get back, get back, get back...

Songwriter: William Lee Conley Broonzy. For non-commercial use only.

Discrimination is Dead. But...Long shall discrimination Live.

Has anything much changed since then, or have these thoughts and feeling been merely supressed - just waiting to emerge.

Thoughts and ideas not necessarily those of the author.

Written under the extreme duress of unnecessary lines.

By Anders Bengs on Unsplash

But quite fitting for the times of now.

BalladFree Versesocial commentary

About the Creator

Novel Allen

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. (Maya Angelou). Genuine accomplishment is not about financial gain, but about dedicating oneself to activities that bring joy and fulfillment.

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Comments (3)

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  • Antoni De'Leonabout 19 hours ago

    Some people are stuck in a rut of slimy goo. they refuse to change and keep foisting their beliefs on others. I kind of like the Black House, kind of Wednesday Adam vibes. Can you believe we have to rehash these rhymes...In 2026. I'm digging it.

  • Dylan about 23 hours ago

    I think it's changed, for my generation at least. Or it did before older people began stirring up the pot and dividing us again. Outside of what the media portrays, I believe most people are good.

  • Tom Bakera day ago

    The original Church of Satan, on California St. in San Francisco, was called "The Black House."

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