Happy New Year Poem by THEODORE MOSLEY

The doors of slavery for America were opened when the people of Africa were colonized in Jamestown VA in 1619 to help in production of a lucrative crop called tobacco.

Born into slavery, Crispus Attucks became a martyr of the American Revolution in 1770.

Black Codes were laws passed by southern states in 1865 and 1866 after the civil war to prevent free black men and women from their natural rights of learning to read, write, freedom of speech and assembling together in groups or to bear arms.

Percy Lavon Julian escaped the Jim Crow era with education in the field of chemistry in 1920 as a Phi Beta Kappa and valedictorian; he was the first African-American chemist inducted into the National Academy of Science.

Protestors of segregation Samuel Hammond, Henry Smith and Delano Middleton were part of the 'Orangeburg Massacre' in 1968 when Officer David Shealy was in fear for his life of an object thrown at him.

Looking for a car for sale, Yusef Hawkins instead found Bensonhurst Brooklyn with a death sentence for his birthright of living in 1989.

James Byrd Jr was deceived by words of fellowship in 1998 in Jasper Texas; death with a smile from his captors for 1.5 miles as the chains of hatred delivered him to his grave.

Timothy Stansbury Jr opened the door for his life to continue; Officer Neri closed the door of his life in 2004.

Aaron Campbell walked backwards with his hands behind his head; an order was given, the reply was not met, death called his name in 2010.

Walter Scott ran from a taillight traffic stop and his body was captured with a flame of fire penetrating his flesh in 2015.

When celebration was made for happy New Year in the land of freedom, we rejoiced for freedom and death closed our eyes.

Written by Theodore Mosley
January 11,2016