Slavery In Our History Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

Yes, they were called slaves in our ugly history,
Stolen, separated from their own families,
Whipped, sold, paraded with price tags,
Hanged or moved from one master to another.
Taught of God's love yet beaten day and night.

Called slaves, niggers and blacks,
They were tortured and promised of
God's paradise, but first to please
their masters and forget their own scars.

But they sang their hope despite death
They danced their pain despite tears.
And only when the spirit of freedom
Moved the hearts of those in truth
when their chains as slaves were removed.