Who Paid The Price ?
by
Everett Beal
Monday, July 09, 2001
Rated "G" by the Author.
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Death of MLK predicated massive destruction in my town where I had begun my profession and opened my first business.
My sacrifice was to protect my investment and try to prevent a molotov cocktail from destroying my business. I did not plan on killing anyone but if it was necessary I was more than prepared.
To stay awake most all of that night, I created this poem in my mind.
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WHO PAID THE PRICE ?
Of course, you did.
Your ancestors had on the shackles,
the leg irons,
the ball and chain.
It really wasn't you that suffered
the pain of crossing the sea
in the hole of a ship
caged like animals.
Separated from families
with nothing to gain.
The villan set them up
on the auction block,
and the master paid his fee.
But when you decided to climb
the mountain and rushed
to get to the top,
One of the stones you stepped on
could have been me.
It's time now to forgive and forget,
and begin a new chapter in our
his-to-ry.
Amen
by W. Everett Beal
Copyright 2000
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| Reviewed by Annabel Sheila |
9/16/2009 |
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Amen indeed! We are all equal....This poem is very well crafted, deeply touching, and real.
Anna |
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| Reviewed by Phyllis Jean Green |
3/3/2009 |
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We have all paying the price for the terrible things that have been done, where it comes to race. Inextricable are the cruelty and injustice that the poor and other minorities have had to bear. I know what it was like to be poor. I never knew what it was like to be black or hispanic or of the 'wrong' ethnicity or nationality, or
mentally retarded. . .the list is way too long to include here. No one likes to be the target of anger and resentment -- nor to most of
us want to be feared -=, but personally, I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to have been vilified like African-Americans
have. Far less, bought and sold, torn from one's family, raped, and
murdered, and imprisoned though innocent. [Not implying that you're wrong; just that there is a great deal to forgive.] In addition,
there are police who are still 'profiling,' and the percentage of African-Americans who are well-educated and have good jobs is still
proportionately low. This is also true of women, e-t-c. I think that we Caucasians [who is "white??"] need to bend over backwards. I pray for the day when none of us needs to! Just wish I thought I would live to see it. T h a n k .y o u for helping move the dialog along! Only by being open and honest and thinking things through as far as we can, do we have a hope of creating a better, more peaceful and equitable society. All the best, always, Phyllis |
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| Reviewed by Everett Beal |
7/2/2006 |
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For the past hour I have enjoyed sitting back and reading all the wonderful reviews my readers have shared when they read my poem,
*WHO PAID THE PRICE? * from SOUTHERN WINDS.
It actually means more today than it did when I lived the Book.I know that evry one of you wrote from your heart just as I did writing Southern Winds.
Since then Georgia governor Ernest Vandiver passed away not too long long ago.He was my friend and he loved my writing.His life was threatened many times as he entered the first black students into the University of Georgia.He also began the first page of Southern Winds.
So nice to look back on time and my history and to realize that all my writing hours I sacrificed were not in vain.Thanks again to all who shared and hopefully you will take the time to read FAtal Addiction.So far I have had about twenty-five folks say the words,"God bless you for writing Fatal Addiction.It has saved a number of lives and gotten many off of being hooked on drugs."
Sincerely,
Everett Beal Rph. |
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| Reviewed by Chrissy McVay |
3/31/2006 |
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| Amen... |
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| Reviewed by Leslie Bond |
2/2/2006 |
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| good poem. Leslie |
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| Reviewed by Afrika Abney |
2/1/2002 |
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| Wow! what a historical and descriptive piece you captured in a nice pictured filled with rhythm, thought and inpsiration. Look forward to seeing more of your work. |
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| Reviewed by Dianne K Webb |
10/25/2001 |
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Dianne Kavanaugh Webb
"Thank you for the privilege and the joy you have accorded me, by allowing me the honor of reading your manuscript. I am a 57-year-old 'southern girl' who has shared many of your life's experiences, having been raised in the South. Your book brought tears and laughter to me. I envy you, your ability to so beautifully and in-depth describe your evolving life and feelings. I am also grateful you acknowledged your Christian heritage, as this is one we also share. Many good wishes for your success."
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| Reviewed by Jacqueline amos (Reader) |
10/24/2001 |
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| You are an angel sent from God. You are my brother from the days of Harriet tubman. The ancestors rights of passage. The pure and the meek, The blessed heart. May God continue to allow you to speak for the just at heart. Many should be like you. Even the ones who look as me. There are no words to express of a man who's loyal to God. Which sees with his heart. And color has no barrier. Thank you my king. Prophet of the lord. May all your blessing be as now and forever more. Thank you for visiting talk city. We need more men as you. God is blind to the human flesh. Only the weight of the heart God judges. A man of Wisdom, Loyalty, Morals, and Respect. One love, One God, One Peace. |
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| Reviewed by Mari Blue |
10/23/2001 |
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Mari K. Blue, Artist
Milner, GA
Reading Southern Winds as a descendant of slaves made me at various times uncomfortable, and very comfortable, and happy. You see, the discomfort as well the comfort come from what my heritage has instilled in me. There's just no getting around that. However, upon completion of the book, for the first time I can contemplate the view from the other side of the coin. The institution of slavery left in its wake, harm not only to the enslaved but the enslaver. It perpetuated division between peoples that have a concurrent history, customs and culture. Negative feeling and traditions on both sides of the issue were fed and grown to an ungainly proportion to the point that many good people continue to be set at odds over the issues bred from this era.
As a student of history, I now have a more rounded view of all that has transpired during a period in history and since that history, as a product of that period in history. The entire world was wrapped in a system of beliefs and customs that today we may view as horrendous, but was life for those times. We must now deal with and make history for a new millennium by adjusting, changing and dealing with history that is past, in a productive and positive manner.
I thank W. Everett Beal for exposing me to his side of the issues of southern tradition and culture in such an interesting, entertaining and heartfelt manner. He has illustrated to me that humanity transcends very difficult issues and traditions and that heritage is viable, valuable and real to all peoples and that it affects one's life and purpose. He has also shown me that inevitably humanity will have to be the cure to the division between peoples with differing views, issues, and cultures.
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| Reviewed by susie harrison |
10/14/2001 |
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Mr. Beale has the courage to speak his peace of understanding. In this politically correct world we dare not defend the white man in an age where the African Americans use their anger about the past as an excuse for our nations future.
The author captured my own feelings on the race issue. I too sympathize with the African American about this brutal past, however I believe that the African Americans have fought hard and won the rights and freedoms that are rightfully theirs. A people that has overcome so many odds should be grateful and remember how many White Americans fought and died for their freedom as well.
Lets unite as one race and respect each other for who we are not the color of our skin or what distant ancestors might have perpetrated on each other.
Good poem! |
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