Legacy’s Cry: An Ode to Future’s Child
Background on the Poem:
In 1995, I penned a poem that came to me as a profound reflection on my own ancestry and the diversity within it. Titled “Future’s Child,” the poem was born from a deep contemplation of the struggles and divisions present in contemporary society. It emerged as a heartfelt exploration of the legacy I inherited from my forefathers and the responsibility I felt towards the generations yet to come.
The poem delves into the mosaic of my family’s heritage, which spans a range of ethnicities, colors, and backgrounds. It speaks to the complexities of embracing this diversity, of acknowledging the richness in the tapestry of my ancestry while highlighting the pitfalls of bigotry and division.
At its core, “Future’s Child” is a plea for unity, understanding, and the abandonment of prejudice. It’s a call to action, a reminder that we hold the power to shape the attitudes and beliefs of the future generation. It urges us to recognize that our individual backgrounds, no matter how varied, are threads in the same human fabric. With this understanding, we can build a better future for the generations to come.
Title: “Future’s Child”
As I reflect upon the years that have passed, In 1995, a poem was cast, “Future’s Child,” its name was declared, A heartfelt cry for all to be aware.
From diverse origins, my ancestors came, A myriad of colors, they weren’t the same, From ivory to black, their skins did span, Some in mansions, others in a different plan.
Mixed in their breeds and diverse in their ways, Inherited from elders of earlier days, They fought for causes, for races, and creeds, Yet bigotry persisted in divisive deeds.
African heritage, they held with pride, But what of Cherokee, should it be denied? Or should we reject a brother’s child, Born to a woman with eyes blue and mild?
Bigotry divides, keeps us apart, Color, attitude, and class in its heart, The true unity we ardently seek, Is weakened by bias, makes our future bleak.
At the crossroads of the future’s child, Shall we repeat what history compiled? Or shall we honor each ancestor’s grace, And embrace diversity in the human race?
If our forebears gathered at our side, At the dinner table, our fears to confide, They’d ask how to build a lasting kin, Would you seek black, red, white, or let love in?
Gazing ahead to the generations to be, Elders of different hues we now see, With black, yellow, white, and red in the mix, Anglo, Asian, together we shall fix.
Descendants of Adam, our roots run deep, Future’s child’s life is ours to keep, We cannot thrive with hate as our fate, Act now, or it will be too late.
Reconnect our diverse global kin, From the paths our elders wandered in, Let our future child truly be free, Their attitude begins with you and me.
The original poem was written by Effenus Henderson, June 1995 (this version was an adaptation of the poem)
Effenus Henderson
