Just over 40 years ago, three of the greatest men to stand up for African Americans and their civil liberties were assassinated. Fewer than 20 years ago, racial profiling was rampant and African Americans like Rodney King were brutally beaten by groups of white policemen. Fewer than 10 years ago, 1 in every 3 African American men were in prison, on parole or under probation. And as recent as the last Republican controlled Congress, GOP legislative members rigged the systems in several states, including Texas, Florida and Ohio to disenfranchise the non-white voters. Just a few years ago during Katrina, the press was showing pictures of African Americans in distress carrying diapers labelling them as looters while a white couple doing the same were labeled survivors. And now, more than 90% of African Americans will spend at least one year living in poverty. I am proud that America is choosing Barack Obama as a final contender for the President of the United States. It's easy for people like John and Cindy McCain to declare their pride. But the history of the United States, including recent history, has some culture and events and behavior of the government that would have any moral person considering how they would describe their pride for America.
As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mama cries
'cause if there's one thing that she don't need
it's another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto
People, don't you understand
the child needs a helping hand
or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me,
are we too blind to see,
do we simply turn our heads
and look the other way
Well the world turns
and a hungry little boy with a runny nose
plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto
And his hunger burns
so he starts to roam the streets at night
and he learns how to steal
and he learns how to fight
In the ghetto
Then one night in desperation
a young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car,
tries to run, but he don't get far
And his mama cries
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto
As her young man dies,
on a cold and gray Chicago mornin',
another little baby child is born
In the ghetto
- Lyrics to In the Ghetto by Elvis Presley