This is a work of creative nonfiction told in five story-poems--flash lines of verse, prose, and quotes-- anchored in historical facts. Nonfiction in verse may sound like an oxymoron, a mash-up gone astray, as awful as a sardines-and-sauerkraut breakfast sandwich. Instead, I hope to serve you banana and peanut butter spread on a toasted sesame seed bagel--delicious, but not your usual fare. Nonfiction in verse is my way to tell a story of race in the lives of six American historymakers who helped form a more perfect Union: Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama. I have not attempted to tell their complete life stories. Instead, I present scenes from significant events that show how they tilted the country's moral arc toward liberty, freedom, and justice to make the United States the world's first major multiethnic democracy. These scenes are authentic moments inspired by real and confirmed facts of our country's heroic and continuing struggle to become an inclusive democracy. In place of quotation marks, I have italicized all quotes and listed their references in the sources notes. Also, I have capitalized Black and White when pertaining to race. --Ray Anthony Shepard EPILOGUE The Long Time 1796 Ona, not a Judge, but a Thief. Did not wait to hear liberty's Bell. Stole what she could not have-- Herself. It was a long time coming. 1838 Frederick Douglass's lightning Mind. Did not wait for Union's Victory. Sparked freedom from heaven's Stars. It was a long time coming. 1849 Harriet Tubman fearless Warrior. Did not wait for Lincoln's Proclamation. Guided the unfree with her North Star's Torch. It was a long time coming. 1892 Ida B. Wells, citizens' Crusader. Did not wait to expose Jim Crow. Showed the world his brutal Crimes. It was a long time coming. 1955 Martin Luther King Jr., America's protest Preacher. Did not wait for the Guardians' Repentance. Marched evil from the country's Promise. It was a long time coming. 2009 Barack Obama, United States President. Did not wait for racial hate to Clear. Challenged the Guardians to Change. It was a long time coming. Today Ona to Obama, red, white, and blue Sparks. Did not wait for others to light the Sky. Declared a new Fourth of July. It was a long time coming. Tomorrow You, you, and you, Friend. Do not wait. Their work is not yet Done. Push We the people beyond the founders' Vision. It was a long time coming. Excerpted from A Long Time Coming: A Lyrical Biography of Race in America from Ona Judge to Barack Obama by Ray Anthony Shepard All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
