Creative Corner: 'god bless?' by Michael A. Videau

Image by Christina Animashaun from Vox.com

If God blessed America from the start,
He blessed a diverse art--
Of racism, bigotry, and slavery to boot.
Are all men's lives precious, or what the hoot?

Keeping racist laws, to keep up a cause.
To embrace big-o-try, to boast about the hist-o-ry.
Thinking slavery was for economic gain,
with supremacist patriotism, righteousness was slain.

We want this land to be for freedom,
but the history shows,
it only applies to some.

For everyone to make a patriotic pledge,
we must smash hatred with a sledge.
Then maybe we can all be proud,
and pray together out loud, 
that we hold no man as a slave,
because we are the home of the brave.

And together we stand,
so the whole world can understand,
that we are one nation;
brothers and sisters,
all races from one creation.

If God is the reason that we stand strong,
then let us right any wrong.
By keeping God's word on our minds;
not falling back to segregated times.

"I and my Father are one;
If anyone serves Me,
let him follow Me,
and where I am,
there my servant will be also."

One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.

If you or someone you know is a currently or formerly incarcerated person with creative content to offer, please submit your materials to admin@vote-nola.org and we'll be in touch! We'll share the content on social media and always give credit to the artist(s) involved. Any type of submission--whether stories, poems, illustrations, music, videos or something else--are welcome! Michael A. Videau is currently incarcerated at Angola State Penitentiary.