Dear future generations	 
I’ve got something to tell you
‘bout the history of injustice
in past civilizations
where people discriminated because of race and gender.
no, this is not fiction
come listen for a while and
I’ll give you a verbal depiction

First let’s go back to Egyptian times
where slaves built pyramids for less than a dime
they were built to worship the gods 
the gods of slavery and servitude
they were never in a good mood
so they would whip them
kick them
make them stomp in stick and stones
break their bones
people dying day by day
they’ve got no regrets
there were no breaks
they got no free extra health care
they weren’t walking round like zillionaires

Equality, this is what we need
to keep us safe and free
from any harm to me and each other
Equality, this is what we have
to give a helping hand
to those who need to escape from another

Now let’s fast forward the years to the 1920s
when female ancestors first voted in the freedom land
what was wrong before then for them 
to choose a leader
that could help us all be free-er
the protesters wanted to know
an answer to a simple question
they were told they belonged at their house and home
and not to put on a big fat show

Equality, this is what we need
to keep us safe and free
from any harm to me and each other
Equality, this is what we have
to give a helping hand
to those who need to escape from another

Skip from the history
to the 21st century
you expect the problems to be done
and all gone
but no we ain’t done yet
what about all the gays and the lesbians
in some places we are told to disapprove
of this “disorder” of liking the same sex
and to give them all disrespect
now what’s next

Equality, this is what we need
to keep us safe and free
from any harm to me and each other
Equality, this is what we have
to give a helping hand
to those who need to escape from another

We weren’t asking for a rulebook about what’s wrong and right
we just needed assurance to 
believe in what we want
speak of what we see
do what we please
thank goodness for equality


Ashley Herrera