’Freedom Schools’

CLICK HERE to watch the video of the children performing the song

The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The farther you take my rights away
The faster I will run
You can deny me
You can decide to turn your face away
No matter, cos there’s….

Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho’ you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

The more you refuse to hear my voice
The louder I will sing
You hide behind walls of Jericho
Your lies will come tumbling down
Deny my place in time
You squander wealth that’s mine
My light will shine so brightly
It will blind you
Cos there’s……

Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Tho’ you’re doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh no, something inside so strong
Oh oh oh oh oh something inside so strong

Brothers and sisters
When they insist we’re just not good enough
When we know better
Just look ‘em in the eyes and say
I’m gonna do it anyway

*These are the words that are performed at during Harambee at 9:00am every morning during Freedom Schools – a literacy initiative for inner city youth.  They are powerful words.  Hopefully the students will believe the message and know that they can make a difference!
The words came full circle for me when I saw Ms. Janet at the event.  She works with pre-school programs. As she turned around to ask me a question, I said, ‘Do you know who I am?’  She looked at me and started crying, ‘This was one of my babies, Michelle Yeager!’  She made a difference on my life in my youth as the director of my after school program.  I was honored to see she was still influencing young lives, and she was honored to see the adult I had become.

M.Y.  July 2008