TRIBUTE TO THE MILLION FATHER MARCH

By Useni Eugene Perkins

We march, we march, we march

 As men of faith, courage and resolve

As men of different hues, religions and creeds

To be the fathers we should be

We are Fathers, Grand Fathers, Foster Fathers, Step Fathers,

God Fathers and Community Fathers

Committed to taking our children to school

And to advocate for the education they need

To prepare them for the future

          Educate or Die

          Educate or Die

We march, we march, we march
From the urban streets of Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles,
Cleveland, Philadelphia, San Francisco and New York City
To southern hamlets in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama,
Arkansas, Georgia, Florida and North and South Carolina
From the tropical island of Jamaica
To Kampala, Uganda and Tamale, Ghana
And our marches will resound
On every continent in the world
Where our children are being denied
The quality education they rightfully deserve
Educate or Die
Educate or Die

We march, we march, we march
Wherever our children are being miseducated
And suffering from educational malnutrition
We will no longer allow our children
To be the fodder for substandard school systems
We will take our children to school
And be advocates for their education
We will be the mentors and role models
To lift them above adversity and mediocrity
Educate or Die
Educate or Die

We march, we march, we march
To challenge inferior education
That retards the true potential
Of our precious children
And we pledge our dedication and unyielding commitment
Not to forfeit our moral responsibility
And allow our children
To be a betrayed generation
Because we failed to struggle
For their educational excellence
Educate or Die
Educate or Die

AS FATHERS WE CAN DO NO LESS
AS  FATHERS WE MUST DO MUCH MORE

In the interest of our children

(Poem reprinted with the permission of Useni Eugene Perkins)