pre-note:<\/p>\n
I am honored that the \u201cWork Day\/Hard Time\u201d \u00a0Poetry list can host the Martin Luther King Week\/Black History Month Planning as a guest team this week. \u00a0\u00a0Immediately below you will find Professor Roy Finkenbine\u2019s explanation and of this Monday \u2014 Wednesday publication. \u00a0 The Team designed both posts to build on and call attention to the university\u2019s library traveling exhibit based on the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia \u00a0(Ferris State University).<\/p>\n
To\u00a0Roy and your fellow Planning Team members \u00a0\u2014 \u00a0thank you for placing this language on the Work Day Post this week. \u00a0 \u00a0Look on Wednesday for the companion post, \u201cJim Crow Signs”. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Have a blest day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n john sj<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Introduction<\/p>\n The Martin Luther King Week\/Black History Month Planning Team is providing guest reflections on January 16 and 18.\u00a0 Consisting of faculty and staff from relevant areas of the University, including Campus Ministry and Student Life, we plan a variety of thought-provoking events, dialogues, and service opportunities each year related to these commemorations.<\/p>\n Our theme for these reflections is \u201cSigns\u201d and builds on the exhibit \u201cTHEM: Images of Separation,\u201d which will be displayed January 17-24 on the first floor of the McNichols Library during library hours.\u00a0 It is a traveling exhibit from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University (http:\/\/www.ferris.edu\/jimcrow\/<\/a>) and includes contemporary and historic images (including actual signs) that demean a variety of groups.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t meant to offend, but to promote awareness, civil dialogue, reflection, and learning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Monday January 16 \u00a0– \u201cSigns\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Signs are everywhere.\u00a0 Some inform and direct us.\u00a0 Others \u2013 both literal and metaphorical signs\u2013 divide us.\u00a0 \u201cTHEM: Images of Separation,\u201d an exhibit at the McNichols Library, takes me back to the song \u201cSigns,\u201d which the Five Man Electrical Band, a Canadian group, took to number 3 on the Billboard charts in 1971.<\/p>\n The song came out right about the time my brother showed up for a summer internship with long flowing blonde hair and was immediately sent packing.\u00a0 The first stanza spoke to us.<\/p>\n What signs divide us today?<\/p>\n Roy E. Finkenbine and the Martin Luther King Week\/Black History Month Planning Team<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today\u2019s post:\u00a0 Five Man Electrical Band<\/strong><\/p>\n And the sign said “Long-haired freaky people need not apply” Sign, sign, everywhere a sign And the sign said anybody caught trespassin’ would be shot on sight Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Now, hey you, mister, can’t you read? And the sign said, “Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray” Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Sign, sign, everywhere a sign pre-note: I am honored that the \u201cWork Day\/Hard Time\u201d \u00a0Poetry list can host the Martin Luther King Week\/Black History Month Planning as a guest team this week. \u00a0\u00a0Immediately below you will find Professor Roy Finkenbine\u2019s explanation and of this Monday … Continue reading
\nSo I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
\nHe said “You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do”
\nSo I took off my hat, I said “Imagine that. Huh! Me workin’ for you!”
\nWhoa-oh-oh<\/p>\n
\nBlockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
\nDo this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?<\/p>\n
\nSo I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house, “Hey! What gives you the right?”
\n“To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in”
\n“If God was here he’d tell you to your face, Man, you’re some kinda sinner”<\/p>\n
\nBlockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
\nDo this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?<\/p>\n
\nYou’ve got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
\nYou can’t even watch, no you can’t eat
\nYou ain’t supposed to be here
\nThe sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside
\nUgh!<\/p>\n
\nBut when they passed around the plate at the end of it all, I didn’t have a penny to pay
\nSo I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign
\nI said, “Thank you, Lord, for thinkin’ ’bout me. I’m alive and doin’ fine.”
\nWooo!<\/p>\n
\nBlockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
\nDo this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?<\/p>\n
\nSign
\nSign, sign<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"