The whole world’s army battalions
were called to military offensive action
with the same deep fear of annihilation
reverberating through every nation.
But it was Indigenous & African Americans most of all
who entered the world wars brave and tall
before being forced to, thousands volunteered for the call
Having to fight and defend this country then
meant defending culprits who cruelly oppressed them.
People of colour did not enlist blindly either
keenly aware of service under a cruel colonizer
namely America, France, and the British Isles
slow to strictly conscript making it a volunteer job at first.
Young men of every race sent to risk death in a show of force
But only Black infantry doing additional hard labor, of course
for ‘superior’ officers or face punishment akin to the noose;
that’s how Black soldiers were forced to defend their own abuse.
Ordered back then to defend rights not given to Blacks in the 1st place
they stumbled across struggles shared with every non-white race!
Overseers from old plantations were also overseers overseas
Yet over 200,000 African American World War veterans fought with such dignity
hopeful hearts wishing their own freedom is what the outcome might be.
Shocked to see how badly people of color were treated world-wide
Not as much a surprise to see white supremacy conquer & divide!
For whose freedom did Black/Indigenous soldiers give up their lives?
Was obedient service all in vain? Freedom promised but never gained
The ones that survived returned home in more pain.
Resisting racism at home & abroad became the motivating goal
Our shared plight with other nations now unites us heart and soul
Fighting united for human rights shows how our power can grow
We confessed we’re oppressed by the same oppressor, and that
enemy soldiers weren’t really enemies. We are true allies in fact.
Who Is The Real Enemy?
An unbalanced leader might allow atomic bombs to explode-
but what happens already right under our nose?
Blacks blocked into unemployment to be recruited from ghettoes
Low-rank soldiers end up on the front-lines as everyone knows
All soldiers including Black & Indigenous learned in the worst way
that military schools and boot-camps don’t work the same way.
Resistance to war is inspired by the Freedom Warriors brave fight
It built up leaders to head the 1960’s movement for Black civil rights
& still inspires socialists to stand against war-mongers on the right
Stop war-hawks from hi-jacking and mis-using our collective might!
On all shores and this shore we must fight together in solidarity
without falling for needy Uncle Sam pleading ‘Be all you can be’
Because owners of weapons factories and munitions companies
ensure soldier & civilian deaths make them even more wealthy
all fueled by colonial rulers obsession to protect stolen ‘possessions’.
The sky-high death tolls from all wars including the 1st world war
makes us remember ultimate sacrifices we remain grateful for!
Furthermore…this November on the 11th day at the 11th hour
We recall some of the freedoms soldiers died for are not yet ours.
We definitely honor the sacrifice of all soldiers who suffered and died
Throughout history we wear red poppies & white poppies with pride
Both are symbols to remember every life lost violently
Both honor the sacrifice of all soldiers from every army
But one is more for abolishing war and to call for world peace
The peace that our soldiers vowed they would win for us
We pray that continued bloodshed is not the price
Our industrialized systems will keep demanding of us.
Author
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