[When the SUFFRAGE law]

[When the SUFFRAGE law]

When the SUFFRAGE law * * * Was passed * * * And the colored women * * * Of the South * * * Came out to register * * * Many were the humiliations * * * That met them. * * * On the first day * * * They were kept standing * * * Many hours in line * * * To DISCOURAGE them, * * * While the white women * * * Were called forward * * * As fast as they entered. * * * But still the colored women * * * Kept on coming! * * * On the second day * * * They were examined * * * With difficult questions, * * * On law and politics; * * * They were tested in reading * * * And were yelled at: * * * “Heah, girl, * * * Yo’ misponounced two words. * * * Yo’ git out o’ here! * * * Yo’ can't vote,— * * * Yo’ ain’t got sense enough!” * * * But still the colored women * * * Kept on coming! * * * On the third day * * * The “high sheriff” * * * Grew impatient. * * * He shouted: * * * “Yo’ n––––––s * * * Get out and stay out! * * * An’ if yo’ don’t stay out, * * * Dey’ll be some BUCK-SHOT * * * To KEEP you out!” * * * But still the colored women * * * Kept on coming. * * * And somebody cried: “WHO * * * STIRRED UP * * * All these colored women * * * To come and register?” * * * And nobody told him WHO; * * * But I guess it was GOD, * * * Or whatever power it was * * * That put in man’s soul * * * From the very beginning of time * * * DREAMS * * * And hunger for FREEDOM! * * * Anyway, * * * They stretched out their hands * * * For the little white ballot, * * * The first slight sign * * * That they who had been * * * The slaves of slaves * * * Were self-governing citizens! * * * And SOME of them * * * SUCCEEDED * * * In getting registered, * * * And the other day at election * * * They VOTED, * * * But I hear the judge is going * * * To throw the ballots OUT, * * * On some technical reasons, * * * For fear those colored women * * * Might really come * * * To BELIEVE * * * That representative government * * * EXISTS * * * In America! * * *