Mame n Me -Summertime

I iz a Black young woman singin in da slums of New York City
I sang on the streets where ma people ain't very whitty
I escaped being a slave 'n' made it on ma own
I couldn't live like I am, all skin 'n' bone,

Rag time, bands singing in da park
I would work for me n mame until it was dark
1920's was a hard for a Black young woman like me
Men were begging me for my body, that is all they could see

I am strong n independant am I
I watched as men would curse me why?
Why don't they see Ima human like you
Why is it so hard, why u ain't even a clue

Daddy is gone and me n meme r here,
Life is a stuggle it ain't crystal clear,
We are all da same inside ain't no colour got to do wit it
so when u see me why u havin a fit

Summer time in da city
Still singin in da slums where these people ain't very whitty
A young Black independant woman am I
Singing for me n mame to the folks as they walk by

Copyright © 2010 Maria Elkington by two publishers