James Weldon Johnson - TunkJames Weldon Johnson - Tunk
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(A Lecture on Modern Education)
Look heah, Tunk! — Now, ain`t dis awful! T`ought I sont you off to school.
Don`t you know dat you is growin` up to be a reg`lah fool?
Whah`s dem books dat I`s done bought you? Look heah, boy, you tell me quick,
Whah`s dat Webster blue-back spellah an` dat bran` new `rifmatic?
W`ile I`m t`inkin` you is lahnin` in de school, why bless ma soul!
You off in de woods a-playin`. Can`t you do like you is tole?
Boy, I tell you, it`s jes scan`lous d`way dat you is goin` on.
An` you sholy go`n be sorry, jes as true as you is bo`n.
Heah I`m tryin` hard to raise you as a credit to dis race,
An` you tryin` heap much harder fu` to come up in disgrace.
Dese de days w`en men don`t git up to de top by hooks an` crooks;
Tell you now, dey`s got to git der standin` on a pile o` books.
W`en you sees a darkey goin` to de fiel` as soon as light,
Followin` a mule across it f`om de mawnin` tel de night,
Wukin` all his life fu` vittles, hoein` `tween de cott`n rows,
W`en he knocks off ole an` tiah`d, ownin` nut`n but his clo`es,
You kin put it down to ignunce, aftah all what`s done an` said,
You kin bet dat dat same darkey ain`t got nut`n in his head.
Ain`t you seed dem w`ite men set`n in der awfice? Don`t you know
Dey goes der `bout nine each mawnin`? Bless yo` soul, dey`s out by fo`.
Dey jes does a little writin`; does dat by some easy means;
Gals jes set an` play piannah on dem printin` press muchines.
Chile, dem men knows how to figgah, how to use dat little pen,
An` dey knows dat blue-back spellah f`om beginnin` to de en`.
Dat`s de `fect of education; dat`s de t`ing what`s gwine to rule;
Git dem books, you lazy rascal! Git back to yo` place in school!
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