How much more long?

Cynthia Silva Parker

Senior Associate

Sitting with the grand jury verdict in the killing of Michael Brown, I’m reminded of a blues song that I first heard sung by Sweet Honey in the Rock more than 30 years ago. It’s as poignant today as it was then.

How Much More Long?

 How long? How much more long? How long?

I wanna know how much more longer is I just gonna have to wait on you?

 

I’ve been a standin’ at the station waiting for my change to come

I’ve been a standin’ at the station waiting for my change to come

Well if my change don’t hurry up and get here I’m gonna have to go out and get me some

 

You know I’ve been out here a long time

I know what I’m talking about

You hold your breath for change to come

And we gonna have to carry you out!

 

Then I looked at the Statue of Liberty, but she didn’t wave after me

Then I looked at the Statue of Liberty, but she didn’t wave after me

You see I was born in Haiti and the Coast Guard dumped me in the raging sea

How long? How much more long? How long?

I wanna know how much more longer is I just gonna have to wait on you?

The grand jury in Ferguson has dumped us into the raging sea of anger and grief at justice denied and people unprotected and unserved.

How long?

I wanna know how much more longer are we going to have to wait on justice – for Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Akai Gurley, Jonathan Townsend, Eric Garner, John Crawford, Ranisha McBride, Tanisha Anderson and so many others?