I Am the American Negro (collection)/Moses Mitchell
Ebony Under Granite
MOSES MITCHELL
It was in 1917
That Moses Mitchell
Left Natchez, Mississippi,
To help make the world
Safe for democracy
Thereby gaining
A distinguished service cross
For conspicuous bravery
In the Argonne Forest
That Moses Mitchell
Left Natchez, Mississippi,
To help make the world
Safe for democracy
Thereby gaining
A distinguished service cross
For conspicuous bravery
In the Argonne Forest
Eighteen years later
Back home in cotton country
Moses' life was saved
When the metal decoration
Pinned inside his shirt pocket
Stopped a leaden bullet
Sheriff Pete Jones fired at the Negro
Blonde Victoria Bates
Swore assaulted her
As she hoboed through to New Orleans
From Scottsboro, Alabama,
And in so doing kept herself
From being picked up for vagrancy
Back home in cotton country
Moses' life was saved
When the metal decoration
Pinned inside his shirt pocket
Stopped a leaden bullet
Sheriff Pete Jones fired at the Negro
Blonde Victoria Bates
Swore assaulted her
As she hoboed through to New Orleans
From Scottsboro, Alabama,
And in so doing kept herself
From being picked up for vagrancy
How fortunate!
Because he served his nation bravely
Moses now was able
To die upon the gallows . . .
Because he served his nation bravely
Moses now was able
To die upon the gallows . . .