Booker

BOOKER

Written By: Barry P. Foley
Copyright © 8 APR 2022

Cary looked at his wife, with a toddler on her hip
Honey, got that promotion up in New York time to make that trip
It’s been a year now since ole LBJ signed that Housing bill
I know it’s gonna be a tough row to hoe, but we gotta climb that hill

Soon they were off to New York, to live the American dream
But finding a house in a nice neighborhood was not so easy it seemed
When a house was in the lily-white part of town, many time they were told,
Sorry folks, you’re a day late, that house is already sold

The deck was stacked against them, at each and every turn
It didn’t matter that he worked at IBM or how much money that he earned
The system of exclusion was well in place since way back when
The only thing that mattered was the color of his skin

But a friend down at the council, said their more than one way to skin a cat
Help him set up a little sting operation, catch those racists in a trap
We’ll have a white couple bid on your house, using your name
Once the contract is signed, it’ll be your house just the same

The closing date came and with a lawyer by his side
When he walked into the office, and the agent lost his mind
Started beating up on the lawyer ordered his dog to attack
When the smoke cleared the neighborhood’s newest family was black

With that first house the Booker family on their way
Cause wealth breeds wealth over and over I heard Mr. Greenspan say
Success stories just like this are still rarely allowed
Not backing down to the racists made Little Cory proud