Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I’m dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.

I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.

From The Collected Works of Langston Hughes, vol. 2, The Poems, 1941–1950. University of Missouri Press. © 2001 The Estate of Langston Hughes. Permission granted by Harold Ober Associates.

Watch as a video directed by Sindha Agha here: https://www.mellon.org/article/video-democracy?utm_source=News+from+the+Mellon+Foundation&utm_campaign=d711014fd7-BIWEEKLY_2025_04_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_75560b415d-d711014fd7-379550216