WE ARE ACHIEVERS
(for high school students everywhere)
We are achievers, strivers, climbers, those who arrive
despite delays, obstacles and intentional roadblocks
throw up on the diverse paths we trod
in this period when we have to be twice as good
just to get half as far we leap over the top
regardless of how high they raise the bar
We are achievers, strivers, climbers, those who march
forward into the future propelled
by the fuel of historic accomplishments
we stand astride the shoulders
of all who have gone nobly before
we follow in the footprints of past pioneers
those who set standards of excellence
that we valiantly match and attempt to exceed
We are achievers, strivers, climbers, those who are intelligent
we grasp and fully understand all the ways of the world
we can learn any language humans speak
we can master any technology humans create
we can control the international flow of ideas and information
We are achievers, strivers, climbers, those who reach
not just for the stars
but for sun, moon and the whole sky too
we know this world can be ours
as we hold the history of tomorrow
in our palms and massage the clay of today
into resplendent statues and monuments
marked by the impress of our fingerprints
We are achievers, strivers, climbers, those who visit the summits
regardless of the roughness of the mountain
we have prepared ourselves to climb
despite hurricanes and hard times
we have disciplined ourselves to keep on keeping on
no matter who considers us ugly
we have retained our people's fundamental beauty
We are achievers, strivers, climbers, creators and innovators
we will find a way forward or make one
this world will be better and more beautiful
as a result of our passing through
we envision a galaxy of excellence
as we sow seeds of hard work
so that we can reap gardens of peace and prosperity
that we are young is obvious
that we are gifted is important
that we are Black is a reality
of which we will always be proud
We are achievers, strivers, climbers, creators and innovators.
—kalamu ya salaam