Easy To Remember

Here, at this final hour, in this quiet place
Harlem has come to bid farewell
To one of its brightest hopes
Extinguished now and gone from us, forever

For Harlem is where he worked
And where he struggled and fought
His home of homes, where his heart was
And where his people are

And it is, therefore, most fitting
That we meet once again in Harlem
To share these last moments with him
The black man. Black!

For Harlem has ever been gracious
To those who have loved her, have fought for her
And have defended her honor
Even to the death

It is not in the memory of man that this beleaguered, unfortunate
But nonetheless, proud community has found a braver
More gallant, young champion
Than this Afro-American, who lies before us
Black, black man, black

Did you ever talk to Brother Malcolm?
Did he ever touch you?
Did you have him smile at you?
Did you ever really listen to him?

Did he ever do a mean thing?
We must honor him
For what he was, and is:
A prince, our black shining prince