I heard the engines' clanging gongs
A block or two away.
And then I saw the raging fire,
Dark smoke and waters' spray.

I saw the shiny ladder
As it reached up to the wall.
And then I saw him climbing,
Climbing upward, toward the call.

His black hands gripped the ladder,
Which he climbed with sured pace.
The smoke engulfed his body.
Flames danced about his face.

"I can't hold on! Please help me!"
A youthful voice, a pleading cry.
"Hold on! I'm coming!"
Was his firm assured reply.

The roof began to crumble.
The buildings' end was near.
Those below began to scatter
At the sound which filled their ears.

His dark face was gripped with horror,
His mind was seized by fear.
As he reached the firey window
He heard - "Swing the ladder clear!"

In that next heroic moment
As I closed my eyes to pray,
A black hand grasped the child
and lifted him away.

There atop the ladder
Clearly seen by every eye,
Were the fireman and child
Dark silhouettes against the sky.

He was grimy, and hot and haggard
As he stepped down to the ground.
A cheer arose - he smiled,
But he never turned around.

When a reporter asked his name,
I heard him quietly say - "NO NAME PLEASE"
"Compared to bigotry and other barriers I've overcome,
This was an easy day." 
  -JAMES 0. ROGERS, Author

The following Poem was composed                          by Gracelyn Greenridge As a tribute to Black firefighters at the Memorial Service during the        2000 Biennial Convention in Barbados, WI

OUR HEROES                                             Our God in His wisdom and mercy                          Has placed in the hearts of mankind                      Such a love for their home and country                   That they lay their lives on the line                          To protect the life of their fellowman                        To whom fortune has dealt a great blow                    As he helplessly sees his possession               Disappear in the fire’s fierce glow                           We shall always remember those heroes                Who battled the great wall of flame                       They fought against the raging foes                        But never returned home again.

They have not lost the struggle                           They fought well to defend                                   The homes, the lives and properties                          Of stranger, foe and friend.

You fight not for fame and glamour                                Nor for fickle praise of man                                    Not even for glory nor honour                               But you do the best you can,                             Though you efforts are often applauded                Many times you are also maligned                         But, holdfast: you’ll be greatly rewarded                   Not by man, who is so unkind                             Black firefighters, remember                              You’ve a hero in Jesus Christ                                  He is your perfect example                                      Of the supreme sacrifice.

For He stood in the face of peril,                            And for us face the danger and strife                        He who conquered the forces of evil                        He gladly surrendered His life.

Brave men and women of valour,                           Stay faithful to the end;                                       You are each other’s keeper                                    Be unto each one a friend.

Stay committed to your brother,                                     His cause you must defend,                                 Love and support each other                                 For on you a life may depend.

Firefighters International,                                                  We salute you all today,                                                   We tip our hats to one and all                                  In a very special way.

May the God of Heaven defend you                      May you feel His love and care                                 May his grace and peace attend you                         This is our heartfelt prayer.

"A man without knowledge of himself and his heritage

is like a tree without roots."

-Dick Gregory

"If I have learned anything in my life,

it is that bitterness consumes the vessel that contains it"

-Ruben "Hurricane" Carter

"We must turn to each other

and not on each other"

-Jesse L. Jackson

"You can't make someone else's choices.

You shouldn't let someone else make yours."

-Colin Powell

"Let nothing and nobody break your spirit"

-Jesse L. Jackson

"There's a lot of talk about self esteem these days.

It seems pretty basic to me.

If you want to feel good about yourself,

you've got to do things that you can be proud of."

-Osceola McCarty

If you have more great thoughts

please send them to

JeffCAFA