The Power of One
By Cheryl Sawyer, EdD
(As read by Reverend Gil Caldwell on September 25, 2011)
As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building,
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope,
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno,
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned the great loss,
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss,
We become one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifices of heroes,
We became one people.
We are…
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people.
We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America.
*(Dr. Cheryl Sawyer teaches at the University of Houston – Clear Lake School of Education.)
