Quote by Langston Hughes
Listen, Christ,You did alright in your day, I reckonBut that days gone now. They ghosted you up a swell story, too,Called it BibleBut its dead now. The popes and the preachersveMade too much money from it. Theyve sold you too manyKings, generals, robbers, and killersEven to the Czar and the Cossacks,Even to Rockefellers church,Even to THE SATURDAY EVENING POST. You aint no good no more. Theyve pawned youTill youve done wore out. Goodbye,Christ Jesus Lord God Jehova,Beat it on away from here now. Make way for a new guy with no religion at allA real guy namedMarx Communist Lenin Peasant Stalin Worker MEI said, ME!Go Ahead on now,Youre getting in the way of things, Lord. And please take Saint Ghandi sic with you when you go,And Saint Pope Pius,And Saint Aimee McPherson,And big black Saint BectonOf the Consecrated Dime. And step on the gas, Christ!Move!Dont be so slow about movin!The world is mine from now onAnd nobodys gonna sell METo a king, or a general,Or a millionaire.
Summary
This quote criticizes the manipulation and commercialization of religion, specifically Christianity. The speaker suggests that the story of Christ, as presented in the Bible, has lost its relevance and power due to the greed and exploitation of religious authorities and institutions. They express a desire for a new era, represented by figures like Marx and Lenin, where religion plays no part in shaping the world and individuals are not sold out to those in power. The quote reflects a disillusionment with organized religion and a call for personal autonomy and liberation.