"And we never got the mule, let alone the forty acres"

This quote by Charles Evers is an effective statement about the broken pledges and unfulfilled imagine African Americans in the United States. The phrase "never got the mule" refers to the damaged guarantee of land ownership totally free slaves after the Civil War. The expression "let alone the forty acres" stresses the fact that not only did they not get the promised land, but they likewise did not get any kind of payment or reparation for their years of enslavement. This quote highlights the continuous struggle for equality and justice for African Americans and acts as a suggestion of the broken promises and systemic oppressions that continue to plague our society.