These are the kind of poems you write when you have had enough of the hate and turmoil taking control of the world. These are the feelings you feel when you consistently see problematic things going on around you. I am glad to have a platform where I can use my voice to call out those who choose to add to the problems already happening instead of waking up and recognizing their wrongdoings. Lastly, this goes out to everyone who is doing their part to address our issues and fight for justice where it is due.
When I think of Independence Day
I say, “what the hell does that have to do with me?”
It has nothing to do with me because for years
I was once a slave, being whipped and tormented
and told that I was not human enough to be on the level
of the lighter brighter people who make it their to hover
over me
When I think of of the National Anthem
I say, “what the hell does that have to do with me?”
it has nothing to do with me because the red, white and blue
that they sing to doesn’t represent anyone else but themselves
They criticize those men for kneeling on one knee
instead of living out their fantasy of placing one hand
upon their heart and pretending like this system ain’t
burning this country down in flames
They criticize those men while they allow some of their own
to parade around in their sinister hoods and white robes
while they celebrate their enmities
They criticize the men, women, and children
who fill the streets, chanting, on top of their lungs
raising their cardboard signs in the air without giving a care
Now, I am not lumping them all because not all of them
are blind to the injustice in this country
not all of them choose to live in the smoke and mirrors
they were forced into
I applaud you for listening and not speaking over me
I applaud you for not choosing to contradict your every word
with your every move
I applaud you
I applaud you
I applaud you
but we need more of you
we need more to make their voices heard
over the bitterness being expelled in our
already dirty atmosphere
I am tired of looking into the streets
and seeing blood streaks
I am tired of the hate
I am tired of the violence
I am tired of the victim blaming, shaming
All I want is peace
and a chance in this world
as another human.
