Buried...

When I went to view my sister’s body, the day before her actual funeral, they didn’t want anybody to touch her.  They even went so far as to put a poorly handwritten note, not even typed, on her body that said as much.

Don’t bury me in white.

Circa 2017

I Am...

I Am...
Black history and her story.
Trap music and hot wings.
Tupac and Ella.
Lorraine and James.
Literary greats and subject of white hate.
Watermelon in the summer.
Chicken after church.
Laugh until it hurts.
Praise and rage.
Rage, rage, rage!

September 3, 2016

Even if...

Even if I smile every time you see me.
Even if I speak lightly, and politely.
Even if I keep my opinions to myself.
Even if I accumulate my own wealth.
Even if I graduate Magna Cum Laude.
Even if I believe in one God.
Even if I gravitate away from Debate.
Even if I hide from the chatter.
Even if I'm quiet as they yell, "Black Lives Matter".
I'll still be a nigger to the white folks
and acting "white" to the black folks.
There is no win for me here, so I wait on the wind of change
and pray I don't get short changed, this time.
Even if I am hopeful, my people are still hopeless...

August 31, 2016