may i speak to you about a history
a tale so infused with fact and mystery
that it seems to only embrace the simple things and regard the complexity as myth
when they came and took us
when the master beat, cut and killed us
we took your place of power and honor when whips and chains were brought upon us
but you didn’t flinch you held strong
you helped organize us
on your shoulders you put us
and kept our stories and strength in you for the coming harsh days
you raised the children of our enemy while teaching ours to hope and believe
you spoke up for freedom from oppression
a revolution seen as a blessing
as you served them that taxed tea in chains
you fought bravely in the civil war
you fought for our right to vote when they kept telling you no
you suffered through suffrage twice when white women said maybe for you rights would one day be alright
The ANC, Black Women’s Liberation Committee to NOW
you pioneered the the things we take for granted and allow to be thrown by the way side
but by the side of the cause you kept in stride
and set the pace to fight for equal rights, the fight against poverty and for equal pay
we know the tale of madam cj walker we tell the tale of those who died for wanting to walk just with their heads held high
Ida B Wells fought for us to be well how quickly we forget for that twerk vine
Zora Neale said don’t yield to their censorship so we think we free saying the word nigga and bitch
we just help to sink the ship that you held together from home to auction line
Miss Issa Rae took to the Youtube to show you that that box they put you in is not the end of you
Linda Graham publishing Isis to remind us how nice our natural is
when we finally see images of you it is not you they show
we know Cleopatra descended from Greeks but that African sun had to tan that nose
so many names great and small i wish i could name you all
for your very existence is a claim to strength
The angry black woman. The strong black woman. The unfeeling black woman. The manless black woman.
america has taken away from you just being a woman
You have depth. You have pain. You have bad. You have good. You have complexity
the warrior and mother in one
the terror of a system built to destroy you control you
manipulate and exploit you
with each and every success you have made them fail at it all
producer, writer,engineer, teacher, doctor, astronaut, pirateer
these words are insufficient to capture your statement and accomplished mission
when they made your own skin a prison
not even a fraction of what you have done is this land not home
you have made it your own
you have made it to own
america your crown and throne