This poem is appropriate as we close out Black History Month. It was written on December 26, 1995. Caution: This poem contains strong language and imagery.
Bloodline
Trace your roots back
Several centuries ago
There was a slave
She gave all the labor she could
She fought for her freedom and freedom
Of the future children of the world
You give up the freedom
By choosing to trap yourself
In an unworthy hood
Listen girl
You are your own person
You were not put on this earth
To be the doormat of a man
Who really doesn’t give a d*mn
Think back just 65 years
The Great Depression
Caused your grandmother to shed many tears
Look back 30 years
The 60s
The Blacks fought for their rights
And now you think a man
Is a reason to fight
The years when Black men were
Hung from trees
His wife cried and carried on
But eventually she had to get off her knees
And think of herself
Before thinking on anyone else
Think back to the time
When Black women were called n**gers
And now all you can think about is
Your stupid figure
Think of the poor dark skinned girl
Who was called a Black baboon
Or the light skinned girl
With eyes the color of grass
Who met a group of girls darker
Than her
Who kicked her a**
Think of the women
Who get beat by their husbands
Every Saturday night
Who don’t have the strength to fight
Think of women
Who were tortured and raped
Before you look for Superman
Wearing a cape
If there was a Superman
Would he let us live in this hell?
Think about these things
When you call another Black woman
A b*tch
Don’t get jealous if another woman
Gets rich
Trace your bloodline
And you will understand
In time.
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