Sisters and Brothers

You lost out

We were young

You said you loved me but you loved her

Told me not to worry, she don’t have on me

I believed you, adored you

When she came through, u went with her

Without a sound, without a word

I was alone, I was the enemy

She laughed, you worshipped her

Until till you became old news

Stripped you of your money and your manhood

She left you worthless, without a home

She wore your ring while she had her arms wrapped around another man’s neck

I grieved yourfor months

Slept the hurt away, bathed in my remorse

And here I stand with my battle wounds engraved in my heart

You asked for my forgiveness and I forgave

I can only offer my friendship

You see, I’m a whole woman now

And I ain’t bitter no mo’

I look in your eyes and you sitting here beggin’ for my love

Uncle Tom's Sister

My chocolate sister,

Why are you so blind?

You look at me when I talk but can’t see.

You hear but don’t listen

When I tell you that you the only fly in the milk for a reason

You laugh that fake laugh

And smile that false smile

I see your hurt and your trials

I feel what you feel

That stab in your heart stabs mine too

You know what I’m talking about

That desire to be accepted so bad you alter yourself

To fit in with grandchildren of slave-owners

You see, you’re the grandchild of slaves

Emancipated or not

Wake up and listen

When I tell you this dream ain’t real

Sisters and Brothers

Why do my questions go unanswered?

Who are my people?

What is my real last name?

My culture, stolen from me hundreds of times through hundreds of generations.

Cream poured in my coffee without my consent.

But yet, when I challenge you I’m called a troublemaker.

And to my black people,

Why do we fail to be united?

We fight each other, yet scared to ask questions.

Has this mentality been programmed into our mind?

Are we products of self-destruction?

Sisters and brothers wake up; we live as if we have no hope.

Our father cannot help us if we do not help ourselves, but yet we pray for him to do it.

Let’s put down our weapons and create self-love for our people.

You see, the other man’s advantage is unity.

Our downfall is disorganization. 

My Black

Why does my black bother you?

What angers you about the way I was created?

Why is being me so wrong and unaccepted?

I changed my accent and straightened my hair.

Tried to look more like you and less like me.

Too much black is ugly and uniqueness is a flaw.

I bathed in your expectations and lathered in your culture.

Now I see my blackness for what it’s worth.

A flawless diamond encrusted in a shell so thick,

Only to be broken by the pain my felt by me.

The light is now shining through, and I now love myself

You won’t stop me anymore, I no longer have a master.

The whip you lash at my attempts to rise will be cut by my fire.

You don’t have to accept it, but it will come to pass.

It starts with me; it finishes with us.

My blackness will be embraced, not by you but by me.

Your approval is not needed, nor in c...