Does the black soul fear?
Does it melt?
Is it sweet but brittle?
Like a praline
Or is it strong
But bitter?
Like a coffeebean
Why anger?
Why tire?
Why stress?
Over a bad apple.
Why seize us?
Why hang us?
Why must you arrest?
Tulsa
Rosewood
Selma
Birmingham
We live and thrive,
And yet
you strike our hand.
King in California
Brooks and Arbery in Georgia
Martin in Florida
Floyd and Castile in Minnesota
Taylor in Kentucky
Gray in Maryland
Jean in Texas
Sterling in Louisiana
Cusseaux in Arizona
Fonville in North Carolina
Rice in Ohio
Brown in Missouri
Garner in New York
Who must I say next?
You kneel on us,
you shoot us,
you murder us
You take our breath.
And yet,
Up like a cloud, we soar above.
We overcome.
We never dry like a raisin in the Sun.
We still smile
We still laugh
We still party
We still live everyday like it’s our last.
We still march
We spill truth.
Despite the spit,
Firehoses,
And guns you shoot.
No voice
No word
No death
Will kill our fruit.
Our pride
Our joy
Our love
And our spirit
Are utterly unbreakable
And we know you fear it.
