good afternoon everyone okay the change you often wear around
okay the change you often wear around
okay the change you often wear around your neck
your neck
your neck are the same chains that were wrapped
are the same chains that were wrapped
are the same chains that were wrapped around her ancestors necks arms and legs
around her ancestors necks arms and legs
around her ancestors necks arms and legs the hatred you are so proud upon your
the hatred you are so proud upon your
the hatred you are so proud upon your neck was the same hatred they left her
neck was the same hatred they left her
neck was the same hatred they left her ancestors into bondage they left her
ancestors into bondage they left her
ancestors into bondage they left her great-great great-grandmother and feared
great-great great-grandmother and feared
great-great great-grandmother and feared that her slave master would rape her
that her slave master would rape her
that her slave master would rape her again it all started when darken skin
again it all started when darken skin
again it all started when darken skin was put into ships where disease has
was put into ships where disease has
was put into ships where disease has killed them all put into plantations
killed them all put into plantations
killed them all put into plantations where death was promised but until the
where death was promised but until the
where death was promised but until the cotton was picked the advantage took
cotton was picked the advantage took
cotton was picked the advantage took place years and years of bondage
place years and years of bondage
place years and years of bondage captivity bonding communists seeking
captivity bonding communists seeking
captivity bonding communists seeking democracy lacking emancipation
democracy lacking emancipation
democracy lacking emancipation proclaimation 1863 the time in history
proclaimation 1863 the time in history
proclaimation 1863 the time in history where I thought the establishment of
where I thought the establishment of
where I thought the establishment of colorism racism and inequality would all
colorism racism and inequality would all
colorism racism and inequality would all be done but I was wrong to think that
be done but I was wrong to think that
be done but I was wrong to think that the moments in society where we took big
the moments in society where we took big
the moments in society where we took big steps were the moments that were tucked
steps were the moments that were tucked
steps were the moments that were tucked underneath our blood silver rights
underneath our blood silver rights
underneath our blood silver rights movement 1950 through 1960s the time in
movement 1950 through 1960s the time in
movement 1950 through 1960s the time in history where water fountains depressed
history where water fountains depressed
history where water fountains depressed the colored and held white privilege
the colored and held white privilege
the colored and held white privilege over the heads and faces of what America
over the heads and faces of what America
over the heads and faces of what America is today 1790 Naturalization Act 1857
is today 1790 Naturalization Act 1857
is today 1790 Naturalization Act 1857 Dred Scott versus Sanford the
Dred Scott versus Sanford the
Dred Scott versus Sanford the Renaissance reformation scientific
Renaissance reformation scientific
Renaissance reformation scientific theories Trayvon Martin Sandra bland
theories Trayvon Martin Sandra bland
theories Trayvon Martin Sandra bland Emmett Till the power of an illusion but
Emmett Till the power of an illusion but
Emmett Till the power of an illusion but today never had I bought the tables to
today never had I bought the tables to
today never had I bought the tables to turn never had I seen black on black
turn never had I seen black on black
turn never had I seen black on black crime black on black hatred black on
crime black on black hatred black on
crime black on black hatred black on black densification black on black
black densification black on black
black densification black on black prisons black or a black boy killed I’ve
prisons black or a black boy killed I’ve
prisons black or a black boy killed I’ve seen it all
seen it all
seen it all tragedy privilege pain life and death
tragedy privilege pain life and death
tragedy privilege pain life and death we’ve spent so much time focusing on the
we’ve spent so much time focusing on the
we’ve spent so much time focusing on the trends baby fat
trends baby fat
trends baby fat trash wrappers with no message fast
trash wrappers with no message fast
trash wrappers with no message fast girls fast boys not seeing the bigger
girls fast boys not seeing the bigger
girls fast boys not seeing the bigger picture that this world’s damage goes
picture that this world’s damage goes
picture that this world’s damage goes beneath the ocean floor that nothing can
beneath the ocean floor that nothing can
beneath the ocean floor that nothing can pull us back up I realize that reality
pull us back up I realize that reality
pull us back up I realize that reality as Bloods and Cripps killed the friends
as Bloods and Cripps killed the friends
as Bloods and Cripps killed the friends of mine never had I seen again as there
of mine never had I seen again as there
of mine never had I seen again as there was a divide from dark-skinned people to
was a divide from dark-skinned people to
was a divide from dark-skinned people to light-skinned people curly hair from
light-skinned people curly hair from
light-skinned people curly hair from nappy hair so ignorant that the hair
nappy hair so ignorant that the hair
nappy hair so ignorant that the hair that grew out of all of our heads will
that grew out of all of our heads will
that grew out of all of our heads will not be here if we didn’t have those
not be here if we didn’t have those
not be here if we didn’t have those ancestral historical figures to give us
ancestral historical figures to give us
ancestral historical figures to give us the strands I realized the damage was so
the strands I realized the damage was so
the strands I realized the damage was so deep as the mornings while I woke up
deep as the mornings while I woke up
deep as the mornings while I woke up proud to be a colored woman I was only
proud to be a colored woman I was only
proud to be a colored woman I was only proud that God gave me the ability to
proud that God gave me the ability to
proud that God gave me the ability to wake up but for several moments
wake up but for several moments
wake up but for several moments something and me wished and thought to
something and me wished and thought to
something and me wished and thought to ask why couldn’t he just let me sleep
ask why couldn’t he just let me sleep
ask why couldn’t he just let me sleep forever waking up a colored woman I felt
forever waking up a colored woman I felt
forever waking up a colored woman I felt the torture of the ones who suffer
the torture of the ones who suffer
the torture of the ones who suffer before me I since the image of filling
before me I since the image of filling
before me I since the image of filling the paper brown bag test I since the
the paper brown bag test I since the
the paper brown bag test I since the image of being thrown unto a ship where
image of being thrown unto a ship where
image of being thrown unto a ship where the chain I saw people wearing was the
the chain I saw people wearing was the
the chain I saw people wearing was the same material and chain that held unto
same material and chain that held unto
same material and chain that held unto the legs arms and necks of those
the legs arms and necks of those
the legs arms and necks of those ancestral historical figures who fought
ancestral historical figures who fought
ancestral historical figures who fought like hell for the damage that has been
like hell for the damage that has been
like hell for the damage that has been done to never appear throughout history
done to never appear throughout history
done to never appear throughout history again to never find its way killing
again to never find its way killing
again to never find its way killing adolescent hearts suburban little girls
adolescent hearts suburban little girls
adolescent hearts suburban little girls to be made fun of because their afros
to be made fun of because their afros
to be made fun of because their afros were too big to stop letting skin color
were too big to stop letting skin color
were too big to stop letting skin color become a preference but something that
become a preference but something that
become a preference but something that everyone could uphold but I was a fool
everyone could uphold but I was a fool
everyone could uphold but I was a fool to think that the past could be valued
to think that the past could be valued
to think that the past could be valued instead of the present that is a
instead of the present that is a
instead of the present that is a belittled by the culture of all who
belittled by the culture of all who
belittled by the culture of all who wears the chains
wears the chains
wears the chains choking their inner self allowing for
choking their inner self allowing for
choking their inner self allowing for their hatred to unleash letting their
their hatred to unleash letting their
their hatred to unleash letting their hatred follow the history of sinking to
hatred follow the history of sinking to
hatred follow the history of sinking to the bottom of the ocean floor now I
the bottom of the ocean floor now I
the bottom of the ocean floor now I wrote that poem chain-gang as I realized
wrote that poem chain-gang as I realized
wrote that poem chain-gang as I realized that the inequality and racism around me
that the inequality and racism around me
that the inequality and racism around me was something that began to affect me as
was something that began to affect me as
was something that began to affect me as it was something that I looked at my
it was something that I looked at my
it was something that I looked at my melon and within my skin that the world
melon and within my skin that the world
melon and within my skin that the world would depict whether or not I was to be
would depict whether or not I was to be
would depict whether or not I was to be treated right whether or not I would get
treated right whether or not I would get
treated right whether or not I would get into certain schools whether or not my
into certain schools whether or not my
into certain schools whether or not my self-confidence would be on the same
self-confidence would be on the same
self-confidence would be on the same level as girls in my high school and I
level as girls in my high school and I
level as girls in my high school and I wrote that poem as I realized that this
wrote that poem as I realized that this
wrote that poem as I realized that this was a problem that needed to be talked
was a problem that needed to be talked
was a problem that needed to be talked about something that couldn’t be tucked
about something that couldn’t be tucked
about something that couldn’t be tucked underneath the sheets and tucked
underneath the sheets and tucked
underneath the sheets and tucked underneath
underneath
underneath our comforters and the way in which I
our comforters and the way in which I
our comforters and the way in which I was able to gain that self-confidence
was able to gain that self-confidence
was able to gain that self-confidence back and that self-love was through
back and that self-love was through
back and that self-love was through poetry why should I give you a vivid
poetry why should I give you a vivid
poetry why should I give you a vivid picture of poetry when everything is in
picture of poetry when everything is in
picture of poetry when everything is in front of you if you were to look at
front of you if you were to look at
front of you if you were to look at yourself right now and see that your
yourself right now and see that your
yourself right now and see that your body’s figure is a page of words giving
body’s figure is a page of words giving
body’s figure is a page of words giving someone their existence today your pride
someone their existence today your pride
someone their existence today your pride and acceptance is allowing for people to
and acceptance is allowing for people to
and acceptance is allowing for people to try themselves your curiosities of the
try themselves your curiosities of the
try themselves your curiosities of the world it’s making people question their
world it’s making people question their
world it’s making people question their own you are the actual care to the
own you are the actual care to the
own you are the actual care to the clinical depression given to the minds
clinical depression given to the minds
clinical depression given to the minds of those who are prescribed drugs over
of those who are prescribed drugs over
of those who are prescribed drugs over and over making their mind more corrupt
and over making their mind more corrupt
and over making their mind more corrupt than there already was there’s that
than there already was there’s that
than there already was there’s that typical question of why is poetry so
typical question of why is poetry so
typical question of why is poetry so important and poetry is important
important and poetry is important
important and poetry is important because it attacks the aspect of a
because it attacks the aspect of a
because it attacks the aspect of a political social historical and
political social historical and
political social historical and economical mindset I refuse to accept
economical mindset I refuse to accept
economical mindset I refuse to accept the fact that if I gave you a pen and a
the fact that if I gave you a pen and a
the fact that if I gave you a pen and a piece of paper right now that you would
piece of paper right now that you would
piece of paper right now that you would say you couldn’t write something
say you couldn’t write something
say you couldn’t write something powerful that you wouldn’t be a source
powerful that you wouldn’t be a source
powerful that you wouldn’t be a source that could be considered credible but
that could be considered credible but
that could be considered credible but you’re all wrong poetry is the emotion
you’re all wrong poetry is the emotion
you’re all wrong poetry is the emotion you evoke as the backsides of
you evoke as the backsides of
you evoke as the backsides of adolescents become the backsides of
adolescents become the backsides of
adolescents become the backsides of bullet’ poetry are the tears you produce
bullet’ poetry are the tears you produce
bullet’ poetry are the tears you produce because you’re sick and afflicted in a
because you’re sick and afflicted in a
because you’re sick and afflicted in a world where the cures of diseases are
world where the cures of diseases are
world where the cures of diseases are hidden because of a lust for money and
hidden because of a lust for money and
hidden because of a lust for money and when I look at poetry it is something
when I look at poetry it is something
when I look at poetry it is something that has to be triggered through so many
that has to be triggered through so many
that has to be triggered through so many forms I look at all of your faces today
forms I look at all of your faces today
forms I look at all of your faces today you may cause me to write a poem because
you may cause me to write a poem because
you may cause me to write a poem because all of you are beautiful it is what
all of you are beautiful it is what
all of you are beautiful it is what triggers us in life to write and those
triggers us in life to write and those
triggers us in life to write and those important thing that you should take
important thing that you should take
important thing that you should take from us today is that poetry is
from us today is that poetry is
from us today is that poetry is triggered through all forms life cancer
triggered through all forms life cancer
triggered through all forms life cancer tranquility war genocide famine and
tranquility war genocide famine and
tranquility war genocide famine and death and I look at famine as kids in
death and I look at famine as kids in
death and I look at famine as kids in third world countries die every day but
third world countries die every day but
third world countries die every day but you say you’re not capable
you say you’re not capable
you say you’re not capable I look at genocide as there has been a
I look at genocide as there has been a
I look at genocide as there has been a jehovah’s witness genocide and and
jehovah’s witness genocide and and
jehovah’s witness genocide and and Rwanda genocide and you say that you’re
Rwanda genocide and you say that you’re
Rwanda genocide and you say that you’re not able to write something I look at
not able to write something I look at
not able to write something I look at tranquility as it as a calmness feeling
tranquility as it as a calmness feeling
tranquility as it as a calmness feeling within us that leaves and makes us
within us that leaves and makes us
within us that leaves and makes us broken every time someone takes it away
broken every time someone takes it away
broken every time someone takes it away from us and I look at suicide as the
from us and I look at suicide as the
from us and I look at suicide as the teens of rates on the charts are
teens of rates on the charts are
teens of rates on the charts are ridiculously high but no one talks about
ridiculously high but no one talks about
ridiculously high but no one talks about it and I look at injustice as the color
it and I look at injustice as the color
it and I look at injustice as the color of our skin depicts whether or not we
of our skin depicts whether or not we
of our skin depicts whether or not we will be treated right
will be treated right
will be treated right and how does that sound to you and when
and how does that sound to you and when
and how does that sound to you and when I think about all of these things the
I think about all of these things the
I think about all of these things the thinking which triggers me is what I see
thinking which triggers me is what I see
thinking which triggers me is what I see around the world how slavery is
around the world how slavery is
around the world how slavery is something that is still brutalizing to
something that is still brutalizing to
something that is still brutalizing to society today that we can never forget
society today that we can never forget
society today that we can never forget about it yes we can forgive but we can
about it yes we can forgive but we can
about it yes we can forgive but we can never forget and I want you to think
never forget and I want you to think
never forget and I want you to think about that poetry is something that we
about that poetry is something that we
about that poetry is something that we see manifested within all of our lives
see manifested within all of our lives
see manifested within all of our lives it’s something I see manifested within
it’s something I see manifested within
it’s something I see manifested within my own life I look at eight-point suit
my own life I look at eight-point suit
my own life I look at eight-point suit cancer cases yearly I look at 300,000
cancer cases yearly I look at 300,000
cancer cases yearly I look at 300,000 people who died in Darfur genocide and
people who died in Darfur genocide and
people who died in Darfur genocide and those are only the bodies they could see
those are only the bodies they could see
those are only the bodies they could see those are the only ones they haven’t
those are the only ones they haven’t
those are the only ones they haven’t tucked away in the closet those are the
tucked away in the closet those are the
tucked away in the closet those are the ones they haven’t seen at the bottom of
ones they haven’t seen at the bottom of
ones they haven’t seen at the bottom of the ocean floor that are still there
the ocean floor that are still there
the ocean floor that are still there today those are the casualties that had
today those are the casualties that had
today those are the casualties that had been created and put within the
been created and put within the
been created and put within the percentage but what about the ones they
percentage but what about the ones they
percentage but what about the ones they didn’t include and then I look at
didn’t include and then I look at
didn’t include and then I look at suicide as we keep saying we’re not able
suicide as we keep saying we’re not able
suicide as we keep saying we’re not able to write something when I see that every
to write something when I see that every
to write something when I see that every 40 seconds a teen is taken away from you
40 seconds a teen is taken away from you
40 seconds a teen is taken away from you count on your hands ten sets of four and
count on your hands ten sets of four and
count on your hands ten sets of four and the arrival of 2020 that forty second
the arrival of 2020 that forty second
the arrival of 2020 that forty second time period is supposed to change to 20
time period is supposed to change to 20
time period is supposed to change to 20 seconds and I want you to think about
seconds and I want you to think about
seconds and I want you to think about that before we say we’re not capable of
that before we say we’re not capable of
that before we say we’re not capable of writing something there are three
writing something there are three
writing something there are three important questions that I want you to
important questions that I want you to
important questions that I want you to take home today it has helped me to
take home today it has helped me to
take home today it has helped me to shape me and be the person that I am
shape me and be the person that I am
shape me and be the person that I am today and that first question is why are
today and that first question is why are
today and that first question is why are we so afraid to speak up what is the
we so afraid to speak up what is the
we so afraid to speak up what is the fear captivating our voices and how does
fear captivating our voices and how does
fear captivating our voices and how does our perception upon the world affect our
our perception upon the world affect our
our perception upon the world affect our reality and as I asked you guys these
reality and as I asked you guys these
reality and as I asked you guys these three questions there is one that may
three questions there is one that may
three questions there is one that may affect you the most and the question
affect you the most and the question
affect you the most and the question that kept affecting me was why am I so
that kept affecting me was why am I so
that kept affecting me was why am I so afraid to speak up and I guess I care
afraid to speak up and I guess I care
afraid to speak up and I guess I care too much about what girls in my high
too much about what girls in my high
too much about what girls in my high school things what would boys think what
school things what would boys think what
school things what would boys think what would the people around me think and as
would the people around me think and as
would the people around me think and as I thought about poetry it was something
I thought about poetry it was something
I thought about poetry it was something that I couldn’t let control me
that I couldn’t let control me
that I couldn’t let control me I couldn’t let people tell me what and
I couldn’t let people tell me what and
I couldn’t let people tell me what and what not to write in my book I stopped
what not to write in my book I stopped
what not to write in my book I stopped caring about what my friends thought my
caring about what my friends thought my
caring about what my friends thought my parents people around me because all
parents people around me because all
parents people around me because all that matter was at my beliefs
that matter was at my beliefs
that matter was at my beliefs and my fear and God allowed me to write
and my fear and God allowed me to write
and my fear and God allowed me to write what I do today and you can’t you can’t
what I do today and you can’t you can’t
what I do today and you can’t you can’t care you can’t listen to what people say
care you can’t listen to what people say
care you can’t listen to what people say and it’s that silence inside of us that
and it’s that silence inside of us that
and it’s that silence inside of us that erupts so bad to the point well you have
erupts so bad to the point well you have
erupts so bad to the point well you have to write about it and it all goes back
to write about it and it all goes back
to write about it and it all goes back to my ninth grade year when I want my
to my ninth grade year when I want my
to my ninth grade year when I want my first poem it was a Miss Gilliam’s class
first poem it was a Miss Gilliam’s class
first poem it was a Miss Gilliam’s class ordinary day in ninth grade and the name
ordinary day in ninth grade and the name
ordinary day in ninth grade and the name of that poem was called lost and you may
of that poem was called lost and you may
of that poem was called lost and you may ask me why did I even title that and I
ask me why did I even title that and I
ask me why did I even title that and I titled it that because I was lost and
titled it that because I was lost and
titled it that because I was lost and sick in a world where people can look at
sick in a world where people can look at
sick in a world where people can look at this body and people can look at the
this body and people can look at the
this body and people can look at the bodies around me to be something to be
bodies around me to be something to be
bodies around me to be something to be pure they labeled it as other things and
pure they labeled it as other things and
pure they labeled it as other things and it was a problem and as I was able to
it was a problem and as I was able to
it was a problem and as I was able to write about it I was able to make an
write about it I was able to make an
write about it I was able to make an impact on other people I was able to
impact on other people I was able to
impact on other people I was able to give that confidence to many girls
give that confidence to many girls
give that confidence to many girls around my high school so I want you to
around my high school so I want you to
around my high school so I want you to act yourself right now what is it that I
act yourself right now what is it that I
act yourself right now what is it that I can write about I look at all of you
can write about I look at all of you
can write about I look at all of you today and you’ve probably experienced
today and you’ve probably experienced
today and you’ve probably experienced more than I have but we keep saying
more than I have but we keep saying
more than I have but we keep saying we’re not able to write about it we keep
we’re not able to write about it we keep
we’re not able to write about it we keep thinking we’re not good enough we keep
thinking we’re not good enough we keep
thinking we’re not good enough we keep letting social norms and labels within
letting social norms and labels within
letting social norms and labels within society trigger us we keep letting it
society trigger us we keep letting it
society trigger us we keep letting it name us when we should be naming
name us when we should be naming
name us when we should be naming ourselves so the psalms can erupt inside
ourselves so the psalms can erupt inside
ourselves so the psalms can erupt inside of me
of me
of me it can also erupted inside of you and
it can also erupted inside of you and
it can also erupted inside of you and that will only happen when trials and
that will only happen when trials and
that will only happen when trials and tribulations become more apparent when
tribulations become more apparent when
tribulations become more apparent when depression will take over your mind and
depression will take over your mind and
depression will take over your mind and where the impact you will make will be
where the impact you will make will be
where the impact you will make will be one that can impact so many lives it can
one that can impact so many lives it can
one that can impact so many lives it can decrease the suicide rate and you know
decrease the suicide rate and you know
decrease the suicide rate and you know how I know that because I have stopped
how I know that because I have stopped
how I know that because I have stopped people from killing themselves I have
people from killing themselves I have
people from killing themselves I have stopped people from losing themselves I
stopped people from losing themselves I
stopped people from losing themselves I have stopped myself from losing myself
have stopped myself from losing myself
have stopped myself from losing myself and I want you to think about that the
and I want you to think about that the
and I want you to think about that the danger of silence it became apparent to
danger of silence it became apparent to
danger of silence it became apparent to me that silence was a result of fear I
me that silence was a result of fear I
me that silence was a result of fear I spent the majority of my life thinking
spent the majority of my life thinking
spent the majority of my life thinking about what to write and how to write
about what to write and how to write
about what to write and how to write without overdoing it but it was
without overdoing it but it was
without overdoing it but it was silence the Psalms became my danger
silence the Psalms became my danger
silence the Psalms became my danger words not said develop wounds that were
words not said develop wounds that were
words not said develop wounds that were beneath my skin God taught you and me
beneath my skin God taught you and me
beneath my skin God taught you and me that the most valuable thing you could
that the most valuable thing you could
that the most valuable thing you could give to the world was the possessions
give to the world was the possessions
give to the world was the possessions and thoughts you think no one else would
and thoughts you think no one else would
and thoughts you think no one else would go through sacrificing something for
go through sacrificing something for
go through sacrificing something for good
good
good I was scared scared that the words I
I was scared scared that the words I
I was scared scared that the words I write today will turn back and hurt me
write today will turn back and hurt me
write today will turn back and hurt me because of the opinions of those who
because of the opinions of those who
because of the opinions of those who killed the deafness of coming out of
killed the deafness of coming out of
killed the deafness of coming out of their shells to kill the sounds that
their shells to kill the sounds that
their shells to kill the sounds that reappeared again and again but I as I
reappeared again and again but I as I
reappeared again and again but I as I observed I see that Psalms are the palms
observed I see that Psalms are the palms
observed I see that Psalms are the palms ago was unheard unseen and forgotten
ago was unheard unseen and forgotten
ago was unheard unseen and forgotten silence was a death in Darfur genocide
silence was a death in Darfur genocide
silence was a death in Darfur genocide the girl whose tears wet deep inside her
the girl whose tears wet deep inside her
the girl whose tears wet deep inside her pillow the woman who lost her dignity
pillow the woman who lost her dignity
pillow the woman who lost her dignity after every night of being raped the
after every night of being raped the
after every night of being raped the natural disasters where the government
natural disasters where the government
natural disasters where the government raised taxes and mortgages watching the
raised taxes and mortgages watching the
raised taxes and mortgages watching the people suffer solace is all over sinking
people suffer solace is all over sinking
people suffer solace is all over sinking in places where help is needed the songs
in places where help is needed the songs
in places where help is needed the songs and me stopped as I saw the blades he
and me stopped as I saw the blades he
and me stopped as I saw the blades he picked up everyday got tiring as it
picked up everyday got tiring as it
picked up everyday got tiring as it tears that established me hurt me in the
tears that established me hurt me in the
tears that established me hurt me in the form of the worst brutalization so let
form of the worst brutalization so let
form of the worst brutalization so let your Psalms disappear as a battle you
your Psalms disappear as a battle you
your Psalms disappear as a battle you fight every day becomes one that can
fight every day becomes one that can
fight every day becomes one that can help one another let your solids
help one another let your solids
help one another let your solids disappear as your tears come out on the
disappear as your tears come out on the
disappear as your tears come out on the paper where your voice is able to come
paper where your voice is able to come
paper where your voice is able to come out and be heard let your Psalms
out and be heard let your Psalms
out and be heard let your Psalms disappear as you realize that the danger
disappear as you realize that the danger
disappear as you realize that the danger you bring to the world
”
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