Melanin Strong

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Colour is vibrant, rhythmic - mystic.

 We dance in the changing shadows and glisten in the light. 

Our skin is papyrus and our lives the ink that bleeds into our children 

and their children

and their children. 

Our legacy etched into the ages in an hourglass

Filling with Earth -flowing through time.

I was born of the earth mother and her pigment runs through me

From rich wet earth to scorching Sahara and every tone of golden brown in between and entwined

Every hue capable of being captured by the human eye.

I am the strong men and women oppressed for their pigment. 

Taught images of prejudice 

that sits in the front of their consciousness.

The little white boy afraid of the Boogey man 

Grows up to be a cop- gun at the ready. 

Afraid of the hooded figure with his hands up

telling him to just... stay steady.

We are the children of colour who are gunned down for being more than our crime.

because a little black boy running around with a toy doesn't belong in this this world - 

a world where their kids can run around killing mine.

I'm not saying it’s all of you but you know it’s not just me.

When have you had to be scared of what you were born into this world

What the world has already decided what you will be?

To be ashamed for your skin or you're "doing the most.”

When you speak of Black Excellence

Trying to say your life matters but all they hear is "we matter most"

To be seen as human and not a different entity is all we ask.

No.

To be treated like were human is what we demand.

We aren't weak because we still push back

Slowly regaining our confidence

Reclaiming our swag

We're not suddenly offended it's always been wrong

We here and we're not going away 

Open your eyes: This is Melanin Strong

We're all the same players but the rules need to change. 

Don't shrug us off and call it the "race card"

because we'll play it every day

Until you realize that this isn't a game.