Four Hundred Years

Last night I watched a very good documentary that aired on VH1, Uprising: Hip-Hop and The L.A. Riots, that chronicles the reaction of the black community and the role Hip-Hop played when four white police officers were acquitted of the vicious and brutal beating of Rodney King.  Something came over me while I watched the injustice, anger, repression, violence, and pain play out on my television screen.  It's been over 10 years since I last wrote any poetry.  Verses would come to me all the time at any moment.  But it was when something really moved me that the real beauty of words flowed out of my mind, through my hands, and onto the paper.  I have missed that ease of expression. Unexpectantly, that old familiar feeling crept up in my mind and before I might forget what just popped into my head, I grabbed my notebook and started writing.  The result was a culmination of emotion and experience, but mostly humbleness and great respect for the past from which I, and others like me, have emerged.

Four Hundred Years

Don’t pigeon hole me

‘cause you’re scared by my color;

Or assume I’ll just be

an uneducated mother.

Don’t be so quick to think

I’ve only one purpose;

Or have fallen victim to

one of our so-called “curses”.

My thickness you envy

‘cause your curves are nonexistent;

Then tell me I’m no more

than a loud, angry vixen.

Images portray me as

an abuser of public assistance;

Or spend my whole check

on a ghetto fabulous appearance.

Don’t be so surprised

when I open up my mouth;

‘cause I don’t sound like

I’m a  high school dropout.

I’m more than my gender,

even more than my race;

You’re scared that I’m smart

and won’t stay in my place.

My blackness is regal,

it’s mighty and true;

You want what I have and

know what I already knew.

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want;

He shields me from all

of the evil you taunt.

The stuff I am made of

was born of sacrifice;

I’m humbled by all of the

blood, sweat and tears.

The quiet of greatness

amidst many fears;

On the shoulders of giants we have stood

for four hundred years.