I have a voice!
you cannot silence me
my feet burn through the pavement and leave enough dust
for my grandchildren to make clay pots
the thoughts that travel through my mind leave textbook pages ashamed
you cannot silence me
my boot straps awaken the Black Panthers and take notes from Malcolm X
I know what it means to starve
a physical pain that engulfs your intellect and spirit
you cannot silence me
I am a young Nikki Giovanni with words so freeing notebook pages fling their legs open when i peek at them with a side eye
master’s grandchildren stand miles away when air escapes my lungs and thoughts juxtapose that of W.E.B. DuBois
you cannot silence me
i am not a mindless crab in a bucket
i refuse
yes, i refuse to step over the hands and feet of my people
we are intertwined like the molecules in our bodies
you cannot silence me
my children will not wake up caved in by debt, miseducation and fear
they will know that beauty doesn’t solely lie in blue eyes
and that wealth isn’t manufactured green on trees
you cannot silence me
my ancestors taught me how to read a map
they left blueprints imprinted in my DNA
if I ever lose my way, i look in the mirror
touch my wide nose
feel my naps
embrace my brown skin
and i find my way
you cannot silence me
death does not scare me
i welcome heavy words sung by my kings and queens on the block
they are reminders of journeys taken so i can stand here today
you cannot silence me
my back may weaken
but my boots will carry
my brothers and sisters will lift me
you cannot silence me
because with every step i will roar
we will roar
arm-in-arm, a destiny will be set
and we will achieve
Flose Boursiquot: https://www.amazon.com/Close-Your-Eyes-Now-Breathe/dp/1540783790
The Inquisitr
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