Just Like Me

Some will say
why subject yourself
to so much pain?
Why let a tear fall,
it's their fault,
let it be
their downfall

When the levees broke,
I watched
from the comfort
of my home,
while bodies lay bloated
and afloat
on NOLA flooded streets
I cried loudly,
sobbing miserably
because all I could do
was make a donation
while people
in the Superdome
weeped

When Billie sang
of strange fruit
hanging from southern trees,
I wasn't born yet
but I could still smell the scent
of dead flesh
lingering in the breeze
Those colored folk,
people of great faith
And little means,
they don't mean
no-thing to me

I've glimpsed images
of festive gatherings,
smiling faces
while joyously cheering
the burning flesh
of a young black man
nailed to a cross

I've seen armored tanks,
with gas masked faced
police officers swarming
on a town
of peaceful protesters

Too many names
to list
of senseless murders
of unarmed men, women, boys and girls

Young black babies
used as bait for gators
Railcar porters smiling and cheesing
as they catered
Ms. Rosa Parks,
God rest her soul,
too tired to move any further

Garvey trying to make away
for us to get back
to the Motherland,
only to be stopped
by J Edgar's racist hand
Martin spoke
about a dream,
not yet realized
Even Malcolm
changed his outlook
to give peace a try

Bob's prophetic chants
so many years ago,
so much trouble in the world,
I still feel it
way down deep in my soul

We're always in the back,
behind closed doors
Masta rapin' and impregnatin'
young slave girls
Jefferson couldn't even deny his seed,
just like good ol' boy Strom did
indeed

See,
it's not that
I intentionally
set out to see
or hear
or be
in the midst
of these injustices
and atrocities

I cannot help
but to feel
the pain they feel,
hear what they hear,
see what they see,
I've got sons like them,
a daughter like them

See
Those theys'
and thems'
and us' are black,
... just like me

©Sharbi3 2014