These drapes are heavy built
The sunlight will happily bounce off of their light exterior
There is no need to look beyond the drapes
The drapes that prove to be fatal
Wrapped around each ignorant mind

Now bare we stand strong
Facing the sun we see nothing of what we thought

Hijabs fall to the floor
Kangas ripped
Rebozos torn and thrown

The blood spilt is red
Unable to distinguish the blood by race
Many know that pale skin is often stained red

The Drapes are a comfort
Some never want to seek further
Those who do find the truth

The ashes of the fallen stick to their feet
The rubble created by power hungry individuals
Are hot to the touch

“I am an American citizen.”
“I cant breathe.”
“I don’t have a gun. Stop shooting.”

The drapes are now being recognized and torn down
We stand together
Fighting for basic human rights

We will walk the movement
Even at our lowest point we will still stand tall
And never seek comfort in the drapes again

You say that this country needs to change
That it needs to be reformed
That it needs to be equal
But how do we alter a tree who has been watered with the sweat of our mistreated laborers?
Who grows stronger through the abuse of black Americans
How do we alter a tree who’s racist roots are already thousands of years deep?

If I helped you cut this tree down
Where would his roots go?
Where would we place his corpse?
Would he lie alongside the millions who unjustly died for him?
Or would he be buried higher than his creators
Higher than those who helped him grow and nourished his sick leaves, though his fruits never dropped for them

Isn’t it ironic that those who helped the tree grow don’t receive the fruits of their labors?
The fruits ripen, with the sweat and blood of those who grew the tree
The fruits darken, dripping under the sunlight as his creators did
Yet the fruits still drop at the feet of those most porcelain,
Those who were born to enjoy the tree’s abundance

I'm sad Benny
The world is sad Benny
Tell me how to help my brothers
Tell me how to help my sisters
Why must some feel dread to leave their homes?
Why must some feel fear to leave their homes?
Why must some be inherently disenfranchised
Stepped on
With knees upon their necks
I fear for our children's future
We know they won't come out as porcelain-skinned as society would like them to be
We know they will struggle
Inherently forced to struggle
What is the solution?
How do we make our daughters and sons feel equal?
How do we protect them from the world?
I want to keep them inside Benny
I fear for what they must face
I want them to stay pure and unharmed
I know this is selfish
I can't hide them from the world's cruelty
They need to face the world in order to better it
We must make it better for them
How do we make it better?
How can we make it better without completely restarting?
Without reconstructing it from its very roots
How do you alter a tree who's roots are already ten feet deep into the soil?

i give more than i receive
and i wonder if i deserve more.
but if meeting half way,
and giving less than i feel,
is how to gain equality in our love,
i don't want it.

i can't pretend there's no pit in my stomach
or tug on my heart
or smile on my face
whenever i see you.

no matter what i do,
i can't make your fire burn brighter,
harder
and hotter
for me.

so am i naive to stay
for the affection i receive
when it takes more than it gives?
or is that just love:
it's imperfect.
and i choose it,
him,
us,
every day.

Remembering those that are keeping it all together whilst being screamed at, humiliated, insulted, offended and hurt.

Those who feel like screaming but holding the meltdown in check.

Those who are frustrated and trapped and killing somebody seemed the best option but just do not have the right state of mind.

Those whom in the ugly face of violence, are still fighting for their right to freedom of choice.

Freedom for a right to live equally because, life has dealt them a hard hand. A right to be who they dream to be.

Those that are being mistaken for their tears as mere weakness.

Those that have lost their spirit to fight but are hoping-still.
Those who are in their lowest now but still faithful and pressing on despite everything.

Those that feel the need to cry but had to smile instead.
Those who live within their means but wish there could have been more or be more because of another brother, sister, relative in need.

Those who put every one elses need ahead of their own.

Lest we forget, you are remembered today.

the fairer *** she is
she is the cradle of humanity
she gives life and its entity
she gives meaning to beauty
graced and enthroned with integrity
she is but nobly planned to comfort
for the very life she gives she is the epitome
nobly planned to command she is "madam"
being a mother has love to the very quantum
she graces us with innocence
she graces us with her benevolence
she cares about our future with prudence
she calmly appreciates our skills with silence
to human life she is the smith
her integrity to the nation is strength
our first days of life in her  warmth
to our gone men and brothers she is seth
agent of national transformation with home setting
all our livelihood in her making
at the mother's knees education is leading
humans to what is good and a good ending
she  gives me command
she is a hero and a legend