I wrote this poorly structured poem last week and it has taken me that amount of time to muster up the courage to post it. I decided this message is more important than my comfort. I wrote this for the unarmed black men, women, and children who have been or will be killed by policemen. Believe it or not, you and I could be next. This is for the ones who never got to share their side of the story. This is also for the people who think that simply abiding by the law and being a good citizen will put a safety bubble around you. Unfortunately, in America, the black person has had a target on his/her back from the beginning.
I’m walking at night in my neighborhood
I’m wearing sweats because it’s cold
He’s walking in front of me
He’s walking fast, I’m walking slow
Only two more streetlights to go
Here’s the first one
He looks back
That was strange
Here’s the second one
BLAST!
What was that? Oh my goodness, what is this?!
I’m hit! I just got shot, I can’t believe it!
They’re going to say my phone looked like a gun
They’ll say my keys were a weapon
Whatever it is, they’ll say it so this white man seems innocent and I won’t get justice
But, I didn’t do ANYTHING! They won’t believe me. A corpse can’t say anything
They’ll say I charged at him or that my appearance was threatening
Anything to prove his prejudice, ignorance, and intolerance are all innocent
He’ll go off free, I’ll die right here
One streetlight away from home
They won’t care about my family’s tears
Now I’m another hashtag