Black Boy Blues

In this land of snow and maple,

A black boy walks with his thoughts,

Navigating through a system

That sees him as an afterthought.

He dreams of a future bright and clear,

Of soaring high above the fray,

But the weight of racism and fear

Threatens to drag him down each day.

For while the country boasts of peace,

And welcomes refugees with open arms,

The stories told of black folk cease

At the margins of society’s norms.

A system built to uphold white dreams,

That leaves black lives in disarray,

Is it any wonder that it seems

Like he's fighting against the tide each day?

But still he walks with head held high,

A determination in his stride,

For he knows that he must try

To carve out his path with pride.

And though the weight of history,

May strive to pull him down,

He'll keep climbing towards victory,

A conqueror of every crown.

For though James Baldwin may be gone,

His words remain a guide,

And through the darkness, we'll keep on

Until our freedom’s won worldwide.