I too am an American

I too am an American


Soil as deep as the color of my skin


These lands that bore the tears of my kin


They weep along in remembrance

I too am an American


Do I not bear the blood of those who also fought for our independence?
Bearing the stripes of this land of liberty on their backs
. Wounds from an unforgettable past. 
Risking it all for acceptance.

I too am an American


Bellies bursting with violation
. Newborns screaming out, abominations.
Infants born of mothers garments torn and master’s hands sliding up their thighs. 
They cursed the skies as they parted with their innocence
. No one to console their cries.

I too am an American


Fathers trembling. 
Brothers have gone missing. 
In town there’s a l*nching.
Families consumed by anguish.

I too am an American

These stripes and these stars - they tell stories that keep children up at night
.

War, murder, r*pe, genocide

I too am an American


This pain embedded deeply in my DNA
. A part of me
. Passed down from past generations
. Losing all patience, fed up with efforts of assimilation. 
I cannot wipe away the shade I was born in
. So I’m left mourning
. An outcast of a nation that refuses to acknowledge my worth as a human
. Still waiting on the future my ancestors died for.

I too am an American


Flesh perked up from the ground. 
Flag waving proud
, as we are stripped of our pride
. Told to hide who we are. 
Erase our heritage
. Become more “American”.

They say but that won’t wipe the pain away or clear our DNA of the trauma that was inflicted. 
Century after century.

Yes this land is a part of me as I am of it. 
Regardless of my kinky hair and dark brown skin. 
I too am an American. 
Pain, pride, suffering all mixed in.

I too am an American


I too am an American


I too am an American