They Told Me Not To Write

They robbed our world when they stole our husbands,

But then TOLD US NOT TO CRY.

They starved our bodies and fed us disease,

But then TOLD US NOT TO DIE.

They whipped our brothers and killed our fathers,

But then TOLD US NOT TO SCREAM.

They placed us in a dark room they call the hole, for 365 days,

But then TOLD US NOT TO DREAM.

They made us insecure, convinced us black was ugly,

then TOLD US NOT TO TEASE.

They put their foot on our necks and watched our eyes roll to the back of our heads, ignoring all cries, As they TOLD US NOT TO BREATHE.

They forced their way inside of us,

but then TOLD US NOT TO BLEED.

They wanted us to forget all of what they had done and all of who we are, 

so they TOLD US NOT TO READ.

They made us recite “I Have A Dream” by Martin Luther King, killed Malcolm X, and then TOLD US NOT TO FIGHT.

They want the old of us to forget and the young of us not to relate so,

      THEY TOLD ME NOT TO WRITE™

But we did feel pain and our hearts were broken, so yes,

WE DID CRY.

Our people from then until now have been victims of oppression so we won’t forget, because yes,

WE DID DIE.

So, we will scream when we see our brothers’ blood stains on a wall, but no we won’t forget to

DREAM, this time.

Call us prejudiced or racist, rebels if you want, but no we won’t forget to

BREATHE, this time.

We will kick, we will scream, and we will scratch, it won’t be us, who

BLEEDS, this time.

We will learn who we are, and where we came from and understand our worth because no, We won’t forget to

READ, this time.

So, make an oath with me today, to stain our stories with black ink, and hold them to the light.

It’s time now, to change the endings to a narrative written for us, and this time no, we won’t

forget…,

     TO WRITE!