Reborn

She said,

"Not that I’m hatin on you

but you’re thinkin my job is to

placate you and I’m thinkin

my job is to vacate you.

I’ve seen the sit-ins and the

back of the busses, seen the front

of the busses, too, and the view ain’t

no better up there.

I’ve read Marcus and Malcolmn and

Langston and Lorraine and Ralph and

Martin and James and Maya and Toni and

came to the conclusion that all them

words just gimme a damn headache.

I now know why so many white folk got such

a thrill outta watchin’ "Roots", and I’ve

made love to Kunte Kinte a million times and

been his bride at least as many times.

I’ve cried for Dorothy and Josephine and

Billie and Butterfly McQueen and I’ve paid

my debt to jungle fever and given birth to

children who will pass.

I’ve witnessed the Lord first, second and

third hand and seen his miracles whip us into

a frenzy, but don’t have a clue why He ain’t

given us our peace of heart yet.

Forgive me, Malcolm, forgive me, Martin,

but I’m still alone, still fighting,

still shackled, still in love, but still confused.

My color, my content, my character has survived,

but at what point will I know when I’ve truly arrived?

Affirmative action keeps me educated, but so what,

I’m the only Person of Color in the Humanities Department.

My brothers, my sisters all assume I’m a token,

simply because I’m so well-spoken.

I’m alive, I will survive, and I sure enuf ain’t no midwife.

With or without you, I will never be all about you, and

as long as your tongue keeps me from climbin your rungs,

I will be content to be your worst malcontent ‘cuz my intent

is to put a dent in your pent-up guilt and watch your ego wilt.

Share that."