by Destiny Johnson

 

Once again,

Holding a sign to show my identity becoming the norm in my cultures community

Once again,

Given the label “black” and “ghetto” because “black and beautiful” overthrows the rememberance of our past.

Once again,

Being told to “stop acting like something your not” just because ignorance was not in my vocabulary

Once again,

Given a name generalizing us all suffocating our individuality

Once again,

“You people” becoming the identity of my colored people like a tagged wall we cannot wash away this label

Once again,

Having to be monitored while walking down a store aisle it’s not easy being black

Once again,

Trying hard not to blame everyone in our culture that turns their back on us because sometimes it’s easier to stay quiet than to break our boundaries let alone our voice box screaming the words they block from their ears

Once again,

Remembering I was not alive when my ancestors were mistreated trying not to take the class discussions to heart

Once again,

Being singled out in a conversation about racism waited on to argue about what the “white man “ did

Once again,

Holding my tongue for the ones who still hold hatred towards me

But Never again,

Will I stand down for what I believe in to keep the peace

Never again,

Will I hold the label you give to me unless beauty is the message

Never again,

Will I choose peace over my identity

Never again,

Will I identify as what you tell me too

But once again,

I’m just another statistic built to be categorized as what you see me to be holding on to what was left of me

Once again,

I have built my own legacy to stray away from what we were told we were,

growing to become what they are afraid of.

Black, beautiful, and powerful once again.