Untitled by Kay Rich
My great-great-grandparents
And my great-grandparents
And my grandparents
Carried on the slave traditions of
Back breaking work out in the sun scorched fields
So that my parents
And my sister and I
And our unborn children
Can perform American positions of
Mind muddling work in air conditioned comfortable offices
I’ve never had calloused hands from picking cotton
Just writer’s cramp from writing an essay exam
I’ve never had hunger pains from not having enough to eat
Just the occasional tummy ache from obscure cafeteria food
I’ve never had to work hard at practicing passive resistance
Just small repercussions from a smart mouth and short temper
I’ve never been hosed down for marching for the right to vote
Just my first vote casted towards the first black president
I’m in the Promise Land
Without had having to run around the wilderness
I see the strong beginning of victory
But I didn’t see the desperate struggle
I’m reaping the fruit
Of trees of life I didn’t plant
No, I am the fruit
Of all those who sprung root and refused to let go
My ancestors fought
So I could have the right
To fight
My middle class battles
Like, why is it always required to learn…
Western History
Western Art History
Western Medicine
But the rest is optional
Why is it always American Literature
And then African American Literature
Why is it always American History
And then African American History
I mean, I thought people were only divided geographically?
Yet, down in the books, we are still separated, still divided
Recorded as if two different nations
Past African American and Caucasian American abolitionists and activists struggled for everybody
For if they were to let America continue in its corruptness
That would have been an injustice for all
American History is our History
African American History is our History
History needs to be known correctly
So wrongdoings won’t be repeated by anybody
Black Emphasis Month is for the whole community
©Kay Rich
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