Cross out the word black

 Cross out the word black 

Imagine 

If someone has crossed out the word black 

In your poems 

For the sake of everyone in the room 

For the sake of readers who adore your poetic heart…

I haven’t had someone did that before 

But I had a person who told me to change my words around 

Or change it up 

For the people to be at ease….

Honestly 

I do get offended….

Cos it’s not my original piece 

Secondly 

You can’t tell me what to say 

Regardless of emotions….

I don’t wanna write 

Colorblind racism poetry….

It’s not my thing….

Another thing 

I get a feeling of you thinkin

That my people 

People who look like me 

Ain’t human…

Therefore,

I’m not human to your eyes, either…

Oh you said 

I’m one of the good ones…

What the fuck do you mean?

Me not tellin the truth?

Me sugarcoatin the bull shit?

Ha, I’m offendin everybody 

Cos the world needs to wake all the way up….

That’s why some black poets 

Has to cross out the word black 

Cos for the sake of their audience….

They’re scared of the backlash…

They’re scared to be called racist…

They wanna please everyone 

Especially white folks….

I hate to admit 

This 

But too many still see 

The value of whiteness 

Even when they write 

Pro black….

I’m sure 

Racist editors and publishers 

Has crossed out the word black 

In manuscripts….in unpublished books….

If I was a coon 

And wrote the word black 

And not knowin the system 

Then in my mind 

I’d be more understandin

I’d be like ok I don’t wanna be racist…

Since I’m aware of everythin

That’s goin on,

I’d be upset 

I’d be pissed 

Cos nobody has the right 

To cross out the word black…

I meant to say that in my poems 

I’m black….

I’m melaninated…

I don’t give a damn 

How uncomfortable 

My readers are….

Sometimes I need to say 

Black firmly sternly 

Cruelly angrily 

Cos y’all never get the picture 

Y’all will never get with the 

Program…

I will not keep the word black 

To my damn self 

Not even in the house…

Ok?

💯✊🏿©️Kai C. 10-21-26