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In manuscripts….in unpublished books….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?
π―✊πΏ©️Kai C. 10-21-26