I, Too, Am A Witness

no,

we are not their “Negro”

or their “Nigger”

or their “Black” or their “Minority”

or their “Person of Color”

or whatever they think to call us next—

always something other than

who we have always been

or who we might be

or who might become.

in this ever-changing world

truth is still whitewashed

while victims

are expected to forget what we know

to be true

in our bones.

we live with anger.

sleep with it.

wake up with it.

carry it around.

pass it up

from one generation to the next

making a way out of no way.

in this world

being conscious and black

(no matter the shade)

is too black

and to love being black

is considered

dangerous.

for James Baldwin

(1924-1987)

©2022