The Truth Is

by Jace Valentine

I’m starting to feel like black life is the fertilizer of this country...of the world. 

Blacks... so strong we’re deemed a threat but always been oppressed.

This history that we are taught, twisted, manipulated and whitewashed.

Black history taught- Slavery, civil rights, peaceful protest, 

Emphasis on peace.

“Peace is the best way” every history teacher plugged into our minds.

Martin Luther King once said I have a dream…

So did every black man, woman and child that died by the hands of an officer. 

So did every black man, woman and child that died by the hands of an oppressor. 

Scared to teach us how to organize and rebel

Fear of educated black men and women.

So they teach us peace instead.

Force peace down my throat to tame the fire encased in my heart and soul

“Peaceful Protest saved lives”, “Peaceful Civil Rights Protesters”, “They did it the right way”

The truth is it doesn't matter whether I’m peaceful or NOT simply because 

I’m BLACK

I might lose my life at the hands of an officer that should protect me

I might lose my life at the hands of a white supremacist 

Whips,chains, and nooses

Batons,handcuffs, and bullets 

We’re Tired.

Save it, don't ask me what MLK would do, we would know if you didn’t kill him. 

Built this country on our backs, repayment is racism, fear, pain,and violence.

We’re Tired.

Our repayment for building your schools, helping raise generations, building the economy

Segregating us, enforcing more police, drug and race war, lack of resources, lack of attention

We’re Tired. 

Tired of an Anti-Black World that screams “I’m not racist, I have black friends”

But sees injustice and closes its eyes.