Damn

I am an Afro-Can
Or
Black African Heritage woman
Who has yet
To remove the shackles of
American citizenship
How can I be free
If you wonÕt let me
Choose my nationality
We were in Africa
Almost naked
Almost perfect
Almost one
When the other one
Came along
And changed our
Citizenship
To that of a people
They had
Small poxed, raped and slandered
Damn near into oblivion
And now they get
Sovereignty
And I get
Second class citizenship
Came all the way from
Being colored
To being people of color
Damn
An urban entity
In a suburban reality
Damn
No acres
No mule
No apology
No reward
Not even a discount
DonÕt you usually get a discount
On the shit you sell
From the people you
Work for
I canÕt even get rich
If I try to uplift
Consciousness
Or bring my people up
Right be-near me
To get there with me
I gotta push down
To get up
I canÕt even bring myself along
Got to
Lose myself along the way
But I can stay down all day
Damn
People
Get free
Claim sovereignty
How can I claim a country
That donÕt claim me

by Empress Nzingha

Contents
Home