Schooling In London

Black, I thought it was just a word I thought it represented a color At least that’s what they say, Yet when I walk through the gates of school. I am seen as insignificant I am never treated the same They say , we are equal But I know better. I live it, they smile They say their care But when I express myself I use my hands, I speak They say, I am ignorant hard to understand. By dozen, by hundreds We are being excluded Punish for being just a different color They meant to be our tutors. Yet they treat us like animals They poke us, provoke us Tell us we are stupid with a smile. They rob us They deny us They curse us They strip us of our inheritance. They breathe hate, I stop I need to think for awhile Who am I, I am black I am beautiful I am powerful I am the son and daughter of great kings and queens I am a conqueror. I am ambitious, I can achieve I will achieve, I am a leader I am not a coward nor am I ashamed. I don’t need violence I don’t need hate I don’t need knives nor do I need guns to complete me. Martin Luther King once said, Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that. Malcom X once quoted, that without education You are not going anywhere in this world If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything. So Who am I? I believe, I am born from a great generation I am no longer a slave to a lost generation I am a new generation, a free generation. A generation that will breathe success A king of wisdom A leader of great knowledge A queen that will teach peace and be an adviser to the young. A mother to all children A father to a great nation I am just a teen Trying to make sense of the world So teach me, to believe in me To be the best I can be.