My 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 (criminals)
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, yet I stop
I need to think
Who am I, who am I
I am black.
I am beautiful
I am powerful
I am a king of all kings
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
Teach me, to believe in me
To be the best I can be.
Copyright © Paulette Howard | Year Posted 2010
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