Shuntae King Poet Narrative

Struggles

STRUGGLES

WE AS A RACE HAVE HAD OUR STURGGLES AND TESTS
WE’VE COME OUT VICTORIOUS BUT NOT BECAUSE WE ARE THE BEST
IT IS THE LORD WHO SAW US THROUGH THE HARD TIMES
IT IS HE WHO GAVE US CONTROL OF OUR DESTINY IN DUE TIME.

OUR ANCESTORS WERE SOLD OUT BY MEMBERS OF THEIR RACE
SOUNDS FAMILIAR? EVERYDAY THIS TYPE OF THING TAKES PLACE
WE STRUGGLE ENOUGH TO GET AHEAD IN THE WORLD
BUT UNFORTUANTELY, WE HAVE OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICANS 
BLOCKING OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR BOYS AND OUR GIRLS
SOME OF US TEND TO BLOCK OTHERS OF US FORM REACHING THEIR POTENTIAL
BUT MANY OF US HAVE GOD ON OUR SIDE AND OUR SUCCESS IS EXPONENTIAL

OUR FOREFATHERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH SLAVERY, BEING BEATEN AND POORLY CLOTHED, 
HOUSED, AND FED.
SLAVE WOMEN WERE RAPED AND FAMILIES WERE TORN APART
BUT IN THE SOUTH, THERE WAS NOT A LOT SAID 
IN 1863 SLAVERY WAS LEGALLY ABOLISHED, BUT THIS ACT WAS NEVER REALLY PUT TO 
BED

SOME OF US, OUR PARENTS, AND GRANDPARENTS
FELL VICTIM TO THE LAW OF JIM CROW
WHEN THEY NEED HELP FORM EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
THEY HAD NOWHERE THEY COULD GO.

RACISM STILL EXIST AGAINST US, OTHERS OF COLOR, AND AGAINST OUR IVORY SISTERS 
AND BROTHERS
RACISM EXISTS WITHIN THE RACE, WHEN SOME OF US THINK WE ARE SUPERIOR TO 
OTHERS
THE LORD HAS BROUGHT THIS RACE THROUGH A LOT
UNLIKE OTHER RACES, WE NEVER SUBJECTED TO GENOCIDE
MANY OF US HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR FREEDOMS AND BECOME SUCCESSFUL
WHILE OTHERS HAVE FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE

IT IS WRONG FOR US TO BLAME WHITES OR ANYONE FOR THE SUFFERING OUR RACE WENT 
THROUGH
WE SHOULD JUST BE THANKFUL THAT NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE TO GET TO
GOD ALMIGHTY, WE CAN PRAY TO HIM FOR ANYTHING AND ANYONE
AND HE CAN SAVE ANYONE REGARDLESS OF WHAT A PERSON HAS DONE.

WE SHOULD PRAY FOR THE WORLD AS WELL AS OUR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY
BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE NEED HELP FROM AN OUTSIDE ENTITY.

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David William Breidenthal August 25, 2012 at 10:51 PM Very true write here. I loved the messages of this poem: forgive the past and move on. I really liked how you mentioned the history about racism too. Yes true - being grateful to God is a great thing to do! Thanks so much for posting and I personally needed this...so do the other readers! :D

Chiquitachiamaka Baity August 4, 2011 at 10:24 AM Profound poetry Shuntae, Thanks so much for sharing your gift.

Joanna Smith February 9, 2010 at 12:22 PM this poem spoke to me in alot of ways, of course the racism, which not only the african americans face in this country but also the hispanic and the irish, so they should get thier own month too........ but i thought it registered with me also in a spread the love sort of way,the world is corrupt and we as a species should band together not breed hate. thats what it said to me and i am happy to be your first comment. =)

Shuntae King February 8, 2010 at 5:23 AM This is a poem I wrote especialy for Black History month. It gives us a snap shot of what African-Americans went through in earlier centuries and reminds of the sad reality that racism, including racism within the race, exists today. It also reminds to be grateful to God and not made at Caucassians or anyone else.