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Hidden histories: herero and Nama

The holocaust.
A historical event known worldwide 
Taught in every history class
The point being is its known
Why is that important?
It overshadows
It takes the spotlight
It is also white history 
Because even though it was mainly the persecution of Jews
At the end of the day they are still white

But what about another holocaust 
Another genocide of people
Those who were discriminated against
And were targeted by Germany
In this case they were black
This was the Germans first attack

The wipe out of generations
Innocent children and the elderly
Innocent black people exterminated
All because of a rebellion
Of a people defending their nation 
Herero and Nama
The retaliation from the Germans 
Catastrophic 
It changes the lives of many
The murders and separations of families 
Around 100,000 hereros
And 25,000 Nama 
Brutally murdered in a genocide 
Silenced by the colour of the victims skin

It didn't end there 
The Germans had won 
And Hereros and Nama were defeated
Instead of the Germans leaving 
They took souvenirs
Those who survived 
Were imprisoned 
Starved, dehydrated and beaten 
If the genocide hadn't killed them
Then the concentration camps certainly did

The jews were given historical grace
And the Southern Western Africans were erased
And you wonder why we make 'everything about race'
Is because you wouldn't care if the history Of my people was slapped in your face  

Copyright © Layla Riley-Hill

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