Didn't think we'll be back here again...

In light of the civil unrest that's plagued our world recently, hot on the heels of the pandemic, I felt it was appropriate to revisit the poem I wrote in Oct 2019 in celebration of Black History month. I personally fail to understand how any human being can treat another in such an inhumane way and be able to justify it. Are we not all flesh and blood? Do we not breathe the same air? Do we not all share the same earth? Are we not all born and will we not all die? All I can think of, is the sheer fact, that those engaing in such atrocious behaviour, are simply ignorant. And it is this ignorance, that leads them to make such hurtful decisions such as the one we've seen in the recent case of George Floyd. May his soul rest in peace and may his untimely death bring the much needed change we all need to see.

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What does being Black mean to me?
By Kemi West

You asked, ‘What being black means to me?’
I respond, with a question, so you can understand me;
Do I have red BLOOD running through my veins?
Do I LIVE on this earth like every human being?
Do I ASPIRE to achieve the dreams I have within?
Do I CHALLENGE the status quo and stand up for what is right?
Do I retrain my mind to gain KNOWLEDGE so I can grow?
I know my truth and I know I do.

You ask what being black means to me?
But I ask why a label you created applies to me?
I am first and foremost a human being;
A valuable contributor to the human race;
My past, my present are my heritage and my teacher;
They enhance my humanity and give me vision without borders;

Being Human is to experience the good and ugly side of life;
Whatever our race, there’s a common thread running through our veins;
We breathe the same air;
We live and we die;
We can’t make a life neither can we prevent death;

When you ask the question,
What being black means to me?
I can honestly say, being black means you’re the same as me.

B.L.A.C.K is HuMANity

© 2019 by Kemi West