Stories from a Momma (and Wife) Bear #7

This might be long
and fragmented because
my mind is on fire
when I think about
the hate that permeates

I wish that those who feel
my men don't
experience hate
because they may be light
or because they were
'raised right'

That they
Could fully see and know
that people who hate
don't care about that
they see their skin
and it's a wrap

We were watching
The Hate You Give
and knowing that they
likely knew this truth
Code-switching to survive
high school
and daily experiencing
hate.

Driving while black
with a stop that isn't
'routine'
Watch what you do in this neighborhood
but it's where they live

Working and offering a cart
wife tells her husband
We don't take a cart from 'him'
yet takes one from another.

Meeting with their advisor
Stating they desire a degree
in mechanical design
and being told
'Wow, now that's a suprise'

Or in high school
the guidance counselor says
that's probably not your field
That math is much too hard
You're probably not that smart

Crossing the street
I mean black boys
must mean trouble
'I'd cross if they were white'
that might be true
1 out of 10 times

Being called the 'n' word
We've already discussed that
Why do white people
Wanna say that word so bad?

Tossing around the words
Thug, Nigga and ghetto
Yet refusing to learn
the impact of these words
and their hate
filled hearts
of malice and distrust.

I want the world to know
that each life has value
and my son's are your sons
my husband is every man
and they aren't safe
from police brutality
because they are light
or because they were raised right
they aren't safe from
your hate because
growing up their neighbors were
or even some of their blood is
white

BLACK LIVES MATTERS
matters
because this country
and maybe even
you
want to pretend
that racism is dead
and we're all
treated the same
well I can tell you
my friend
that you are wrong
and that's making
it harder
to turn things around

So I pray every day that
my men return
without any more scars
without more battle wounds
That might also be your prayer
But is it solely because they are black?


That's what I got today.