reclaim your voice.
be a white woman give up my voice love my man and family harder and longer than any other choice get on my knees recite my prayers pledge to give up my own ambition especially if he dares love my father love my mother where else did the savings come from? couldn’t be my job…
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We say we don’t know what to say around them / they / us / he / his / she / her / hers / they / them none of our business and when a black father offered love and support we suddenly knew our tongues awoke from the deepest slumber with ignorance black people…
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I once was mistaken for beautiful I decided not to use my voice and the public was forced to read my face instead. I once lost hearing and my brother made the most fire beat with his drums. I once lost my writing pen so I screamed I cried I damn near lost…
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Every night I wonder why I am up and then the page scratches the pen or is it the pen scratches the paper It is the only lullaby I know the only way I rest How would you like to know that most stories are written by these ghosts never a light being…
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When I was a little girl I used to ask, “Dad, what does ‘can I get a witness’ mean?” Growing up in the church and listening to gospel music constantly. You hear it all the time. I couldn’t quite grasp the concept. So I asked again and my dad would say, “Kristin… it means…
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If my heart could write forever, What would it say? Would it just make musings of the pretty shapes on pretty paper to marvel at the sounds your mouth makes? Would it be long-winded Never-ending and ever twining Or would I be overcome with joy My pen a permanent smile on my lips The words…
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As a woman, people hate when I don’t smile As a black woman, people hate when I smirk A knowing smile Should never belong to me Dumbstruck and following are looks that can get me by. With praise And no regard They comment on the first two in triumph Because they think I don’t know…
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