Strength in Holding. Strength in Loving. Strength in Growing. Strength on Knees. Strength in Grasping. the Hands surrounding the anguished and tired Voices of families Reaching throughout echoing off deaf walls ears stuffed with cotton. the blood of our brothers our sons our daughters continues to drip drip drip no more comfort can warm them now Say Their Names. Can you see yet? the pain in their eyes the hurt and twisted reminders the empty spaces in pictures hanging sedately on walls. remembering. the summer heat no longer warming smiling faces— the Strength the Pride in roots in a beautiful Color so Deep so Warm a story. a history of Survival. Our brothers Our sons— Our daughters whose blood continues to drip drip drip Can you hear them now? Say Their Names. I dream of a tomorrow. when my heart won't clench at the thought of my son driving. walking. being stopped pride subdued to a curb head lowered in submission. strength helpless with hands shackled. a tomorrow where my daughters’ bodies are not seen as a commodity where their strength will be praised-- not diminished. their voices strong, steady-- not questioned because of their sex and color of their beautiful skin. i pray their identity will cling only to Him-- who made their bodies to jump and dance. who created their minds to constantly querying about their world. who created my son's passionate heart. who lovingly knitted his strength and size. who sees his masterful beauty where others will see a a deadly misnomer: thug lazy violent ultimately: a Life not worth fighting for. stereotypes-they hang about Necks nearly lowered to grounds soaked with a history of discrimination. drip drip drip Can you hear them now? Say Their Names. Enough.
lady b 