Submit your work, meet writers and drop the ads. Become a member
The African American
has had their time
has had their place

They have bled out every drop of blood
They have emptied every duct purposed for tear

They have broken
every bone
constructed and combined to form a back

The African American
has long dreamt dreams
days yet to come
days gone by

The African American has to awaken to their reality
The African American has to die to their fantasy

We are:

Africans
in
America

Africans
in
The Diaspora

Africans
We
Are

©Christopher F. Brown 2015
Bernice Mendoza Sep 2015
One Man's Dream
Somewhere a dream is born
in the midst of despair

Feeding a future where
only one MAN Would care

Finding hope where
hatred bare

In a place where
Dreams lay tuck beneath
pillows flying high
Martin Luther King
Madame X Aug 2015
Superpowers,
superheroes,
Humility,
vast,
Ancient,
great,
Small,
­solving,
Twisted,
en vogue,
Gregarious,
modest,
Active,
undeniable,
unrecognizable,
Sp­iralling,
Spirited,
regal,
Challenging,
Loving,
bearing,
unleashe­d,
Audacious,
Horrible,
gentle,
True,
beautiful,
Ferocious,
super­natural,
Colossal
familiar
Beyond human
Humane.
I cherish my freedom
Hard earned though it was
Through the abolitionist railway
And those who supported the cause

An African slave,
though free upon birth
I was sold as a slave
And was now bound to the earth

Run for the caves boy
Run for the caves
Run for your freedom
Or die here a slave
Run for the caves boy
Run for the caves
Run for your freedom
Or die here a slave

Late in the dark
I heard of the routes
To the new land of freedom
I was resolute

I would run for my life
Leave my family behind
I would run for the caves
And the new life I'd find

Bound to plantation
I was just something to trade
I would run for my freedom
The decision was made

From South Carolina
I'd head to the coast
I'd run for my freedom
I'd then be a ghost

Follow the signs
That was all that I heard
They know you are coming
Just remember the word

Stray from the darkness
A dead slave you will be
With the last thought you'll have
That you'll never die free

Boats on the seacoast
Up to Salem they sail
Look for the sign
And remember the trail

Make for the caves
They'll find you where
The water is highest
They'll come get you there

From there up to Salem
And one more step to go
Stick with the railroad
The way that they know

Make way when the moon
Is down low in the sky
If you're found in the meantime
It's a fact you will die

Freedom is costly
But, it is within reach
Make for the caves
At the north end of the beach

From New England go on
to the north or the west
Both spell out freedom
The end of your quest

Don't look over your shoulder
just follow the signs
They know you are coming
stay deep in the pines

Remember all those
Who have made Freeman Cave
Follow their symbols
And don't die a slave

There are people who will
Help you free from the strife
But, for now find the caves
And son, run for your life....

Run for the caves boy
Run for the caves
Run for your freedom
Or die here a slave
Run for the caves boy
Run for the caves
Run for your freedom
Or die here a slave
J Harris Jul 2015
I have exhausted my ink, my pen, my hand.

My tongue has unlearned all languages,
all terms of endearment and soft sayings.

I am no longer flesh, no longer blood,
but have transformed myself into wind:

a wind that has traveled the oceans for you,
a wind that has discovered Africa's worth,

that has lifted me into an African skirt
where the origin of everything began.
Pheme Tlakula Jul 2015
"
I'm am tired of people asking me to smooth my name out for them

They want me to bury it in the english so they can understand.

I will not accommodate the word for mouth

I will not break my name so your lazy english can sleep its tongue on top.

Fix your lips around it.

"
Rhea Sheilah Jun 2015
FYI
Here’s to those who
Looked at me with proud eyes
Because my skin was dark

FYI
I am still dark
And I am proud that I can never change
I am a tigress in the zoo
That you will always want to tame
But always lack the power

Not only you
But my inner self too
Always discouraged me from hanging in
She didn’t believe a day would come
When she would be proud of her outer self
I am strong
Learned
African
Woman…
Damaré M Apr 2015
I know I cannot have your sympathy
I just ask you to understand

The truth is
I understand the land
But I'm tired of standing under another man
Only to be perfectly misunderstood purposely

Inside of my ferociousness
It's hurting me
Because I know there's always a start, but never an end
Have you ever fought a continuos fight that you can never win?
You can never understand
You knew beforehand so there's no emergency to you
Got Guanxi Apr 2015
It is not wise to embrace the Boabak tree,
alone.
Wisdom is found within the depths of caves dark and silent.
Wrap your arms around knowledge,
and your fingertips will never touch one another.
Nobody is born wise.
Why?
Filled with pride and ego,
no room for wisdom.
What you learn is what you die with,
war has no eyes.
proverbial poetry inspired by African wisdom
Next page