In this image,
you cannot see,
that I am
damaged, discriminated, stereotyped, racially profiled,
shot at, convicted, and thrown behind bars;
but most of all, I am a victim.
But who can we blame for the burdens I have told?
I am a man of color,
my mother’s son,
now behold.
So it is through this image,
and in my world, a story unfolds.
As I stare voiceless, my lips sealed closed
at the injustices that plague me, consume me
to eventually poison me, and my people.
So stare into my eyes, and tell me what you see?
am I a human being,
or just some violent black offspring?
Who is up to no good,
many police officers would say.
Because,
I am a drug dealer,
woman beater,
rapist
a bastard child
or some dangerous
gang member
who can’t speak proper
and initiates fights.
And it is I,
who strikes fear in
white people’s hearts, because
I’m just another felon.
So I am an uneducated,
unemployed,
black hoodlum,
a by-product from
living my entire life
on the streets.
But most of all, I am
bagged and tagged,
to be buried six-feet deep.
~
About the Author:
Tyree Jackson is a poet and activist. He resides in Bronx, NY.
Spread the poetry revolution by clicking the image to become a fan on Facebook.
~
Ayvaunn Penn is an award-winning writer and the author of Ephemeral Moments, a book of poetry and short stories from the Christian perspective, available on Amazon.com in the fall of 2013. She is also the founder of Your Black Poets. To receive Ayvaunn’s daily Bible devotionals by email, click here. Click to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.