Dear Black Man
you are worthy.
In honor of black history month — here is one of my most popular poems… Dear Black Man
Expecting you to do it all is where we went wrong
Expecting you to be abused but stay silent
Hurt, but remain quiet
Stressed, but remain strong
We want you to show us what it looks like to be a king
while actively failing at the role of being a queen
Some of us we want you to bring the food, money, love, and protection
to a broken table filled with insecurities, shame, and baggage
but parade for social media like we are the entire package
We want you to lift us up when we’re down
allow us to be ourselves
spoil us
work hard
be the strong one
But majority of the time we can’t even be your peace at the very least…
And every time you step outside that door
You’re a target
You’re the blame
You’re never the victim…
always the villain
You’re skin is your biggest threat
The entire world is against you
But we expect you to suck that shit up
Work hard and KEEP working hard. Your family needs you.
“You wanna go to therapy? Man, you weak”
Ain’t nothing to it but to do it.
Come on you got it.
You ain’t shit if you can’t provide for your family. You better break your back for this shit. Ain’t no excuses.
BUT WHO THE FUCK IS PROVIDING THE SUPPORT that is needed for him to withstand it all and not break?
Who’s lifting him up when he’s down?
Who’s keeping his mind at peace when the world around him continues to break him down to his knees?
Who’s holding him when he has no where else to turn?
Who’s making sure his mental health is in check?
Who’s checking in on him often to make sure he’s not feeling depressed?
Who
IS
PROVIDING
THE
PEACE
He needs
To
Be
The
king we seek?
Black man, you are worthy.
You are worthy of peace.
You are worthy of love.
You are worthy of protection.
You may be broken, but I still see you.
You may be silent, but I hear you.
You feel unloved, but I love you.
The world needs you, black man. You are not your problems. You’re not the person who broke your heart. You are not your childhood. You are not your broken home. You are not your abusive parents. You are not the person who touched you inappropriately. You are not the person who blamed you for something you had no control over. You’re not the person who wrongly convicted you. You are not the person who shouted racial slurs at you. You are not the things this world says about you.
You are a walking melenated epitome of strength.
You are the wind at night that sings the birds to sleep.
You are the beauty in night sky.
You are the love that keeps us warm at night.
What an honor it is to walk this earth along side you.
You are not alone, black man.
We see you.
We love you.
