BLACK WOMAN

BLACK WOMAN

SHE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL MANKIND
NURTURER OF STRENGTH AND BRILLIANT MINDS
SHE IS THE CAREGIVER SENT BY GOD HIMSELF
PROVIDER OF CHARACTER AND INTERNAL WEALTH

SHE DEMANDS RESPECT BY VIRTUE OF HER HISTORY
CONQUEROR OF HOPELESSNESS AND ENDLESS MISERY
SHE DEFIES ALL ODDS AND USURPS ALL PREDICTIONS
DEVELOPER OF EBONY JEWELS
DESPITE EUROPEAN CONSTRICTIONS

SHE IS PHENOMENAL IN HER BEAUTY
ANCESTRAL REVELATION IN HER FACE
POSSESSOR OF AWESOME TALENT
AND IMPRESSIVE WITH HER GRACE
SHE IS INTELLIGENCE PERSONIFIED
A WONDER TO BEHOLD
BEARER OF KINGS AND QUEENS
HER GREATNESS WAS FORETOLD

SHE IS SEXY, SENSUAL, AND SUPREMELY DIVINE
SHE GLIDES WHEN SHE WALKS
TURNING HEADS AND BENDING SPINES
CLOUDS CLEAR WHEN SHE SMILES
RAIN CEASES WHEN SHE LAUGHS
SHE’S WITTY, SHE’S CHARMING,
SHE’S NEVER CRUDE OR CRASS

SHE’S MULTICOLORED AND ADMIRED FOR HER VARIETY OF HUES
HER POLITICAL SAVVY AND SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
REFLECTS THE MOST PERTINENT VIEWS
BUT WHO COULD BE THIS SPECIAL AND GIFTED, YOU MIGHT SAY
SHE’S THE PAST, SHE’S THE FUTURE, SHE‘S THE BLACK WOMAN OF TODAY

H. JEAN WRIGHT II 3373
9/14/95
Copyright 1996

BLACK MAN

ONCE PROUD KING AND PRINCE BROUGHT LOW
BY HORRENDOUS SCAVENGERS
HIS WELCOMING SPIRIT AND HONOR BETRAYED
HE WAS A DEATH SHIP PASSENGER

BROUGHT TO A LAND WHERE HE BECAME
THAT CENTURY’S CURRENCY
HIS FAMILY SPLIT AND DIGNITY STRIPPED
LEFT HIM AS PROPERTY

HIS PHYSICAL STRENGTH IS LEGENDARY
THE TALK OF FAIRY TALES
BUT SOME FORGET, OR HATE TO ADMIT
HIS MIND TRANSCENDS ALL SCALES

HIS BACK AND SHOULDERS BECAME THE SCAFFOLD
THAT BUILT “MY COUNTRY ‘TIS OF THEE”
YET HE’S STILL DESPISED AND RIDICULED
AND JUST PAST A HUNDRED YEARS BEEN FREE

AS FREEDOM RANG! HE COULD BARELY HEAR
ABOVE THE SONIC BOOM OF JIM CROW
THE WHITES ONLY SIGNS, BY THEIR DESIGN
IMPEDED HIS WILL TO GROW

AS CIVIL RIGHTS TOOK UP THE FIGHT
FOR FREEDOM TO EDUCATE
A NEW DILEMMA REVEALED ITSELF--
BE REAL OR AS-SIM-I-LATE

NO MATTER HOW HIS CHOICE WAS MADE
THIS MAN IS TORTURED STILL
THE MEDIA CRIES AND PRINTS MORE LIES
HIS CHARACTER TO KILL

SMALL WONDER THIS MAN SEES HIMSELF
AN ANIMAL AT TIMES
THREE-FIFTHS A MAN WILL SEEK REVENGE
WITH SELF INFLICTED CRIMES

WHY TURN HATRED ON ONESELF?
IS A LOGICAL QUESTION ASKED,
WHEN HISTORY FORCES DE’JA’VU,
ONE’S DOOMED TO REPEAT THE PAST

‘TIS NOT EXCUSE, BUT SIMPLE FACT
THIS MAN IS APT TO SAY
“THOUGH MY COURAGE GOES UNRECOGNIZED
I’M STILL A MAN TODAY!!!!!!!!”