When Racism Affecting Black Girls is Ignored

“I was overwhelmed by the thought of having to be a black girl for the rest of my life.” –Khadijah Costley White, The Washington Post

Ignoring more than obvious hands

slicing a people in halves, more
like eminent domain cutting

chopping up a neighborhood
to build highways and forget,

more like taking a shot glass
where the lip drops on a canvas

then cutting away what rests
beyond the glass, and insisting

that is the entire picture.
It erases all the known small faces

then denies where sons began.
This ugly says be strong and silent,

only to slap the deserving and reason
how she can handle anything.

This smothering quietly descends
keeps smiling and says,

Wait. Behave. Your turn is coming soon.