African Ammunition As I reflect on the history of our abolition I ponder the racial juxtaposition Of you thinking my Blackness is a weapon and me seeing it as ammunition Not to say it’s dangerous or I’m violent, don’t believe those superstitions I’m just saying it fuels me and it serves as my ignition We’ve come too far to be ashamed of our blackness after all your opposition See I’ve grown up in a world that only loves chocolate when it’s coming in a wrapper or they come and see a rapper But when you see our ebony skin in the street you always think that we a strapper Best believe I see when you pull ya purse close and strap her It’s clear there’s been a miseducation on this COVID situation This might be the first time you’ve experienced a mass isolation But my African brothers and sisters have been social distancing for generations Or did you forget how segregation required the separation of blacks and whites where six feet apart was never a negotiation But a man was beat to death for such fraternization And you think listening to Tupac and seeing Get Out pays your reparations Somewhere along the line you convinced yourself we appreciate your culture appropriation That we can’t wait for the gentrification | Taj Kokayi 36 Magazine Spring 2021 FINAL.indd 36
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