Penguin
We were birds like everyone else
But our wings were clipped as soon as we emerged So like penguins we couldn’t fly
But we learned to adapt to our limited version of life Trying not to drown amongst the odds
Ducking and diving
Trying to avoid the sharks
But when we come back and fly out of the ocean It’s as if we are getting a chance
An opportunity
to silence the commotion
We break through the water
Through the ice
Defying gravity as we try to devise
A way to fly
Higher
But no matter how much we try
It seems that we are always back to this
Cold Ice
To the ground
To The great Divide
That continuously conquers our efforts to survive
Our clipped wings were born from things in history
Because while Black people had a grand series of beginnings Their strong heritage and dazzling African kingdoms
Their progress was interrupted
faltered by the choosing and the Slaughtering done by the white men and The evil triangle trade
Our clipped wings make Things like appearance
A constant issue
Black teens Trying to be less intimidating, easy to approach We live in fear because
when someone looks at you
You never truly know
Our wings continued to be clipped because many people decide to remain indifferent
They choose to sit comfortably in their own ignorance consistently persisting us to “get over it”
Saying there will be another election
And even though we try to slam shut all the openings for them to make their remarks
It’s seems that no protection is ever enough
To shield us
From the hate
Our wings continued to be clipped because
There are people who post and don’t speak
Whose voices peak when society or pop culture or social media agrees And there are those
Who believe we repeat
the same record
About how oppressed we are But it’s the truth
As the amount of black deaths soars How can my people and I ignore
As our lives continue to be disregarded I’m done with being silent
Because when I see kids my age dying It’s hard to be satisfied with SURVIVING But it’s back to normal
Back to this
You post a black square and that’s it
Then there are those who ask
But what have you been through
What type of oppression have you experienced
They expect a large and traumatizing personal story so they can see my plead for justice for my people as worthy
But to those people I say Even though you expect this
Mornful and sorrowful response
Black people have still managed to not only survive amongst the struggle But have thrived as they jumped over the hurdles
We have thrived and gone and faced the odds
bravely
Even though we could be considered to be
penguins
Flightless birds
We have continued to thrive amongst our hurt
Carrying the struggles of our people on our back
We continue to achieve and fight for each other
We did this in places where we were looked down upon for being Black
The African kingdoms, the musical creatio
The technological advancements
And the artistic sensations
The speeches that moved millions of people
And the words or sentiments that shook whole nations
The “I have a dream”
The “let us lead with love”
Created by our people
Even as we struggled and struggle
Our resolve prevailed and continues to do so
And we have conquered the ice
But even so
While we are not victims
We need assistance
To Pacifica, to the staff and to the students
All I ask of you
Is to start talking more
Is to start caring more
About the people that are dying everyday in front of you
Because It’s not about that one cop or that one case It’s about how we treat people in the United States It’s a matter concerning the whole human race
We must change
Because while I compare black people to flightless penguins I hope you know that that means we all still have more to do Sure we have conquered the ice
But that does not mean we do not try to fly just like you
We must pay more attention we must listen, and we must unite Because only when we are Together are we truly strong Because Together we are one