I follow a conservative news outlet

It just makes sense to do 

And when I see something positive

I agree with it.

I disagree, I move on

but see this interaction as important. 

Know thyself

Know thy enemy-

Not necessarily calling them enemy

More like we're at positions that make

us polar

and this situation attracts

violence, death, and pain

we find ourselves in positions

where protection is necessary.

About 2 years ago, or 122 yrs, or 422 years 

A stranger came to our land

He was pale, like a spirit under moonlight

but was an animal like us, an invasive species

into our continent

with a taste for blood and astounding 

intellect

Does my history have intellect? Never? Yes? No?

Was it all carted to foreign lands? Or lost in sands of time?

and now I scramble in search of pieces of myself.

A story I remember, you may as well.

A piece of you passed down through time

was there with me

and memory resonates in you.

I was six years old and ventured out

into the street to gape at the moon

From beyond the dark trees

the pale creature walked out into the fields

and looked at my moon

Then me, 

Then he smiled

I imagined foul breath from behind blackened teeth

Next, emerging from the forest 

Seated on a horse

another creature with a sickle in his hands

White grip on reigns

They didn't rush, they walked, and numbers multiplied with each step

They walked and my city burned.

I imagined I would stand frozen in fear

of the apparitions before me

To reward my silence

It would kill me first.

Its mercy is death

Its love is death

for the future is pain.

I turned my back to the danger

Aiming to raise the alarm

A loud sound fell me and 

announced my hurt to the compound

Father stormed out, saw me on the ground, and sensed my approaching demise. 

*

I wake, hidden.

"Baba?" I question, as tears flow unchecked.

Emerging to the heat of the sun

All homes destroyed and gray smoke from dying fires raise the incense of destruction 

I see a trail of dragging feet disappear into the darkness beyond the treeline

I had instructions to go a separate way

Many steps through blood and around bodies of my tribe, but no Baba.

Pushing through the weakness and pain in shoulder

The scene falls behind

I take a step forward…

I wake up in a tent.

****

Even as descendants of both coexist 

Uniting into one

Centuries of hate and pain

Will never give up without a fight.

Happy Black History Month to the clan

Dance, sing, and rejoice in your hard-won freedom

Shackles fell and will fall

Even as agendas fight the critical need to discuss the theory of race.

Anyway, I follow a conservative news outlet on IG

and often scroll through the comments

It can be an interesting place

Sometimes, I see the apparition smile

he remembers that night 

and whispers through his descendants 

as I whisper through mine.

****

Side note: our skin tones shouldn't matter and all should be judged "by the content of their character" as encouraged by Rev. MLK Jr. 

Matthew 12:34, 

for all sides.