Supported by Dr Raselle Miller, Clinical Psychologist. GSTT.
“I wrote this poem after the murder of George Floyd. I was really frustrated and sad, and I couldn’t get it out in my usual way. So I thought I’d try writing a poem about it, about how scared I am for my brother, about the privilege that I don’t and will never have. Just about being black in today’s society. I still don’t have a title for it because I wrote it for me and to this day I can’t ‘summarise’ my feelings in a title”.
“You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say or do at this point will not really matter cause’
Your skin colour has already confessed to the crime.”
— Kale Nelson, poem – ‘War on Black Boys’.
I woke up this morning and to you it means nothing
But I woke up this morning and I thanked god for breathing
I figured I’d explain what all of this means
The history, the hashtags but not those black screens
I hate it when you ask me if I’m okay
I hate it when you tell me that I’m so brave
I’m just hoping that I will never see the day
Where I stand next to my mum and visit my brother’s grave
So go ahead and say it
Promise, I won’t get mad
When you’ve heard it all before
It stops making you sad
Go ahead and say it
I know what you’re thinking
Because to you, this isn’t skin
It’s a crime or a sin
My hands are up officer I’m not saying anything
I’m just wondering if I told my dad I loved him
Before leaving
“You’re being dramatic, some people have it harder”
You’re right, you’re right I forgot about my ancestors
It’s 2020 and I’m sick and tired
Don’t you think I tried bleach to get the colour required?
Oh how I wish I was white, ignorant and privileged
I’d carry a gun and no one would feel threatened
Oh how I wish I was blond with big blue eyes
You’d say “she’s so cute, she wouldn’t even hurt flies”
Yeah we moved past slavery and we moved past segregation
Yet I can’t help myself but worry for the next generation
I need you to see the horror I need you to see the terror
Cause there’s nothing more stupid than saying “I don’t see colour”
Yeah I get it you told me
I should go back to my country
Because to you, I don’t matter
I’m just another one of those ni**ers.