Poem: Mama Said

Mama Said

upon landing in the new country mama said they would be opportunities

somethings like free education that the old country couldn't provide

because they stole our people

Mama said we would have opportunities but

she didn't mention that I'd be learning the white man's story

that my people are always stuck in the background

that our rich history would never be taught

Mama mentioned we would have opportunities but

she didn't tell me my melanin was a weapon in a country my ancestors built

that my skin tone equates to a gun when im only 15

that a white officer could take my life and only a hashtag will raise eyebrows

Mama told me we would have opportunities but

she didn't tell me that wearing a hoodie made me a criminal

that putting my hands in my pocket was suspicious

that making a whyte person uncomfortable is sinful

Mama said that we would have opportunities but

she didn't mention the gang violence

that our people like to target one another

that colorism is the poison of the colored man

Mama mentioned we would have opportunities but

she didn't mention that when the world was falling apart, my generation would be lifting it up

that tho we see the cruelty of the world we still have hope

hope that we can fix a broken world

Mama knew we would have hardships along with the opportunities

she knew that even when the world pushes us down we would be all right

because we are the descendants of kings and queens

because we are the children of Moses, Isa and Muhammad alayhi s-salām,

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