Down beneath
I can’t breathe
Centuries on, I remain at reef
Deep is my grief
Forget that book!
I’m black and out
Coloured, I surely standout
And truly don’t count
Pushed down to out
With nowhere to look
Forget that book!
That book is just grammar
Being black, ain’t no drama
I’m guilty until proven innocent
But he’s innocent until proven guilty
Forget that book!
That book
Is the oppressor’s hook
My liberty he took
Justice for me, a fluke
And yet he calls that book, a law to watch our back.
Damn! What crime is it to be black?
Forget that book!
We’ve screamed and screamed and yet we stuck!
True freedom and justice we still lack
What they offer always whack
No freedom in the land of the free
Potus blazing abuse
Rights making no use
No equality in the house of justice
What at all is this?
Forget that book!
My kids grow in fear
I can no more bear
The rules for them vary
And that makes me wary
Pulled over, my kids better pray
They are not their prey
Pulled over
Their kids know it’s just a chat over
Human are mine and same are his
But justice somewhat
remains amiss
Tell me, where is the book?
I just unearthed
That jogging is their preserve
I jog, I’m shot
Unarmed, I’m shot
Asleep, I’m shot
Toy gun I’m shot
Cigarettes, I’m choked
And when choked
The bloody bloke
Chokes as though for the slaughter I am a goat
With friends to boast
There is no book.
Brutalised in slavery
Oppressed in freedom
What is my wrong?
My colour or my person?
Tell me, who is the book?
We are honoured to be coloured
As the sun rises and sets
So shall my oppression someday set.
Till then
When we know not when
We still can’t breathe
Harriet Tubman, Marcus Garvey
Martin Luther, Kwame Nkrumah,
Nelson Mandela, we still can’t breathe
We must rise from beneath
And truly breathe
That day shall come
That day, we shall overcome!
But when?
Dedicated to my black brothers and sisters who have fallen to white supremacy and police brutality.
-
Authored by: Senyo Hosi, 30th May 2020
Latest Stories
-
Situate power sector challenges within the context of the 4th Republic – Jantuah
3 mins -
Empowering Youth through IT Education: IT For Youth Ghana College leads the way
9 mins -
Trump criminal case: Full 12-person jury seated in Manhattan
23 mins -
Israel Gaza: US again warns against Rafah offensive
26 mins -
Man arrested in Poland over alleged Russia plot to kill Zelensky
30 mins -
Over 100 arrested as US college Gaza protest cleared
33 mins -
Justmoh Construction begins work on dualization of Takoradi-Agona Nkwanta road
44 mins -
MGL visits Dumor family following passing of Mawuena Trebarh
56 mins -
In Pursuit of Peace and Unity: Interfaith Leaders Promote Dialogue – Chief Doli-Wura to Africa Union
1 hour -
TEWU raises concern over quality of food served in SHS
2 hours -
Ghanaian students gear up for Robotics World Championship
3 hours -
Political interference makes public sector managers appear incompetent – Dr Manteaw
3 hours -
Police arrest truck driver alleged to have caused train crash
3 hours -
CAF Confederation Cup: Dreams FC depart to Cairo ahead of semis first leg against Zamalek
3 hours -
Liverpool exit Europa League despite 1-0 win over Atalanta
3 hours