Being Black Right Now
A poem by Vernon T. Scott
Being Black right now:
Is being in high states of anxiety during the Christmas season and hoping and praying we will all come together and sing fah-who-doe-ray but realistically knowing that shit won’t happen.
Being Black right now:
Is waking up every fucking day with universes of rage weighing on you while persevering through life; doing your best to live happy and uninterrupted but often reminded that your very existence is called radical.
Being Black right now:
Is seeing how the courts were able to see all of these ridiculous election fraud cases but do not have the time {let me gather myself} the time to see cases about false imprisonments outside of the one “charitable” PR release around the holidays to create a false sense of security and joy.
Being Black right now:
Is realizing how the external hate received over the years created a self-hatred so strong it forged a figure only to be known as imposter which resulted in self-isolation; meanwhile, the cure to this syndrome was having a safe space that FINALLY allowed you to have healthy engagements with your community; however, there’s a fiery passion of hurt which continues to exist from knowing this community was strategically targeted and forced into hating itself.
Being Black right now:
Is knowing or being that kid who sold candy to all the other kids to either learn financial literacy from their parent or learn the art of hustle to survive {let’s call them Tyrone} Yet, Tyrone was placed in detention, suspended, or expelled and taken from their education; meanwhile, all the other kids are encouraged to go door to door to ask for “charitable” donations for an overpriced candy bar which paid for an overpriced gadget that is cheaper than the work put in {sigh} just to be compared to the other kids and/or be unseen.
Being Black right now:
Is reading countless articles about the Black experience written by people gaining notoriety off the suffering of your people; yet, already being aware of the Black experience and knowing there’s no need to prove the Black experience because all people really have to do is shut up and listen.
Being Black right now:
Is having your multiple lived experiences exploited and made into talking points. Black Lives Matter may be a movement, but it is also a fact so do NOT forget that.
Being Black right now:
Is being raped, assaulted, imprisoned, and murdered based off the fears of weak-minded people who must perform a type of mental gymnastics in order to justify your death when the only thing you are guilty of is having the audacity to exist and live your best, beautiful Black life.
Being Black right now:
Is sending I love you texts to your family hoping they respond because muthafuckers are out here dying from a disease and a seditious, supremacist mentality; yet, also making sure your family knows you love them just in case mutherfuckers decide to jump stupid or you fall ill.
Being Black right now:
Is being told regularly that we are living in our last days and refusing to accept that perspective because you desire to live your beautifully-abundant Black life.
Being Black right now is being strong regardless of the circumstances because we will overcome.
Artwork by CallMeZaddems
