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YES I'M BLACK!

by jerminehodge

Yes I'm black, that doesn't mean I'm vulnerable to attack,
I'm just like you, a human, red blood, emotions and a moving figure,
Why should you treat me like I'm about to pull a trigger?
I didn't create sagging, I didn't create gang banging so why would you want to 
put the worst on me?
To get me jailed, tortured, and then to set me free?
 
My shadow is scared to walk beside me. Yes, because my shadow is black. 
Walking to school to get my education, and they want to search my backpack. 
It doesn’t matter how long you live, but the way you live.
Having and living life is my greatest gift.
 
Are we recognized for what we have done? We will surely be recognized if we walk the streets with a gun.
People are scared to accept their ethnicity,
Because the color of our skin decide our destiny.
But my destiny is to stay strong, and fight not physically but verbally.
I don't have to be Alfred Austin to develop words of wisdom and passion
But I can be another student who stands to speak his mind and let it free.
 
We are not perfect; we all have done wrong at times 
We all don’t shine, but when we spot success we will surely climb
Getting an education to make legal dine is a no for them, they prefer to see us do crime.
 
Our first step as males is to have a respectful personality, 
Pull up your pants and lets all face reality and understand that a man can't 
ride your back unless it’s bent. 
And for a bigger step we all shall repent.
 
Very often black teenager's face grazes the metal fences and concrete walls, while being tortured by cops
If you’re passing by and you’re black think again if you want to stop
You will have more finger print than you ever had in your paint book,
They will put charges on you that have occurred way before you were on earth.
They will throw you in jail, kick, spit and treat you like dirt. 
 
This isn’t about the rhyme, because I would surely do it all the time.
But thank you if I have kept your attention‎​.
 
Being black wasn’t a choice or intention 
I’m already black, there is no correction,
I will keep living up! No way my life will be a recession!
 
 
 
 

[ ART AND POEM BY ME: JERMINE HODGE ]

©All Rights Reserved

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discriminationracial discriminationlovebeautyafricanscholarshipslamsister'sskinsubmissiontone

jerminehodge

Follow me on instagram @saintadept Visit: saintadept.com For more info: [email protected]

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Comments (48)

Black Rose
<p>This poem is great, I loved it so much I performed it at my school drama opening night!</p>
Black Rose
<p>This poem is great, I loved it so much I performed it at my school drama opening night!</p>
Anya_sovereign
I shared your poem on Facebook
exclusivecliche
<p>Perfection. I agree with everyone who wants this in a rap.</p>
firelily
<p>This was downright amazing! I especially lovce "no one can ride yor back unless it's bent." Great poetry and good luck with the scholarship contest!&nbsp;</p>
sialeece
<p>Keep writing, because you are amazing at it.</p>
Christi_H15
<p>Love This, it was powerful .</p>
Societys_Outcast
<p>I really like this!</p>
Societys_Outcast
<p>Powerful message! Deserves to be shared!</p>
inkin_SoPermanent
This is really good
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you very much, took me like a week to put it all together. Sure will do</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you very much</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you very much</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you very much</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you very much, and we can all relate.</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you very much</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you very much</p>
Messyminded
<p><span style="color: rgb(255, 160, 122); text-align: center;">Wow! I LOVE your poem! The ending words are so powerful! How long did it take you to write it? It looks like we are in the same contest too! OOOoo do you think you could take a look at my poem to?:)</span></p>
articulatealisha
Hell yes speak up brother even the sisters are treated the same way as the misters too. I love the way you wrote the poem with your heart and soul
giftedlikeyou
<p>well-said. very powerful!</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
TORY WHITE
<p>IM BLACk ANd IM pROud</p><p>i love how you speak on the socail injustices and streotpes that black youth face in this corrupt society check out my poem <u>graffition a wall the stuggle and the politics that follow</u> and tell me what you think</p>
myahendrix
<p>This is so beautiful and descriptive. It reminds me that I am not the only one struggling.</p>
sydneyalanna
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: ITCFranklinGothicStd-Book, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37);">"a man can't&nbsp;</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: ITCFranklinGothicStd-Book, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; color: rgb(37, 37, 37);">ride your back unless it’s bent." is my favorite line in this poem. It really shows that no one can take advantage of you unless you let them and to be a strong individual no matter what. Good job!</div>
taleesuddy
<p>Yesssss!!!! I can really feel where you're coming from with this poem, being African-American myself. You painted a mental picture for me, pinpointing on serious details of how black people are treated on the regular. I really appreciate this poem. Great job!</p>
GJACKSON
<p>I absolutely love this, the title itself caught my attention.&nbsp;</p>
jerminehodge
Thank you , please share with your friends and family :)
jjdoggirl10
<p>It's amazing!</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you :)</p>
victoriachidi
<p>Good job ! I enjoyed it and yes I am black and not ashamed&nbsp;</p>
jerminehodge
Thank you :)
Feelmywords
<p>This is beautiful and speaks nothing but truth.</p>
jerminehodge
Thank you very much
sharonturner502
<p><span style="color: rgb(37, 37, 37); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238);">Really powerful!</span></p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank You</p>
ammber_alert
Really powerful! Makes you think! Forsurelly great!
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you i appreciate. Kindly share with your friends</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you i appreciate. Kindly share with your friends</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you i appreciate. Kindly share with your friends</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you i appreciate. Kindly share with your friends</p>
jerminehodge
<p>&nbsp;Thank you i appreciate. Kindly share with your friends. I would love to rap on it just need a beat :)</p>
jerminehodge
<p>Thank you i appreciate. Kindly share with your friends</p>
thatonegirlnamedrenae
<p>You should make a beat and rap it.</p><p>I love this the feeling and message can be applyed to any life experience. I love the honesty--it sucks to think it honest but it is.&nbsp;</p>
Ladasia G
<p>I loved this! iIve been wanting to hear something like this forever!!! Fantastic job!</p>
ladyred215
<p>Excellent &nbsp;!!! Keep writing</p>
mfreels96
<p>This is honestly beautiful. It would also be interesting to hear it rapped.</p>
ring keeper
<p>would love to see this rapped</p>
iamcsims
<p>I love this and it's the truth.</p>
ceciliacruz15
<p>I really like the way you &nbsp;wrote this &nbsp;</p>

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