A Bad Word
White supremacy
is not a bad word — it’s a necessary phrase in the American vocabulary,
a gross ideology,
an impure philosophy,
and, for some, it is a perverted type of theology,
the practice of which
leads to commission of a certain type of verb,
the kind of verb that begins with resentful eyes,
eyes that evolve into hateful lies,
lies that launch a thousand bullets to fly,
flying bullets launching to end Black and Brown lives.
White supremacy is
the unwarranted burden imposed on the Other,
the weight of racism carried by Black and Brown Americans,
one generation after another,
suitcases of oppressive legacy passed to every daughter from her mother,
from parents to their children in families with skin of a different color,
except the weightless, bitter man
who carries only an all-consuming insecurity,
owning nothing but an erroneous and steadfast belief
that he, the great white man, reigns first in place, first in time,
that no one can outrank him in superiority,
supported by his very own make-America-great-again-replacement-theory.
You call me a radical liberal,
because I don’t flinch when I say
white supremacy, but
it is not a bad word — it’s an essential phrase in the American vocabulary,
it describes the racist’s ideology,
it is george wallace’s philosophy,
and, for some, a perverted excuse for theology,
the adhere to which leads to the commission of a certain type of verb.
You say my views on race are too critical,
because I see how your legacy of hatred stays steeped, lodged deep,
entrenched in the tea of American history,
Show me my lie, come on now — show me where I’m lacking authenticity,
I want to hear you testify, tell me how the facts are wrong,
whine to me your racist, supremacist songs,
screech your hymnals to mourn the loss of the white-owned country that shall no longer be,
go ahead and grieve that that this country now looks less like you and more like me.
But, non-friend, while smothered in your self-pity,
don’t forget to find some proof,
you know, proof? facts that should be required to support your racist roof,
The racist roof that houses your supremacist systems,
The racist roof that nurtures your colonialist wisdoms.
“Dismantle white supremacy!”
This is the message that must be heard,
This message shall not be shuttered inside a book,
This message shall be spoken until souls, and systems, are open and shook,
Dismantle white supremacy,
is the message that must be heard,
this is the good word,
this is the right verb.
