by Morgan Brown

Do I scare you, America?
Segregation. Agitation. Regulation. Hateful nation!
You cannot break me.
My blood runs thick with the tears of my ancestors.
The tears they wept because you shut down public education instead of simply allowing them into your schools.
You disgust me.
You filthy, irresponsible, hypocritical democracy.
What did I ever do to you?
Oh, that’s right.
I took care of your children.
I tended your fields.
I spilled my blood for you.
My blood runs thick with the tears of my ancestors.
The tears they wept because you made them stand for you when they had just finished a hard day of work and wanted to rest their aching feet.
How dare you!
You hateful, ungrateful, disdainful brat!
Proud to be an American?
Proud to be an African-American.
Do you think that you are superior to me?
Fabrication. Abomination. Discrimination. Damn nation!
My skin is beautiful.
My blood is free.
My blood runs thick with the tears of my ancestors.
The tears they wept because of you, America.
Land of the free and the home of the brave.
Eventually.