Page 9 — Blooming Poetry Collection by Jalen T.

Bloodstained Hands

We watched a man die, and his blood

drained and he struggled for his last breath.

We couldn't help but cry in vain.

Millions and millions of people played by the sight

of death in 45 seconds.

It only took 45 seconds to end a life that reminded

me that I am black and that I am black in America.

#America the Great with its blood-stained hands.

Strangling the weak and powerless.

Killing the innocent with the goal of self-preservation.

You've been publicly killing us since the inception of your

self-proclaimed power and privilege.

Trapping us in your social constructs or race and separation.

You never liked us but merely tolerated us for your benefit.

Examples of us with it are flesh and blood.

Because fear and intimidation are your specialty.

How do we live a full life, a full life when we fear the man?

The man on our streets and our courts and our jails and in

our community.

It's practically illegal to be black in America by your standards.

So how am I supposed to live when I'm isolated and confined

to nothing, stereotyped, bastardized, and, shamed?

Profiled and killed all because you don't see us.

The flesh and blood we are made of, the heart that beats,

and the soul that inhabits our body.

All that is seen is our extra melanin deposits that are

only skin deep.

What are we to think when I can watch men die on

Facebook at the hands of people who are supposed to s

erve and protect?

Because if you don't protect me how can I protect myself?

What am I to tell the next generation?

That they will be OK when our young black children

see pain and death destroy their people.

We are black and what are we supposed to think?

I don't give a fuck about your opinions because now

it's time to listen up!

I am outraged and I can't keep silent I am bursting

with rage because yet again my hands are covered in

blood that I can't wash off but I will not fear for my life

I will not tolerate another shooting I will not teach the

young to be ashamed and fearful of their blackness I

will not tolerate anything else than equality for all.

BLOOMING Poems by Jalen Taylor

Bloodstained Hands

BLOOMING
Poems by Jalen Taylor