Juneteenth
Are we not our ancestors’ wildest dreams?
Their broken shackles crunch under our feet
as we keep moving forward.
Am I not my ancestors’ bravest wishes?
Born in the motherland
African soil between my toes.
It is June 19.
Africa weeps today.
Tears of relief.
Tears of pain.
She was there to hear her children
as they were stolen
She heard them give back their names
as they were forced to turn their backs on entire identities.
She heard her children
as they relearned freedom.
Africa weeps today.
She dances
she cries out
and she keeps her arms outstretched.
She waits for her children to return.
She will always be waiting.
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