RACISM

The root of a poisonous tree
Needs uprooting before it dies out
This is the thing we need to see
Before racism dies out

II
As long as mouths do shout
When a problem breaks out
As long as hate crops up
As a flaw pops up
As long as mouths shut not up
In digging into past stuff
As long as ridicules spring up
…to elicit mock laughs
Minds will remember hurts from the past

III
So check yourselves
You those who live on the comfort
…of crimes of the past
Check yourselves
You those who profit from horrid systems of the past
Check your tongues
You those whose murderous ancestors
…languish in crimes against humanity
It is one thing to usurp
…enslave
…hurt others
And another thing to mock
…using such abominations as reference points
The former can be forgiven but not forgotten
The latter can never be forgiven
For there is always the light of education
Which bells out intentional hurts
None forgives what someone intentionally does to hurt
We are humans after all
…with heads and hearts and minds and thoughts
And it costs nothing but a tired soul intentionally wronged to seek revenge
…and to retaliate
…to force commotion on a strained world
Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © July 13, 2021