Endangered

Endangered

 

A species despised

Freedom denied

Captured, tortured,

Killed and colonized

 

Terrorized

Brutalized

Justified with white lies

Seamlessly sanitized

An unpublicized genocide

 

From slave chains to handcuffs

Characterization criminalized

Prison equals “rites of passage”

“Gangsta status” glorified

 

Self-inflicted wounds

Self-hate internalized

Learned from our oppressors

Self-preservation unrealized

 

Shot down in the street- like dogs

 

Bleeding and left to die

Too many mourning mothers

Too many stolen lives

 

What a privilege it must be

To be served and protected

Not profiled, defiled

Assaulted and disrespected

 

Even the brightest and best

Are treated as pests

Whether your pants hang low

Or you’re immaculately well dressed

 

It’s not about your education

Or about how well you speak

It’s not about your hoodie

Your skittles

 Or your ice tea

 

A nuisance

Deserving of abuse

Is what you’re reduced to

Your skin

Is your sin

 Treatment you’re conditioned to be used to

 

If you are BLACK in this world

You have the right to be angered

Because to be black in THIS world

Means your life is always in danger

 

Death by cop

Death by noose

Or mysterious assassination

My people need to wake up now

Or be witnesses to our own extermination

Reviews

[Baby Ricochet]

SERENUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU'RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and with a great poem too! You got some great lines here my friend. Glad to see you're writing again. Never give it up forever. No matter how crazy real life gets.

[Sirius King]

Thanks for the warm welcome BR! I missed this site and all of you guys...I haven't been motivated or inspired to write in a while...Hopefully I'm back for good this time!

[Poetic Beauty]

This has a great depth of feeling poured into this piece. There have been many racial issues and deaths by cops lately. I do not believe that a person should be shot simple because of the color of their skin nor do i believe cops should be shot and killed just because they are cops. The fast pace of this piece gets the blood pumping and reflects the anger in this piece well. Deep thoughts and emotions fill each line.

[Sirius King]

I agree.......... Thank you Poetic!

[ANTO]

I echo BRs sentiments in the featured review Serenus - glad to see you again
I saw the title in your list and I was hit in the face by it. Your writing hasnt lost its edge.
Endangered - is this on badges/buttons and t-shirts ?? it should be - its so powerful maybe (with a black man in crosshairs)
God Bless you.

[Sirius King]

Thanks ANTO!.... The t-shirt idea is pretty good ;-)

[lovejulez03]

I've been away too long and yours was the second poem or read tonight and my goodness my friend.... I have no words to describe how raw and untainted those was. Every word made me feel like I could see and feel a pen hitting paper is disgust, sorrow, and anger. So true and I love your work and always will. Wondeful piece and I am definitely sharing!!!

[Sirius King]

Thank you Julez! I always appreciate your words.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is so sadly true...we haven't come a very long way from the early sixties, even if we like to think we have.
a solemn write...a sad state of how it really is.

your poems speak so much from the guts of the poet.

[Sirius King]

Thank you jacob i appreciate it!

[Renée]

I can hear this a song.. rage.. but I hear the rhythm as I read.. Strong write Serenus ! It is good to see your voice is back !

[Sirius King]

Thank you Renee! Its good to be back!

[Renée]

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