If this is the land of the free

where is the equality?

that was supposedly promised to me

when the 13th, 14th, and the 19th amendment was passed

this land is never truly free if you really look at the 13th amendment from the beginning to the last

 

The words that are placed in the 13th amendment

that suck the hope from my spirit are the words

“except as punishment for a crime”

so at any given time if I don’t watch myself

I could be put away

 

But the world says thats okay because you guys have come a long way

have we?, because according to my updated economics book

women and men still don’t have equal pay  

if this is the land of the free

where is the equality?

 

I can’t control the fact that I was born with pigment in my skin

so why did I hate myself when I was ten?

and if they tell an even amount of history

then why do I have to register for an elective class

to solve the mystery of the truth

so I can learn about my culture, so I can teach the youth

because they won’t learn everything in their core class that they need to pass

if this is the land of the free

where is the equality?

 

Why are people of color being ripped from their

traditions being told that english is a necessity

and if you can’t speak it properly then

you might as well leave

if this is the land of the free

where is the equality?

 

                                      This type of poison affects my family

because regardless of how many times I tell my young niece,nephew, and cousin

that they have a purpose, they have a hard time

believing me because America subtly tells them that they’re

not worth it

                                             if this is the land of the free

                                                  where is the equality?

 

Because I’m tired of being overlooked,

a joke,  judged before I even speak, and being told

that because I’m a black woman I’m weak

feeling as if somethings wrong with me because

some black men are taught to hate everything about where they originate from

so they don’t date black women and

label it as a preference

and it makes the black girls heart numb

meaning it has no feeling

and because of that

we’re sassy, with a bad attitude

with no manners, and  rude

no, we’re beautiful and although

there’s no equality in the land of the free

we can change this world piece by piece

                                            

we can continue to strive and succeed

because a little representation is all that we need

it’s all it takes for a girl to see a dream

and know that it can come true

regardless of the fact that she, that we

all people of color, especially females

have to ask ourselves time and time again

or every now and then

if this is the land of the free

where is the equality?

 -Dani M