Pledge

You want me to pledge allegiance to the flag..
A flag what’s patriotism should have disguised to me
That it was bred to control & "civilize me."
Born from the idea "let's colonize thee"
Your flag never represented freedom, life or liberty
& for you it may be strange to see
I can stand out against your history
 

because red, white & blue didn't do me much right
So don't tell me you understand everyone's plight
When every other day you're denouncing our fight
And all we want, is to be alright
 

Your flag stood for the rape, & genocide of a crowd
Of people who you made afraid to voice their opinions out loud.
It was to degrade a people, tear them down
Chew them up, and spit them out.
But I constantly hear the same annoying ring  from your mouth
"Stand for the pledge! Support our troops" you shout
 

In my eyes, your words are unrequited loyalty
& you and I will never see this world equally
Because our boys were lynched in the street, only motive being intimidation,
& a sign "for coloured folk only" stood to cause pure degradation,
yet you want me to pledge under one nation?
 

How do you expect me to stand for a country that has never stood for me?
I would have been 3/5 of a person but you feel you've done good to me?
Enough for me to stand hand over heart for your moment of silence?
When voicing critiques, you try to make us silent,
 

Nonexistent
It's a twisted contradiction
Because we've always been "the land of the free"
but when it came to the cotton.. slaves picked it
 

I know a nation doesn't make its people but a people makes its nation and
If hate is what you've always spewed then that's a poor representation
Because you've claimed to be number one but what backs your proclamation?
Aside from your "number one spot" in mass incarceration.
& to you it may be dramatic, but I need to make a statement
because I refuse to let you guilt me into standing so I'll just say it.
I will not stand.