Nigger they called me

or rather I called myself

a generation deceived into 

the false belief that we could take back a word

so laden with hate and scorn that it chokes.

The false belief that our ancestors were not degraded

abused, molested, and destroyed. 

The false belief that their lives, their culture, 

their names, their very identities were stolen.

The false belief that overuse eventually desentizes

The false belief that if I call my brother my nigga

and my sister my nigga

It could remove the unseen scars from our backs carved in

by masters unyielding whip.

But rather it's the opposite

while I and my brother are free men

their chains still bind our souls.

Even though we are not physically seperate

we divide ourselves willingly.

As disgusting as it may sound

a part of me rejoices when I hear

"You're different, You're not like them"

The last word laden with spite.

Nigger they called me

and nigga I called myself.

This is not a rant but rather a call to arms.

We as a people must rise up

and cast away the fetters of the mind.

Then and only then will we truly be free.