They say.

Women shouldn’t express themselves that way.
There’s a correct way to disagree with people.
She shouldn’t travel there alone.
Why are you being so emotional?
What will people think?

Are you sure you should make such a big decision alone?
Who’s the man in the relationship?
Do your parents approve of your choices?
Can I speak to your husband?
What will people think?

Why are you so aggressive?
You think you’re too good for him?
Isn’t that a man’s job?
When are you going to have children?
What will people think?

Don’t leave your drink unattended.
You could stand to loose a few pounds.
You can’t talk about your sex life.
Is that what you’re wearing?
What will people think?

What will people think?

I say.

We live half lives as revivals.
Being a distraction for the masses.
So that someone else can control us.
Because we’re too concerned.
With what people would think.

We could be teammates in this battle.
Allies in the struggle for equality.
We could be friends supporting each other.
If we would choose to consider.
What we would think.

If we can stop hating each other for thinking differently.
Listen to the wisdom we’ve gathered.
And respect our individual voices.
We will be a force to be reckoned with-
Because we will create an example.
Of another way to think.

I want every little girl to know.
She was meant for something greater.
She does not have to live in anyone's shadow.
That no matter what people tell her.
Because one day she will be a woman.
And she can decide what she wants to think.

By: Alexandra Smith

Tis You – who stood like a rock
Of Granite.

Unswayed, by the constant pounding,
Of the Winds of Humanity, the Chill
Souls. And the fire of dragons.

Now, unweathering streaking into the
Deeds of tomorrow.

As we -the left behind- strive to
Place our footsteps on the soil
Left by you for us to fill in...

Copyright (c) 2018 “Tis You”, Paul S Hickman, All Rights Reserved

The naughtiness, of the voices.
Destined, not to hear, nor see.

Unknown, the different worlds,
Their world, our world, my world.

Worlds filled, with a cornucopia
Of ideas, dovetailing, towards
The thin thread.

That binds man into a common bond,
Of trust, tolerance, and compassion.

The haughtiness of the voices.

They destined, not to hear, nor see
The world...

Copyrighted (c) 1996, Paul S Hickman, All Rights Reserved

There in the land of heroes and beauty is a lady.
Who moves like a wisp of smoke.
Penetrating all barriers, emerging on the side
Of life that most fail to see.

A forbidden love that falls like a fallen leaf off a
Tree-slowly drifting through the gentle breeze.

Bonding with a plethora of others.
Lying among them with no difference in hue

As she glides effortless over them,
All towards her destiny in the mist in the quiet,
Of the evening...there she sits.

(c) 2019 “The Mist in the Quiet”, Paul S Hickman, All Right Reserved

There the fire starts, raging across the grassy seas,
Into the worlds of the lost tribes.

Gathering them up into a wind swept caress,
And hurls them back to the dusty lands,
Out of deep blue seas.

There they rest until the last days.

None shall be able to touch,
Their inner spirit.

From the top of the mountain,
Lies a vision as far as the eye can see.

No other land will prevail over this land,
As we watch from a distance.

Too far, for many, to short for a few.
As the fire rages on....

Copyright (c) 2012, “The View of the Fire”, Paul S Hickman, All Rights Reserved

Your name has lingered with craving
In the mouths of the innumerous
An affirmation for the downtrodden
A passionate desire for the adventurous
Your dignity symbolizes women’s fortitude
The pursuing man's wistful privy desires
Many have watched you from distant shores
Yearning for the promise of your name
Celebrations have dignified your presence
People flock to witness your magnificence
Your iconic symbol of independence
A beckoning torch of light
The mystique of new frontiers
Refugees fleeing from persecution
Conceiving freedom from destitution
A sacred heritage embodied
Democracy, and the pursuit of happiness,
Opportunity and equality for the seekers
An assertion that progress is inevitable
A Declaration of Independence
Conceived in your honored name
We name you Liberty.

Copyright@ All rights reserved
Camille Elaine Thomas
February 18, 2021

Alone in a room full of people, I find solace in the corner. Purposefully trying to shrink as small as possible. Wanting to be invisible but screaming to be noticed.

Alone in a room full of people, I see it all. The head turns, tone changes, the hair flips, the side glances, the crossed arms.

Alone in a room full of people, I ask myself are they doing that because of me. Are those about me. Am I small enough. Do they see I'm trying to be smaller.

Alone in a room full of people, I feel everything. The stares, the tension, the energies moving around creating waves of passion and lulls of stifling despair.

Alone in a room full of people, I know everything. They all hate me, was it something I said, was it something I ate, did I sit in the wrong place. Am I not shrinking small enough.

Alone in a room full of people, I find no solace, no respite. Just harsh thoughts rooted in painful memories of failed attempts to shine.

Alone in a room full of people...

By: Alexandra Smith

When we were created
We were told that we were meant for something great.
We were told we were created for a purpose
And that purpose would find us.
Because that purpose was
us.

That we would one day understand what we were created for
it was inside us.
They imparted their knowledge to us;
I absorbed it.
I thought I was their best student…

They trained us to lead; I tried to take the reins from them.
They threatened to leave me,
I gave them back….
They trained us to believe in ourselves; I set ambitious goals.
But they told me I was being unrealistic,
I limited myself…

They trained us to ask questions, I questioned them.
But they embarrassed me,
I stop talking…
They trained us to behave properly; I held my head high.
But they told me I was putting on airs,
I lowered my standards…

They trained us to listen; I listened to my heart.
But they told me it was wrong,
I doubted myself…
They trained us to think for ourselves; I thought differently than them.
But they rebuked me.
I stop thinking…

They trained us to be individuals; I tried to replicate them.
They praised me…
I sat up straight!
They trained us to go draw our own conclusions; I waited for them to tell me what to draw.
They drew it for me;
I understood…

When we were copied
We were told that we were meant for something great.
We were told we were copied for a purpose
And that purpose would find us.
Because that purpose was
us.

By: Alexandra Smith

Someone once said to me, “You’re not black, Alex. You’re just like us.”
I immediately became offended and he didn’t understand why?
They thought they had paid me a compliment.
As if to say what everyone aspired to be was white.
I do not. I am not.
They simply said, “Well, you don’t act like them. You use proper English. You know what I mean.”
I was amazed.
One second we were having a conversation about Obama. The next I’m being told that neither of us is black.
And he thinks he’s paying me a “compliment”
As if, being white is far superior.
As if, all blacks are uneducated with no money and children before their fifteen.
As if, being black is a curse that people hope to rid themselves of.
I never stop being amazed at the level of ignorance that pours from people’s mouths.
Not just his, from so many others as well.
I was at work one day and an elderly couple approached my counter.
They were there to get pictures developed and somehow.
Over the course of me placing their order they decided that I was educated.
I learned this because the man said to me, “Well, since you’re educated. I have something I want to say to you.”
I laughed out loud because I am educated
And any educated person would notice the implication in that statement which is that other people like me weren’t.
He went on to say that he had grown up not knowing very many colored people.
And he never knew what to say to them.
Till he met one that was his landlord.
She was a chubby little lady with a heart of gold.
And she would tell him: You know, the most racist people are black people with money.”
He laughed as he told me this. I listened and nodded.
He then told me that Black people were not African American but colored.
After all, he’s not European American. And his ancestors lived all over the world.
At that point, I simply laughed
My name is Alex. That is what I want to be called. If you feel need to group me do so on your own time. When I describe people race is an after though. Why?
Because sometimes people’s personalities speak for themselves.
We all know people like that. The ones where all you have to say is: She’s really loud and crazy.
And everyone knows who your talking about, but I digress
After the couple left, I took a few minutes to recover.
It is hard to be nice to people who are offensive and don’t know it.
Especially when they think, they are paying you a compliment.
That’s when I began to think.
What does it mean to be black?
How is it that Oprah is not black while people who choose to not get jobs are
Why is that if you choose to be educated you’re white
Why is that if you choose to not have a baby’s mama or be one your white
It’s as if the stereotype that was created to describe me couldn’t hold me so
I had to be removed and because my characteristics are so “civilized” I can be honored with and upgrade to the white class
Why can’t I be a black women in America making her way to the top the hard way?
Why can’t I be a black women in America working her ass off to support herself?
Why do I have to be an ignorant thug to be black?
Why can’t I just be me?
I don’t fit molds. I use to want to, but now I know better.
I am ok with who I am and where I want to go in life.
I don’t need to be thrown into a category.
I don’t need to be changed. I can’t be. I WON’T be
Yet, when something bad happens or if I have an “Alex” moment.
I’m black then. When I get angry or start to swear. I’m black then.
What does it mean to be black.
I always thought it meant beautiful and brave, loving and loyal, athletic and artistic, charismatic and cultured, kind and keen.
I thought it meant human
Was I wrong? Am I wrong?
How am I black on some days and not others?
If I bumping into the KKK. They’re not going to ask me to recite the preamble.
They’re just going to hang me.
Why is it that I can judged by my skin color and receive two different verdicts.
Why is black a complement and an insult?
Why is that over a hundred years ago
When blacks were not allowed to be educated.
Our ancestors risked being beating to death to learn to read.
Why is that Fredrick Douglas fled to England upon publishing his autobiography because he knew that his owners would come after him.
Why did they fight so hard for education and freedom?
For people to now look at having those things as not being black
I am convinced that Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t black
After all, he was a college graduate. He led a movement that was felt around the world
How could someone so influential be black
Despite the fact that all the characteristics I just named are what he fought for
Who cares? What does it mean to be black?
Does the meaning change with the century?
With the mood?
Will it mean prude and egotistical tomorrow?
What does it mean?
Why did so many people fight and die for me to be confused.
What does it mean!
Does it mean pain and sorrowful, broken hearted and depressed, angry and ghetto?
Someone tell me.
I am on bended knee. Screaming up to the sky’s
Where is my answer?
Or do you not know either?
Are you just as confused as I am?
Do you too, not understand this paradox of being black?
Are you as lost as I am? As confused? As angry?
Are people placing you into a mold that does not describe you?
Are they?
Do you know what it means to be black?
Do you know what it needs to mean?
It needs to means: mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, friend, coworker, teacher, athlete, manager, actor, model.
It needs to mean bravely, persevering through all the tribulations.
It needs to mean community, sisterhood, brotherhood,
It needs to mean life and death
It needs to mean a people sharing stories of how they got through.
It needs to mean faith, hope and peace
It needs to mean a hope for a brighter tomorrow
It needs to mean change
It needs to mean equality
It needs to mean a people, of a similar culture working together to make it through
It needs to mean song
It needs to mean respect
It needs to mean you
It needs to mean me
It needs to mean us, united

By: Alexandra Smith

Someone once said to me, “your not black, Alex, your white.”
I immediately became offended and he didn’t understand why
he thought he had paid me a compliment.
I was amazed.
One second we were having a conversation about Obama. The next I’m being told that neither of us was black.
That’s when I began to think.
What does it mean to be black?
How is it that Oprah is not black while people who choose to not get jobs are
Why is that if you choose to be educated you’re white
Why is that if you choose to not have a baby’s mama or be one; you’re white
It is as if the stereotype that was created to describe me couldn’t hold me so
I had to be removed and because my characteristics are so “civilized” I can be honored with and upgrade to the white class
Why can’t I be a black women in America working her ass off to support herself?
Why do I have to be an ignorant thug to be black?
What does it mean to be black.
How am I black on some days and not others?
If I bumping into the KKK. They’re not going to ask me to recite the preamble.
They’re just going to hang me.
Why is it that I can judged by my skin color and receive two different verdicts.
Why is black a complement and an insult?
Why is that over a hundred years ago
When blacks were not allowed to be educated.
Our ancestors risked being beaten to death to learn to read.
Why did they fight so hard for education and freedom?
For people to now look at having those things as not being black
I am convinced that with these standards Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t black
After all, he was a college graduate. He led a movement that was felt around the world
Despite the fact that all the characteristics I just named are what he fought for
What does it mean to be black?
Does the meaning change with the century?
With the mood?
Will it mean prude and egotistical tomorrow?
What does it mean?
Why did so many people fight and die for me to be confused.
What does it mean!
Someone tell me.
I am on bended knees. Screaming up to the sky’s
Where is my answer?
Or do you not know either?
Are you just as confused as I am?
Do you too, not understand this paradox of being black?
Are you as lost as I am? As confused? As angry?
Are people placing you into a mold that does not describe you?
Do you know what it means to be black?
I know what it needs to mean
It needs to mean bravely, persevering through all the tribulations.
It needs to mean community, faith, hope and peace
It needs to mean change, equality, and respect
It needs to mean you and me
It needs to mean us

By: Alexandra Smith