Poem: A Tribute to Black History
It’s Black History Month
You know what that means
It’s time to celebrate
But it’s also time to reflect and educate
You see Black History Month
Is a month dedicated to acknowledging and highlighting
The STRONG Black kings and queens
Who have paved the way for people with the same skin color as mine
Through those praises of accomplishment
We also have to acknowledge their trials and tribulations
MLK was the object of several violent attacks
He received threatening phone calls
And even his house was bombed
Yet he rose above it all and led the March on Washington
Shirley Chisom was the FIRST Black woman elected to Congress
When they tried to exclude her from the table
She brought her own folding chair
Maya Angelou dealt with oppression in several areas
While fighting for human rights, people fought against her because of the color of her skin
But instead of letting those obstacles stop her
She used her voice in literature to speak up for not only herself but everyone
Jesse Owens ran for our country at the Olympics
He won medals and broke records
Yet was snubbed by the President of the United States
No invitation to the white house and no recognition of the barriers he brokes back then
You see the people I have just named will be celebrated all month long
Because whether people want to admit it or not
They gave black people a fighting chance in this world today
Reflecting back on the past is never a bad thing
Using the knowledge of back then and using it to move forward now
Black History Month shows us the people who should inspire the black community
To NEVER give up
We are stronger than we know and braver than we think
Because of them I know that nothing can hold me back
Especially words from haters
Who want to keep me on the ground level
I am a strong independent Black woman
And I will soar above any and everyone who has doubted me
I am a leader of the next generation
I won’t allow anyone to step in my way
on my path to the future
I am the type of leader who will use my knowledge for the benefit of the people
I will use my voice for the greater good of all people
I won’t let the color of my skin be a setback but a plunge forward and you shouldn’t either
Happy Black History Month