Black Must Be Beautiful Again

I remember a time when black was beautiful
when black fists were held high
and black voices shouted Black Power in unison.
When James Brown had a people singing
Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud!
Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud!

Black must go back and remember how
our ancestors never forgot that black was beautiful
Even when it was bearing the sting of the master’s whip
Even when black lie next to black spoon fashioned in black feces
Even when it was being worked like a horse and sold for less than cattle,
black found comfort in a higher power.
In black arms, in black children.
Black must be beautiful again.

Black must respect its kings
And never compare them to n’s
Respect our queens and under no terms allow such names as b’s, ho’s or hoochies to be used to describe the
essence of who we are by anyone,
including ourselves.
Black must respect black.

I remember a time when black was beautiful
when a million plus brothers marched on Washington, DC
and our sisters stood by on the sideline in support of our triumph.
You see they thought black didn’t know black was beautiful
so black wouldn’t come,
but black was tired of the crumbs.
Black heard the ancestors drums.
Black said we will no longer succumb,
or pretend to be numb to our plight
black chooses to stand together and fight
rise to our destined heights
and walk towards the Creator’s light!
Black must be beautiful again.

Black must embrace black.
From the ghettos to the hills,
from the working class to the prison class
from the children to the communities,
from the have to the have-nots.
Black must embrace black
and realize that black can never separate
itself from black.

I remember a time when black was beautiful,
black must be beautiful again.
Say it loud I’m black and I’m proud!

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