My Will

By Elissa Johnson

To the people out there who are painted by injustice… like myself.

Tell me something …
For I do not know why.
This body 
This mind
Targeted by white lies. 
And yet how far we’ve came 
Just yesterday they were shouting my name. 
Liberty and Justice for all?
This is not what we signed up for
this injustice...
Against our will ...
White superiority or racial discrimination? 
Choose one 
Or maybe ignore it all and play pretend.
Blinded by the bloodshed
Africans Americans helped paint that picture
Against their will...
Lies and lies pile on
the bodies still counting.
Generations of those before me
blanket this land built on slavery
Against their will ...
“The greatest nation in the world”
How can this be?
Please tell me or has the fouls played me?
Time has passed.
Still we believe in a just world
where we can be free.
Never ending saga
Hate and blindsided cries.  
When will they listen?
When will they lower their guns?
When will they lower their stance?
So tell them ...
Acknowledge your privilege!
Acknowledge your pride!
Acknowledge your power
Acknowledge your ticket to paradise 
while the others suffer and die ... 
We do not sit back and lounge around
No we stand up fist towards the sky
For change is what we need.
America; what a disgusting name.
Wash it out
For reeks of ungodly actions ... 
Tired and Tired and Tired 
All we want is peace and equality.
So tell me 
What is wrong with that? 
Reminder everyday
Through all the pain
This skin will cause me
Target practice for racism 
We never asked for
I never asked for 
And all of this …
Against my will.

Process

This poem was originally for an assignment given to me and I decided to extend it. This work primarily focuses on the fate minorities like myself have dealt with even after everything that’s occurred in this country. I bring to question why this is still happening and bring light on who is behind the acts of injustice.