Poem: Black Lives Matter
Poem: RACE
Kingston poet Andrea Charles-Munro recognises Black Lives Matter and explores the issues of racism whilst growing up
Respect Accept Consider Embrace
My intention for this is not to offend
Just hope one day that racism will end
Our parents came here to start a new life
Settle down without any trouble and strife
A new beginning it would be
With jobs, happiness and prosperity
At times they were met with frowns and stares
Unkind remarks, like no one cares
This was their new home where they belong
But told to go back to where they are from
Times of frustration and being dismissed
Did they really leave the Caribbean for this?
Hopes of life in a better place
But judged by their colour of skin and race
Gone are the years of shackles and chains
Yet the fight for equality still remains
I remember visits to a well-known store
Being followed each time I walked through the door
Down every aisle, while I queued at the till
Constantly watched till I paid my bill
We all may have a story to tell
Of times we’ve not been treated well
If race is no issue but forms we see
A box to tick for our ethnicity
It’s time for change, for the next generation
Time to end all discrimination
With education and understanding together we’ll grow
We do still have a long way to go
Don’t allow this matter to be left on the shelf
Can’t keep watching history repeating itself
We are the human race and should all unite
We know that racism is just not right
We all have opinions and points of view
Yes, All Lives Matter, but Black Lives too.
Poem RACE by Andrea Charles-Munro
Photo by James Eades on Unsplash
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