Blackcurrant

[Anaiah Muhammad]

All around the world

Real niggas going through real nigga shit

But a voice that's seldom heard

The voice of the Black woman

They silently scream

So imna take a step back

Give our sisters a chance to amplify their voice

Lei, tell us how you feel

[Aleisia Miller]

As a Black woman I stand at the intersection of racism and sexism in the shadow of the strong black women trope which strips me of my femininity and denies me any perception of delicacy

Denial

Of a basic range of human emotion

Denial of empathy and sympathizing

Not allowed sadness, fear, longing

My emotions are only allowed to be perceived as different shades of anger and resentment

When I cry over the limitations put on my humanity

When I am scared of what age my nephew will be perceived as a threat

My desire to be held and handled with fragility

It only translates as bitterness to ears that hear me

My words, my thoughts, my plight, and my ballad

Is only valid when someone else speaks for mine

The skin, the features, the style that I wear

Is only admired when its costumed and capitalized

I’m hypersexualized and undesirable

I must be exceptional for crumbs but if I demand more, I am entitled

If I reject it entirely, I am lazy

Living against pressure and contradiction

Is the day to day life

Of living as a Black woman