In the weeks that followed George Floyd’s murder I tried to create a silence,

But, really what words could ever do justice to the senseless violence?

Because hate knelt on his neck that day

Systemic racism took his life away.

 

In the weeks that followed George Floyd’s murder I started to see a divide,

And I started to uncover the ways in which I was part of the problem and complied.

White supremacy tried to tell us that we wrongly made him our martyr,

He was just the catalyst for a movement because we have to be that much smarter…

 

Work twice as hard to get half as far,

Don’t be too extra, but remember who you are.

 

Sexualized.

Fetishized.

Marginalized.

Racialized.

 

Finally realized.. 

 

I deserve to be seen. We deserve to be seen.

 

In the months that followed George Floyd’s murder- as the world awaited his trial,

I confronted my womanhood, my melanin and started to unpack my denial.

So white washed just to be an option,

A self combusting and depressing toxin. 

 

In the months that followed George Floyd’s murder- as the world reflected,

Just as the greats had shared and projected,

The system is broken and it must die,

Cause this, this? Is still oppression and I want to fly…

 

Defund the police,

Know justice; Know peace. 

Invest in marginalized community,

Create racial unity. 

 

I deserve to be seen. We deserve to be seen. 

 

In the months that followed George Floyd’s trial, after his murderer was found guilty,

I could feel my wings growing, as this was just one instance of police brutality. 

So many Black people are still dead without justice and for what reason?

From this space, with these eyes, it seems only white people have commited treason. 

 

In the months that followed the death of George Floyd and on that one year anniversary,

I thought about little black kids everywhere and one particular little girl without her daddy. 

Times Up, Black Lives Matter, We’re conspiring to take back Indiegnous land,

With old systems as stepping blocks, we can take a stand.

 

I deserve to be seen. We deserve to be seen. 

 

Conspiring 

To Aspire

That Black people everywhere

Can Inspire,

Change. 

 

Rest in Power Brother George- there's not a day that goes by,

That I don’t know you’re part of my reason why. 

 

You’re free…

 

So fly

So fly

So fly

​

© Fanny Kearse