they proclaimed the slaves free
thus
the slave trade
became free trade
and they made millions
selling black futures
they turned indigo to crack
and gave the nooses a little slack
yet still
we
canʼt
breathe
unnamed and branded
we now service brand names
as they tightly clutch purses
our black fingers
have made
and officers
plainly clothed
help fuel the white flight
putting shackles on our wrists
to ensure we stay grounded
and delayed.
craning head over shoulder
fearing dark skin above dark hearts
they stain the streets
with
our children
our dreams
our blood
the reminder:
we are neither foreign
nor domestic
