Page 155 - COVID Consortium Journal - An Edited Collection of Student Art and Writing

When is our voice going to be heard

Zulkiflou Soumailou, Brooklyn International High School

I might have been born in when mama sends me to the store
this country but I really don’t think and I’m wearing a hoodie. She prays
I would stand on their side. Pleasing to God for me to make it back home
a country that separates people for alive. Why do we have to go through
the color of their skin . . . no I’m not this. Is this really the United States
included in that. You could be white, that people all around the world hope
Black, Hispanic or whatever why does to be in one day, to make it in, no this
it matters. Peoples always be fighting, gotta be a mistake. Or should it be re-
protesting and crying . . . is that not named as United Slaves because you
enough for you to feel sorry and stop guys will never stop treating us like
hurting us. Or maybe is just that you dirt all around your room. Sweeping
don’t want to see around you. Huh us like we some left over rice that fell
now pause a sec. Is this country ac- on the floor, no never mind rice is
tually yours because I think you stole white I guess you would pick that up
the land from the Native Americans and put it in your plate. Such a disap-
by force. Bringing us here to work pointment, such disgrace. I think we
for you as slaves putting us in chains are fighting and fighting but when
and beating us till we change. We are is our voice really going to be heard.
fighting and won’t stop fighting until Black lives will always matter.
changes are made. I’m not the only
one who is feeling his pain of being
shot or having someone’s knee on me
where I can no longer breath. How
could you. Please explain to me how
could you really do such thing to a
human being, held down like noth-
ing. What kind of heart do you have.
Do you know how it feels to go out-
side and all around our apartments
is just a bunch of cop cars circulating
around us like we are some sort of
prisoners locked in jail. Do you know
how it feels to be followed in stores
as if I can’t afford the things I went to
purchase. Do you know how it feels

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