I have been thinking alot about how Michelle is treated and by extension how her treatment has affected us as black women.
The way she is being disrespected really thrusts a dagger deep into the heart of us women of color who feel our blackness going before us wherever we go. The same can be said for other dark skinned minorities and for black men too. But the treatment of Michelle O has really struck a nerve with us as black women.
Where are all those feminists who so ardently defended Hillary? Why have they not called out those who treat Mrs. O in such a deplorable manner as sexist? So far I have only seen strong defenses coming from sisters.
So here is an Ode to Michelle to let her know some of us understand.
Jump now
My Blackness goes before me
A steady anger burns within me
Welling up from deep
Deep inside
Three-fifths of a human being
The sacred constitution of the
Red, white and blue
Walking into a room
My blackness goes
My blackness goes
Goes before me
Those of the majority
Not all
Not few
But many
Still do not see
See me as
human
Woman
As human woman
Only
Black
As
nigga
Not as mother
Mother of
A beautiful almond eyed
Sepia skinned
Baby girl
Graduate
of
Ivy league
Not as wife
As I
As Me
Someone whose life is just
Just as significant
Meaningful
Purposeful
Beautiful
Three-fifths of a human being
The sacred
Sacred constitution of the
The red, white
Red, white and blue
Not removed
Still written in
Indelible ink
To be read
Perused
Overlooked
Excused
Invoked
By those
Those who still refuse to part
Part pink-lipped smiles
When I
Yes me---
When I walk in
Into a room in my blackness
Black-robed
My blackness preceding me
Not I
Not mother
Not woman
Not wife
Just
Nigga
Black
B
I
T
C
H
Black Bitch
Black bitch who
Don’t deserve to share
The same air
Same space
Bus
Train
Pool
Plane or Car
Have times really changed?
Not so!!! Not for me
For us of burnished tones
For many
Not some
Not few
Of the majority
Rising
Many of the majority
Who suppress
Suppress true feelings
Rising
Wrapped in
Colored cloth in their patriotic fervor
Nothing has
Either
Locked in racist
Classist
Sexist
Passive aggressiveness
Intellectual sarcasm
Impoverished ignorance
Deeply buried
Entombed denial
Privileged acceptance
And sometimes-blatant alienation
Nothing has
Has changed either
I black bitch, nigga
Living next door
Behind the same
Same white picket fence
Suburbia
Enduring plastic
Flossed
Bleached white
Robotic smiles
But not
Not with
Eyes
A steady anger
Righteous anger
Indignation
Burns
Burns within me
Welling up from deep
Deep inside
Three-fifths of a human being
The sacred constitution
Of the red, white, and blue
Blackness walking
Walking into
Into the room before me
I
Black nigga
Nigga woman
Nigga, woman, mother
Nigga, woman, mother, wife
Graduate of
Of Ivy League
Yet...
Yet...
YET...
They don’t
They don’t see
See me
copyright 2002
Excerpt from BEING BLACK:being human (book of poetry for performance)