Black History Month: Poem Defining Ourselves By Naomi Johnson

Black History Month: Poem Defining Ourselves By Naomi Johnson

Who should define my race?

Is it the chains of history's cruel embrace? Those who bartered flesh and blood for gold, And left a legacy of stories untold.

Should it be the ones who wielded hate, Branding us with labels, sealing our fate? Or those who plundered, raped, and tore, Leaving scars that bleed forevermore.

Is it in the names they forced upon our kin, Stripping away our heritage, leaving thin Threads of identity, tattered and worn, By the weight of centuries, burden borne.

Should we let the census box us in, Reducing us to numbers, a statistic's spin? Or reclaim our narrative, our voice, our face, And refuse to be defined by another's embrace.

Perhaps it's time to break the chains, To redefine ourselves, release the pains, To stand united, proud, and free, Embracing our diversity, our unity.

For in the end, it's not for them to say, To define our worth, our truth, our way. It's up to us, to seize our place, 

And define ourselves with love and grace. 

The poem grapples with the question of who holds the authority to define one's racial identity, highlighting the historical injustices and oppressive forces that have shaped perceptions of race. It challenges the notion of allowing oppressors to dictate identities and calls for reclaiming agency over one's own narrative. The poem advocates for unity and empowerment within diverse racial communities, emphasizing the importance of self-definition and resisting external categorization. Ultimately, it underscores the individual and collective responsibility to define oneself with dignity and love, rather than accepting imposed labels and limitations.

2-11-2024

© [2024] Naomi Johnson. All rights reserved. This poem, " Defining Ourselves" is the intellectual property of Naomi Johnson-Soulality. It may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Unauthorized use or reproduction of this work is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action.