I’m a proud black mother
Who reflects upon history
And understands the timeline,
The never-ending chronology
Of mothers’ fears, worries and concern,
About every child delivered and born
Into this world of inequality and scorn
Simply because of their skin tone.
I’m a proud black mother,
Who can and does empathize
With those who stood quietly,
Tears rolling down their face
Pain ripping apart every fiber of their being,
As they watched their babies,
Torn from their arms,
Sold, abused and misused, slaughtered and maimed
All at the white man’s whim
With no humanitarian laws against him.
I’m a proud black mother,
Who lived through Jim Crow laws,
Never fully understanding then,
Heartache endured of my kin
Who had to stay in “their place,”
Never muttering a word against
Discriminatory acts, fear etched in their face,
Because the laws were never just,
Never considered the black man worthy of equality
Or having just laws to protect their families,
All we got was silence, no response to our pleas
To be treated like human beings.
I’m a proud black mother
Who gave birth to two children
My daughter and son, in that order.
Teaching her how to avoid situations
That could traumatize her life,
Teaching him how to avoid strife
While living black.
Over 40 years later, since my children were born
Not much has changed, children are still torn
From their mothers in one way or another,
From police brutality or someone else’s brother,
Who just didn’t understand
How precious life is for every black man.
I’m a proud black mother
And though some may never admit,
Days of being concerned, fretfully
About the plight of every black child
Will never end, until every man, woman and child
Stops treating human beings differently,
Until laws include a humanitarian stance
With equality and justice for all,
No matter what our skin tone is called,
Because the simple truth is this,
If we believe mankind began on the African Continent,
We are all of African descent
And can no longer hide in ignorant bliss
Behind the lies of inferiority of one man
To appease a fragile ego of those needing
To feel and act superior.
I’m a proud black mother,
In my advanced age, still willing to take a stand,
Actively involved with my vote and my hands,
Working with the community to silence the hate
That if not quelled, will eventually obliterate
Any forward movement, any strides made
To cross that finish line where all men, women and children
Are seen as humans and not just the color of their skin.
But until that happens, please understand the need for all to see
Black Lives Matter—especially to mothers who look like me!
maryhallrayford 