โBackpacks
When black boys are born
We mothers kiss their faces
Twirl our fingers in their curls
Put them in carriers on our chest
Show them to the world
Our tiny black princes
And when they start school
As early as 3
We mothers
Place huge back packs on their backs
And we slowly fill them with bricks
Etched with tools
Tattooed with truths
Hoping to save them
Donโt talk back
Donโt get angry
Say yes maโam
Say no sir
Donโt fight
Even if they hit you first
Especially if they are white
Do your best
Better than best
Be still
Work your hardest
BRICK
they get a little older
And we add more
Keep your hands out of your pockets
Donโt look them in the eye
Donโt challenge
Donโt put your manhood before your life
Just get home safe
Donโt walk alone
Donโt walk with too many boys
Donโt walk towards police
Donโt walk away from police
Donโt buy candy or iced tea
Donโt put your hood up
Iโll drive you
Iโll pick you up
You canโt be free
Donโt go wandering
Come home to me
BRICK
They get a little older
And we add more
Understand you are a threat
Standing still
Breathing
Your degrees are not a shield
Your job is not a shield
Your salary makes you a target
Your car makes you a target
Your nice house in a nice neighborhood
Makes you a target
Donโt put your ego before your safety
Donโt talk back
Donโt look them in the eye
Get home to your wife
Your son
BRICK
They weigh them down.
This knowing
Of having to carry the load
Of their blackness
the world hasnโt changed
The straps just dig deeper into their skin
Their backs ache
But their souls donโt break
Our beautiful black men
When you say to me
#AllLivesMatter
I simply ask
Will your son die
At a traffic stop
Will your son die
For a 20-dollar bill
Will your son die with the a knee
on his neck
Mine haveโ
This poem was submitted toโฏLove What Mattersโฏby Leslรฉ Honorรฉ. You can follow her journey on Facebook and her website. Submit your own storyโฏhere, and be sure toโฏsubscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, andโฏYouTube for our best videos.
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