Poems

Black Squares Are Gone, But The Smears Remain

Still living in a world of silent pain

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

Just trying to go about my day Minding my own business But some won’t leave me alone My skin tone conflicts with their vision

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

I really want to help, Just tell me what to do Is there a book I can read, Or a seminar to go to?

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

Trying to move forward Keep my head up high But it’s difficult to do When there’s dirt in your eye

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

Every day’s a new challenge New barriers to climb But they tell me it’s okay now They’ve changed with the Times

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

We keep the wheels turning Sometimes skipping gears But we’re not going anywhere Couldn’t be any more clear

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

Brown faces got them exercised Like we’ve never seen before Someone should tell them it’s just a commercial They’re not moving in next door

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

I wish I could take my daughter there Without having to think twice Is this how it is for everyone? Is this how we live life?

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

I wish she knew a better world That was just like in her books Where we didn’t have to compromise We didn’t have to change our looks

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

But we live with hope, not fury The pain would be too much to bear We want our children to grow up In a world with less despair

Black squares are gone But the smears remain Still living in a world of silent pain

We look to the past to guide our future To those who’ve gone before And shown with enough effort We too can open doors