Black Lives Matter – Demo: Contribution by Ebenye Kouoh

I AM THE ONE YOU ASK IF IT'S OKAY TO SAY IT, BUT WHEN
I SAY NO, YOU JUST ASK SOMEONE ELSE.
I AM THE ONE YOU CALL A FRIEND, BUT WHEN SOMEONE IS RACIST,
YOU PRETEND YOU DON'T KNOW ME.
YOU DON'T DEFEND ME, NOT ONE BIT AND YOU PUSH ME DIRECTLY
INTO MISFORTUNE.
I AM THE ONLY ONE IN THE CLASS.
I AM THE ONE WITH THE OTHER RACE.
I AM THE ONE WHO STANDS UP FOR HERSELF ALONE, BECAUSE YOU
TURN YOUR BACK ON ME.
I AM THE ONE PEOPLE THINK IS CRAZY, JUST BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE
THE N-WORD.
I AM THE ONE WHO CAN DEFINITELY DANCE SO WELL.
I AM THE ONE WHO CAN DEFINITELY SPEAK "AFRICAN".
I AM THE ONE WHOSE HAIR YOU JUST TOUCH AND DON'T ASK
IF THAT'S EVEN OKAY.
I AM THE ONE WHOSE CULTURE YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND YOU DON'T EVEN
SEE THE PROBLEM.
I AM THE ONE WHO IS INCREASINGLY AFRAID TO GO OUT.
I AM THE ONE NO ONE TRIES TO UNDERSTAND.
I AM THE ONE WITH THE BIG ENEMY.
I AM THE ONE WHO CRIES.

YOU SAY YOU ARE OUR FRIENDS AND HELPERS
BUT WE MUST FIGHT FOR OURSELVES
WE FIGHT FOR OUR DEAD BROTHERS AND SISTERS BECAUSE THEY
CAN NO LONGER
AND YOU WON'T GRANT US JUSTICE
YOU SAY YOU PROTECT US
AND THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE NEED YOU
BUT I SIMPLY CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ANY MORE
YOU HAVE SUCH RAGE
AND I AM AFRAID
AND YOU CARRY ON UNTIL YOU GAIN EVEN MORE POWER
WHO DO YOU WANT TO CATCH NEXT
WHO DO YOU WANT TO HUNT NEXT
WHO DO YOU WANT TO BEAT TO DEATH NEXT
YOU DIDN'T CARE WHETHER OUR BROTHER COULD NO LONGER BREATHE
TELL ME WHEN
WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE
NEXT MONTH
NEXT WEEK
NEXT HOUR
GIVE ME YOUR REASONS
YOU WANT TO SEE OUR BLOOD FLOWING THROUGH OUR VEINS
BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE US SUFFERING ENOUGH
YOU WANT US TO FEEL PAIN AND SUBMIT
BUT WHEN WE DON'T ALLOW IT YOU RUN OUT OF WORDS
YOU HAVE THE POWER

AND YOU HAVE DECIDED IT THAT WAY
AND PERHAPS I WON'T BE SHOT BY YOU
BEATEN TO DEATH
TASERED
OR BURNT
BUT YOU ARE THE ONES WHO BANISH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM THIS
WORLD

– Ebenye Kouoh