by Takiyah Jackson
Go to
The belly of
The beast
And
Bring Back our Girls
Go to
Where teardrops
Are more abundant
Than fresh fruit water
And
Bring back our girls
Go to
Where court orders
Parent daughters
and
Bring back our girls
Go to where
Text books
Challenge images
With
Erroneous definitions of
Good looks
And
Bring back our girls
Go to where
9 to 5's
And mismanaged lives
Take mommies from home
There are no house rules
The babies are alone
And
Bring back our girls
Go to where
Sex sales
And Intelligence fails
Where " bad bitches"
and "n;&&?@$"
Tell tales
Believing the lies
And
Bring back our girls
Go to the depths
Of despair
Where
Nurturing is needed
But only loneliness is there
And
Bring back our girls
Go
Deep inside
Look inside your soul
Where somehow
Pride was lost
In the fight
Where we
Raised fists
Toward our men
Because "the" man
Was unreachable
Where we
Trust schools
That think
Our children
“Un-teachable”
Where we
Hate our sisters
Because those mirrors
Aren't magical
So we see
What's really there
And the change
Isn't feasible
Go
Go
Go
And
Please
Bring back
Our
Women
Description: For weeks the #Bring Back Our Girls campaign tormented me. Every time I would see or hear it, I thought about the reality of some of our young brown girls right here at home. I wondered what would it take to campaign against the psychological and situational destruction many of us are faced with right here at home. Please note this poem does not in any way serve to minimize the tragic kidnapping in Nigeria and kidnapping(s) of girls around the world . It just was a sentiment sparked in me as I think about the students I've taught, sisters, friends, aunts, mothers, and myself.
Photo Credit: Creative Fan
