By Amanda Kemp
You know the ancestors are calling you
You know the ancestors are calling
You
They say
They say
Forgive me
They say
Me
You
Me
Remember.
Photo: Shutterstock
Amanda Kemp writes plays about the African-American experience and partners with people who want to change the world. Whether you do this as an artist, educator, community organizer, or healer, she's here to share tips on how to take care of yourself, tools that keep you growing, and art that reminds you to trust that a new world is being birthed! In her spare time, she's also a Visiting Scholar in Africana Studies at Franklin & Marshall College.
You know the ancestors are calling
You
They say
Remember me
They say
Forgive me
They say
I forgive you
They call
And they weep
When they see us dead
on our feet
When they see us
Walking
no where
When they see us
Running
after the same
Thing
Again
And
Again
And
Again
You here
You there
Running
For that check
To that man
For the job you hate
To that woman
For that bottle
To that weed
To that strawberry shortcake
—the whole cake
Always looking out
Never within
The Ancestors are calling
The Ancestors are calling
On you
To stop.
And know
And remember
And feel
And forgive
They call
And they weep
When they see us dead
on our feet
When they see us
Walking
no where
When they see us
Running
after the same
Thing
Again
And
Again
And
Again
You here
You there
Running
For that check
To that man
For the job you hate
To that woman
For that bottle
To that weed
To that strawberry shortcake
—the whole cake
Always looking out
Never within
The Ancestors are calling
The Ancestors are calling
On you
To stop.
And know
And remember
And feel
And forgive
Me
You
Me
Remember.
Photo: Shutterstock
Amanda Kemp writes plays about the African-American experience and partners with people who want to change the world. Whether you do this as an artist, educator, community organizer, or healer, she's here to share tips on how to take care of yourself, tools that keep you growing, and art that reminds you to trust that a new world is being birthed! In her spare time, she's also a Visiting Scholar in Africana Studies at Franklin & Marshall College.
