It’s the strangest dream
living in this black body
staring at my dark skin
laying in bed
in the TV glow of night
I wonder
Why am I hated for this?
It’s just melanin
It’s just skin
I know that
looking through my eyes from within
What do they see
when they look at me?
Should I wash my black off
so I can be free?
I am not safe
not even at home
The cops can bust into my home
with a no knock warrant
They can kneel on my neck
They can shoot me in the chest
or my back
My being is constantly under attack
because I’m black
Programmed with hate
They see black and see enemy
They see threat
They don’t know
I just want to live, laugh, love
Oppression weighs on my chest
as it heaves trying to sleep
My thoughts racing
with all these causes to defeat
Racism feels like everything
Then I have my epiphany
They can pepper me with spray
Tear me with gas
Pierce me with bullets
or drown me in the sea
They can do whatever they want to me
But they cannot kill my inner being
They cannot kill a soul who dreams
By Thomas Agbonyitor
Boss Review 