4th of a Slave

Today is July 4th, 1776 and the nation is getting its fix.

They say from here on out America will be a free society.

But none of this will apply to me.

I’m property to the country and not a citizen.

I learned this from the sheds that they sit us in.

I’m sold around because they don’t believe there’s a human man in me

Dark flesh means they’ll rip you from your family.

As I write this I’ll try not to cry as I express what it was like for me on the 4th of July.

As the fireworks went off the skin on my back was almost ripped off.

I tried to escape and almost had my skin whipped off.

They say this is the day the country is supposed to be free

But those freedoms weren’t meant for me.

Is this the way it was meant to be?

Calling my captors my masters? They’re really just my enemy.

I’m trapped in living hell and I hate it.

Independence Day for me is just another day of being abused and violated.

While the lighter skinned watches the fireworks happy for what they gained

Me and my fellow slaves are still bound in chains.

Some fought for a place of freedom.

Others made it a goal to erase my freedom.

An independent day when I can’t go my independent way. I don’t care what the independent say.

If I try to run for my freedom they’ll be a gunshot for me.

I’m Black. Those 4th of July declarations were not for me.