Two Birds, Two Songs

One bird flies high

under the warm sun.

She sings as she flies—

her wings wide,

her sky endless.

The other bird sits

in a small, dark cage.

She looks out

through thin metal bars,

where the sky is just a dream.

The bird in the cage

is dark as night,

her feathers soft

but strong.

She sings too—

not because she is free,

but because her heart

remembers freedom.

The bird in the sky

is bright and light,

her song full of joy.

She does not see the cage below,

or the pain in the other bird’s song.

But both birds sing.

One for joy.

One for hope.

And the wind

carries both songs

into the same sky.

...............................................

Historically, white women in Western societies, though often limited by patriarchal systems, were still granted basic human recognition and protection under the law. They were viewed as delicate, moral guardians of the home and were often idealized in literature and media. Though denied many rights, they were still part of the dominant racial structure.

In contrast, Black women faced both racism and sexism—a double burden. During slavery in the United States, Black women were treated as property, forced to work in fields, and subjected to physical and sexual abuse. Unlike white women, they were not seen as needing protection, and their bodies were exploited without rights or recognition. Even after slavery ended, systemic racism continued through segregation, economic inequality, and social stereotypes (e.g., the “mammy,” “jezebel,” and “sapphire” tropes).

Prominent figures like Sojourner Truth spoke out about this disparity. In her famous 1851 speech “Ain’t I a Woman?”, she challenged the idea that womanhood was only defined by white femininity and demanded recognition of Black women’s struggles.

In short:

White women were oppressed as women but protected by race.

Black women were oppressed as both Black and female, often silenced and dehumanized.

This poem reflects that history through the metaphor of two birds—one flying free, the other caged—but both still singing. One song is easy and full of light. The other is heavy with hope.