Editor’s Note: Introspective Ramblings is Amherst Wire’s poetry column, dedicated to showcasing student’s creative work through a mixture of audio and visual components.

BLACK FREEDOM

Tell me, are you afraid? 

When you see those with dark skin 

Marching for our lives like we’re a walking sin

Does the fear in you seem sane? 

Might be time to dip tbh 

Cuz the systematic racism is so chronic 

Can’t defend the indefensible 

Justice ain’t blind, it’s white 

“If it ain’t white, it ain’t right” 

Seems like I ain’t credible 

Stop killing us, stop treating us like we ain’t shit

Cuz you know what? WE ARE THE SHIT 

My skin is not a threat, my breath is not a crime

What tells you I can’t enjoy the same things 

Why must I be afraid to sing 

My joy shouldn’t lead to lying on a sidewalk 

The victim of hate, while my assailant gets to walk

“Land of the free, home of the brave” 

Gets to go on raves, called a “hero” without shame

Me? “Thug had a weapon on him, was perceived as a threat”

REAL TALK 

Why can’t we live, why can’t we live 

Why do we always have to fight to win 

Our rights as people, they should be a given 

Stop killing us and blaming us for the fucks YOU DO NOT GIVE

STOP KILLING US, LET US LIVE 

STOP KILLING US, LET US LIVE 

UNTIL THAT DAY COMES, BRING ON THE PROTESTS, BRING

ON THE RIGHTEOUS ANGER 

KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL THEY LET US LIVE 

TOO MANY OF US HAVE DIED TO STOP, TOO MANY HAVE

BEEN BRUTALIZED 

UNEQUIVOCALLY, UNAPOLOGETICALLY, BLACK

LIVES MATTER TODAY, TOMORROW, FOREVER! DO NOT GET IT

TWISTED

Email Zach at [email protected]