I come from a strong black man 

I come from a strong family surviving the obstacles set against them 

I come from San Francisco

Born and raised

I come from Louisiana

I come from black woman that are the most unprotected in this country 

I come from a strong community

I come from low income

I come from survival 

I come from the Bay Area

Everything I come from has shaped me into who I am today

Most will say they would never think I come from what I come from by the way I carry myself

Should I be proud about that compliment 

Or should I be ashamed ?

All I know is that I am who I am because of where I come from and for that I am proud of who I am

I do

You make me smile

like watching the sunsets 

like a hot summer night in July 

a stary clear night sky 

my heart beats fast for you 

I laugh through my mouth loud 

loud as a hyena 

my heart beats fast as a cheetah

I express my love through many ways 

poetry is a way 

it opens up feelings that are hidden deep within

within my soul

deep like the ocean 

the sunset sets away as we hide those feelings 

deep within

I release you

heartbreak

brokenness

sadness

weakness

powerless

the lover I thought I would grow old with

how could you?

we named our children

planned our future

Just to throw it all away

I release you my so called soul mate

I release you 

You were my lover

I release you with the heartbreak

I endured 

You are someone I don’t know anyone 

I give you back to the streets 

I give you back to the strangers we would be now

I release you, because you are not what I want anymore

I release you I release you I release you 

I am not afraid to be alone

I am not afraid to know my worth

I am not afraid to not speak to you ever again

I am not afraid to find new love

Oh the darkness I faced when I was with you 

The pain I went through as my heart broke 

I take myself back 

I know my strength 

I am better now because you are out of my life 

Injustice is what we face everyday

It's unfair for us 

to be treated differently, looked at certain ways, projected in media falsely 

why?

My ancestors helped built this country 

Why aren't their any reparations yet?

Instead we are constantly being killed by cops left and right 

Another brown face on the news

Another police shooting 

Injustice is what they serve us 

Constantly let down 

Carried trauma from my ancestors 

we are tired 

tired of the mistreatment

tired of the racism

tired of the judgement 

tired of being stereotyped

When we protest its an issue 

When we show how powerful our voices can be 

its an issue

We are no longer being quite 

enough is enough

we have fought for many years 

and will not stop fighting until 

Justice is Served

Justice is Equal 

Justice is Freedom 

Justice is at Peace

I am a woman to be and everyone will see

I am stronger and Im older, Im braver and bolder

I am a woman up be and everyone will see 

I have good days and bad days, I have happy days and sad days 

I am a woman to be and everyone will see

I will love, I will hate, I will never mess with fate 

I am a woman to be and everyone will see 

I am a woman now, So i will take a bow 

For i am a woman to me and everyone will see