Black people don’t look up at the sky anymore
even if they do, there are never as many stars as needed
Black northern stars who would lead the way
have been eradicated and eliminated
causing supernovae and limiting black his and her stories.
a sink hole swallowed stories of Paul Robeson, Josephine Baker
Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Mary Mahoney, Mary Seacole
Bessie Coleman, Lewis Latimer, Charles Drew to name a few
during black history we parade the same sanitized stars
Malcolm X, Dr King, Thurgood Marshal, Harriet Tubman,
Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali, Fredrick Douglas and Jackie Robinson.
encourage all children to look up at the sky
place other stars in their galaxy
place as many stars as needed
don’t limit their vision to the same sanitized stars
allow them to star-gaze on a diversity of stars
allow them to star-gaze on other diamonds
uncut and rough sparkling with the clarity of truth
stars that sparkle and emit respect, pride and dignity.
