Noose

CATEGORY

life

Sleeping infant beautiful hair Curly locks everywhere

HEY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HAIR?

Now tightly coiled textured hair

My culture and identity not even Imus could offend my humanity

I embrace my mane I do not need it to flow

I like how it stands I like how it grows Just like I like my ethic nose

I don’t need it to blow in the wind I loved my nappy plats that matched my black skin Way back when

Why would I want to trade them for burned hair and burned skin?

Royal crown and Dixie peach

Pressing comb on the stove waiting for me

What was Annie Malone thinking? I don’t want it so I get a spanking?

Grandma pressing while drinking

Held down in a chair while a hot comb runs through my hair

I miss my nappy hair up there my cake cutters and Afro picks

“DON’T SWEAT OR IT WILL GO BACK”

Burns on my forehead and my ears

Anger in my heart on my face dried up tears

A child don’t a have a voice or a choice in this world

I rather wear an Afro then a press and curl

Hair fried from searing heat and hot grease

“HOLD YOU LEFT EAR HOLD YOUR RIGHT”

“HOLD YOUR HEAD STILL”

If I weren’t a child I would fight for my rights or kill at will

“A CHILD IS SUPPOSE TO STAY IN A CHILDS PLACE”

“A CHILD IS TO BE SEEN NOT HEARD”

I didn’t ask to come here for you to Stick hot sewing needles through the lobes of my ears

Whelps all over my body from switches And extensions cords to keep me in my place

Mama isn’t that what they did to our own race?

Beat me to death because I wont behave

“ I’M YOUR CHILD, NOT YOUR SLAVE”

So the book says spare the rod spoil the child?

Could that mean beat the hell out of your child?

Well I’m gone do everything you told me to

Its not the fear of God it’s the fear of you