I Love My Country, That Doesn't Love Me

I Love A Country, That Doesn’t Love Me

By: Imani Williams

I love a country, that doesn’t love me

I love my country, home of the brave land of the free

But the truth is it’s 2020

And I am still bound in chains, still not free

It baffles me that you have the audacity to say that I don’t love my country all because I decided to take a knee

I tell you that my knee is bigger than the flag

That I kneel to bring light to police brutality, bigotry, and the education gap in “hell holes”

And if YOUR president knows that we are living in “hell”

 Then why are policies being passed that are against me?

But your ignorance turns into arrogance, as you don’t care to hear me

In my everyday life getting shot by the police is a reality for me

In my everyday life going to jail for a speeding ticket is a reality for me

In my everyday life I have to work 10 times as hard to get half the recognition you receive

But I still love a country, that doesn’t love me

This country was built from blood, tears, and the death of my ancestors

This country is still being built by the blood, tears, and death of my brothers and sisters

Nothing fears me more than my child being 23 and not free

Nothing fears me more than my child being scared of the local police

The conversations my parents have with me 

Start at the young age of 3

Instead of playing with toys I watch my big brother being told to not to wear a hoodie

You see- everyone wants to be black, but nobody wants to be black

I die a little inside when I see a young black boy experience police brutality

Because I know he will never be the same

All I wish to do is make sure my own son never feels that pain

But the truth is I may have to sit him down, just like my parents did to me

It’s an endless cycle that I’m going to try my best to end with me

So

Listen to my heart that beats strong 

Loving unconditionally a country, that doesn’t love me