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“28” written by Ashanté Collins

28 days

The shortest month of the year 

28 days 

The only month not to see 30 

28 days 

Given to Black Americans so we can say we have our own month

28 days 

That most of white America acknowledges all that we have given them 

28 days 

That you’re not supposed to offend your Black neighbor

28 days 

that we have to endure people thinking that putting kente cloth on a product will make us happy, but it doesn’t 

28 days

Where Black children get to celebrate who they are in classrooms across the U. S. and realize that our history is more than slavery 

28 days 

Where we try to cram Black Knowledge in the minds of those who still can’t say our names because it’s too long, has too many vowels, has that apostrophe on the end, or they simply want to shorten it so they don’t have to try 

28 days 

That maybe …just maybe we won’t get the police called on us for running in our neighborhood 

28 days 

Where going to buy a pack of skittles and an Arizona iced tea won’t be a crime against an overzealous neighborhood watchman. 

28 days 

Where playing your music at a gas station doesn’t automatically become a death sentence 

28 days 

Where everyone walks around spitting Black history facts like they knew it all of their lives and not just something they googled this morning to add to a conversation later on. 

28 days 

That we as Black Americans have to explain once again that we want equity and not just equality but since it’s Black History Month y’all pretend to hear us until day 29 

28 days

Where Black people wonder why everyone can’t be this nice to us the other 337 days of the year 

28 days 

That I sometimes wish you didn’t give to me because I don’t just want 28 days like the 28 stanzas before this one in this poem I want 365 days of racial healing, 365 days of acceptance for who I am as a person, I demand 365 days where Martin’s dream of my character being what you see when you think of me is real and not the color of my skin, I want 365 days of where Malcom X’s by any means necessary doesn’t automatically sound like a threat to those who mean to bring harm to my fellow brethren, I deserve 365 days where I don’t have to fear for my Black child being railroaded in a system that was meant to oppress us. I pray for 365 days where being Black in America isn’t a negative but rather a positive in this country, I long for 365 days of where I don’t have to stand here and give a speech about how to treat me the same as the person who looks in the mirror and never had to worry about keeping their hands at a ten and 2 with their phone recording and sweat dripping down the front of their face as they explain they’re just reaching for their ID so They don’t get shot. 28 days ain’t enough 28 days isn’t sufficient for what we deserve in this country 28 days is just 28 days 

But what about the other 337. 

 

[Ashanté Collins is the Anti-Racism Task Force intern and will soon graduate from Western Michigan University. Bravo!]