Coffee. Black.
No sugar.
I drank a whole pot
Alone
Sitting in the dark.
This rainy Sunday morning
Sipping
While I ponder
All the things you can not do
While Black
In America
Without getting shot in the back
Or shackled
Or scorned
Or belittled
Or dismissed.
Driving while Black
Walking while Black
Talking on the phone while Black
Playing at the park while Black
Going to the corner store while Black
Giving birth while Black
Marching for rights while Black
Traffic stop while Black
Resting in your own apartment while Black
Falling asleep while reading in public while Black
Walking across campus to your job while Black.
The list is mighty long we know
It goes on and on
And on
Who can even breathe while Black?
I drank a whole pot of coffee
In the dark
Black
No sugar.
Can’t sugarcoat this truth:
In America, you can drink your coffee black
But you can’t even drink coffee while Black.