America

Picture courtesy of artist Sidney Carter,
visit his website at http://sidneycarter.net/about_the_artist

       America
               © 2010 Syneeda Penland

            After centuries of being denied access to our history,

            African American history is no longer a mystery.

            After being kidnapped from our homeland,

            told false promises of being returned to our origin,

            America is now home to me.

            Holding her torch, the Statue of Liberty,

            a symbol of freedom, promises of false hope

            that in America you will no longer feel choked.

            Strangled by shackles around your feet and hands,

            you’ve landed on the shores of the

            so-called “Promise Land.”

            Many centuries ago,

            these shores laid home to my other ancestors

            who were free to roam

            up and down the shores

            of America’s creeks.

            Native American Indian’s land

            is what explorers would seek.

            This land of the West is what explorers called

            “The New World”,

            soon became home for other nations

            to explore.

            America is now considered home

            to many races,

            Black, red, yellow, white;

            many brown faces.

            America, America

            Land of Liberty.

            America, America

            Will I, on OUR land,

            Ever be free?