I CRY FOR MY PEOPLE

[esmi]

I CRY FOR MY PEOPLE

I LOOK AROUND ME
AND I CRY
AND I CRY
AND I CRY FOR MY PEOPLE

I AM A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN
I AM AN AFRICAN WOMAN
AT ONE WITH THE COLOR OF MY SKIN
AT ONE WITH THE KINKINESS OF MY HAIR

WE HAVE LOST OUR WAY
WE HAVE LOST OUR IDENTITY
WE HAVE LOST CONNECTION WITH OUR SPIRITUALITY

MANY SAY I MUST BE ASHAMED OF WHO I AM
THAT I MUST BE AFRAID OF THE SOUND OF THE DRUM
THE SOUND OF MY PEOPLE
THE RHYTHM IN MY SOUL

WHO ARE THEY TO TELL ME THAT I AM NOT WHO I AM
WHO ARE THEY TO TELL ME THAT THE CONNECTION I HAVE WITH MORE THAN ONE WORLD
ONE DIMENSION
ONE EXISTENCE
IS UNTRUE, IS FORBIDDEN
WHO ARE THEY TO TELL ME THAT I AM DARKNESS

MY ANCESTORS CRY OUT
YOUR ANCESTORS ARE CRYING OUT
CAN YOU HEAR THEM

OR

ARE YOU TO FAR FROM WHO YOU ARE
TO HEAR THEIR VOICES ON THE WIND
TO FEEL THEIR CARESS ON THE BREEZE ON YOUR FACE
OR FEEL THEIR VIBRATION IN YOUR SOUL

I LOOK AROUND ME
AND I CRY
AND I CRY
AND I CRY FOR MY PEOPLE


WRITTEN BY ESMIE DANIEL/ April 21, 2009