by Travis Richards

Dear White America 

 

Dear white America, 

 

I see what you did there, created this blackness to taint your shoe. Caressed your 

“curiosity” and forget to mention your fear of the unknown. Utilized your power to 

dominate the world. Highlight your kindness as a way to show your empathy. You did 

that! 

 

You took culture, and forced assimilation. Altered my blackness to the point of 

acculturation. This is beginning to be the worst, documentation of the truth when they 

found out, that they don’t see us. 

 

400 years of slavery meant nothing, disrupting the psyche of your Black and Brown 

babies. Raise them up to become your weapon of choice, taking away ethics, morals, and 

agency. 

 

This is a chance to hear us roar, dismantling a system that’s been around for ages. 

Creating policies, merging red tapes, blurring the lines of justice. I can’t be the only one 

concerned, when they see us. 

 

No sirens, no amber alerts, just detention camps, dolla per bodies, dehumanization,

ingesting all of your fog. Government systems leading you astray. Killing children, Bomb’n countries.

Luring the eye, clouded with fangs.  

Hiding away truths, with that gawn damn sinister smile. 

I guess we deserve that, the world is too big to hold accountability.  

Reminding me that freedom comes with a price. A price so steep, that musters up trauma. 

 

Is this what you want? I get it now, your CRT, is it for the world. You want us to fit this 

finite box, without first seeing your wounds. Are you finally free? Are you able to let the 

world see? Your taste of power, your lust for fame. Your ego is hurt! If you’re 

uncomfortable, stay there. It will only take five minutes so beware. you did not win, you 

did not steal our joy, our struggle does not define us, our resilience continues to defy all 

odds, our history continues to show up. We will take up space. You will always see us, 

even when you try to erase. 

 

This poem is a powerful abolitionist critique of systemic racism and the historical injustices faced by Black and Brown communities in America. The poet addresses white Americans, highlighting how their actions and policies have perpetuated inequality, forced assimilation, and dehumanization. Reflecting on the legacy of slavery and the manipulation of cultural identities, the poem calls for dismantling oppressive systems and achieving true justice. It emphasizes the resilience of marginalized communities and the necessity of an abolitionist approach to create a more equitable society. 

 

Hating this body vs. Choosing Violence 

 

The way you love on my body 

The way you call me your papi 

Built on that spiritual connection 

To your ancestral history 

Not to be at all diminished but at least you’re consistent 

This blackness has done some damage 

You wonder how to fix it 

 

Lord knows you’ve pled your case. 

Fix’N the allure no adherence to the chase. 

Sexual conquest, feeding your fetishes. 

Mixing booze, telling truth, you’ve finally made it 

 

Promise land granted, official admittance. 

Praise this body, make it feel like your wonderland. 

Saying no, couldn’t make it to this program. 

This body has been misplaced with my soul. 

Not that you struck gold, 

you’ve lost sight, wonder what will it take for you to be whole 

Caught up in the missed connection, that borderline so bold. 

Cut out the noise, you’ve been here before. 

Allowing others to dictate the way you feel, can’t take up space. 

Adding to the body count, at least let it unveil. 

The truth no matter what it entails. 

Burning bridges, setting fires, sending it all to hell. 

Decomposed, lolling words, desperate souls in contempt. 

Empty prayers, I bid you well, this holy ghost seems too familiar to tell. 

 

Lord knows you’ve been here too much. 

Fixated on an illusion that love can heal the heart. 

You’re too much into this concept, but the community will never be it. 

Too much invested into this allure that the abuse was your fault, but really ain’t it. 

We’re all a little too much to have hope when the assault seems to show up. 

You’re too much, glad you made it, this space will make you famous 

Discomfort in knowing how beauty can be tainted, disrupted, morphed, fucked up in Many Positions. 

 

This world can make you lose sight over all its dispositions. 

Wondering thoughts, swirling truths disrupt the family convictions 

Creating dissonance in behaviors, I can only be a witness. 

See my soul, nourish my body, it’s yours, now take it. 

The tears are falling, now its your chance, the devil is over your ear 

Whispering something, no one should ever spare. 

Infusing language that may burn a line so clear. 

Reminding how fucked up the people in this world can be, no cheers… 

 

This abolitionist-themed poem explores the complex relationship between body, identity, and societal perceptions. It delves into the fetishization and objectification of Black bodies, the historical trauma inflicted by systemic racism, and the quest for genuine connection and self-acceptance. The poet discusses the tension between external validation and internal dissonance, and the pain of misplaced identity. The poem reflects on the illusions of love and healing, the destructiveness of societal pressures, and the need for personal and communal healing through an abolitionist lens, emphasizing the liberation from oppressive narratives and structures. 

 

 To my homeland 

 

To my homeland I spit truth, above anything I do. 

 To humbleness in my walk and the achievement I made thru. 

 I cry for my dear country, when it is not accepting. 

 For my real identity I begat the notion of to be the ultimate threat, to the utmost dealt it. 

 I feel for my country when others see my strive, I gaze upon the look upon your eyes. 

 The allure, the pride, the anticipation to claim I am one of you, 

 You forget to mention the shame, I ultimately have brought you. 

 A doctor in his own right, educator through and through 

 A big ole heart telling the world, who he thought he knew. 

 A boy who grew up with the mindset of a bigger world. 

 Naive in the truth in perspective in this space. 

 In this space they won’t see your accolades, in this space they won’t see your struggle. 

 In this space they won’t see the work you continue to do, disrupting this illusion like they 

 see truth. 

 To my homeland I love you, the foundation you’ve laid is strong. 

 To my homeland I love you, you’ve made me appreciate the simplicity of it all. 

 I humbly accept my truth, for it will create opportunities. Good God, I accept my truth, for 

 the next version of me, I hope to help them, as they matriculate their way through. 

 America, you’ve leveled up my intersectionality, for which my claim to the older version of 

 me is gone. This starting to seem like a love letter to my former self, self entitled like a 

 narcissist did you wrong. 

 Yet it surrenders the fear of guilt, laying on a community, impacting change, and finding 

 strength to preserver. I know the tenacity I’ve built in, forging people to speak truth to 

 power no phasing. I know not what this world has in store for me post this chapter, but I 

 know I will be great trusting in the path, God has placed before and after. 

 

In this poem, the poet expresses a deep connection to their homeland while also confronting the challenges of acceptance and identity. Through an abolitionist perspective, the poem reflects on the poet’s personal achievements and the struggle to reconcile their cultural identity with societal expectations. There is a sense of pride and love for the homeland, mixed with the pain of not being fully accepted. The poet acknowledges their journey of self-discovery and the impact of their work on future generations, embracing their truth and the strength derived from their experiences. The poem concludes with a hopeful outlook, trusting in the path laid out by faith and perseverance, and advocating for abolitionist principles to create opportunities for true freedom and equity.

 

Notes on Contributor

Dr. Travis Richards is an accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in design and 15 years in research. His work skillfully integrates creativity with in-depth research, emphasizing empathy, abstract thinking, and social justice. Travis has a proven track record in community engagement, including political campaigns, and is recognized for his storytelling prowess as a recently published poetic scholar. His career interests span roles in copywriting, art direction, and international education, reflecting his diverse skill set and commitment to impactful, inclusive work.