I Am

I am a Black man. I wear this skin like armor, bequeathed to me by warriors who bade me keep the faith and fight the power. This nose, these lips, this jaw reflect the motherland I have never seen. I will not be cowed by lies, or threats, or scraps from the conqueror's table. In me burns the truth of King, the rage of Hannibal, and the wisdom of Solomon. My children are the seeds of the future. I will sacrifice all to see them grow, even as my ancestors did. Despots and demons may come and go. Monuments may fall and crumble to dust. Still, by the grace of God, I am a Black man.