Hung out to dry 
We are finally seen 
We've been crying out for help. 
No
Attention?
No
Awareness?
No
Exposure.
Mmmm more like: Change!  
Calling out for you to see the pressure binding us on each side, 
in each aspect, 
in each regard
The systemic oppression 
Felt in class rooms, jail cells, hospital beds, even in the womb
They say diamonds are made in the rough
But this pressure is different
We don’t want it 
We want change

It’s like we were set to get burned

The scorching heat 
hottest at noon, 
Noon, Midday 
Midday 
Midday
Mayday!
Mayday! 
Mayday!

We are calling out for change

Remove the line;
Remove the noose!

Remove the line;
Remove the divide!

Remove the line;
Remove the stripes!

39 lashes for this? 
Our men & women got that and more!
War is waged on our kind 
Why, dear Lord, have thou forsaken thee?  

We are branded

Scorched by the sun 
The color of our skin screams  
Have you not seen? 
Have you not heard? 

Scorched by the sun 
The color of our skin screams 
Arrest the men killing our people 
Stone them
Sentence them 
Make them pay the price!! 

Scorched by the sun 
The color of our skin screams
We matter.
Black Lives Matter.

We take pride in our melanin 
For we know we are precious, 
Strong material 
Cut from a different cloth
Our own clothing line 
Yet clearly hung out to dry 
On this clothes line

-Dr. Queen 

Featured Image: "A Windy Day" by Tilly Willis