If I perform a poem
If I perform a Poem,
A black poem,
Again and again
Onstage
On mic
As in repeat
As my words go unsettled
Upon white folks
and give hope to my black people
Like truth can drop from the air
Go viral
As much as possible
Like the song strange fruit
By Billie Holiday
Would I be told to shut the fuck up?
Would I get killed for that just like her?
Cos this isn’t fair….
If i perform a poem
Would I become popular?
Would I get called hate speech?
Yes but I wouldn’t do it for the fame…
I would do it for the people in the back
Especially black people who are starvin for facts…
to be real
I’d be scared
Of this situation
Where my family gets involved
And how death threats throw our way
My mama told me not to post politics, racism
Or religion on social media….
Yet I didn’t listen….
I want to use my voice
I want to have a say
I want to give a feelin or a critical thinkin
Even when I lose my friends
Even if the world stuns….
You see
Miss Holiday
Sang her soul to the people….
To our people who have been lynched
And she sang her anger
On the mic
America told her to stop
Singin the horrors that white folks did…
And they killed her….
Would I get shot if I continued to
Perform a poem
About
Racism, How black people
Were dehumanized
Or would they make me to go to
A psych ward and take my writin
Away for good?
It’s possible….
You know CIA
And the government is still
Targetin black extremists
Who are doin the right thing for
Their people….
Billie Holiday
Was a dangerous activist
She has sung that song
With her tears streamin down
America knew what they were doin….
They still do it….
So if i perform a poem
A spoken word heaviness
That gives white people discomfort and fear
To the point that I will become another conspiracy
Theory that I died cos i wrote this piece
From the heart….and people record me
On videos and post it online….
Like Michael Jackson
I would break the internet….
Completely over sharin the pieces of me
That loves black people
Could be on the front line….
And we know white supremacy
Doesn’t like black poets
Who are real…..who uplift and
Speak truth to power on page
And on mic….
I bet they banned black poetry in
Schools and libraries….
White supremacy might write laws
To snatch our pens from our hands
Cos we write too much melanin….
They’re desperate….
They will grab our mic
And cancel our soul rhythms and
Poetic cos it’s not always about them…
It’s about what we experienced
Dealin with their ass backwards bull shit….
If I perform a poem
And I’m on every platform
And emotions too strong
And get the realness out
And people get uncomfortable
I would get reported by others
Who are so uptight
With their ignorance….
Internet is forever
You can’t erase me
When I’m somebody’s favorite
Poetess…I’m somebody’s mirror
I’m somebody’s memo….
I’m somebody’s food of thought….
People will overly share my poetry
Even if social media cut ties to
Their accounts…
Cos if i perform a poem
Nobody will forget me
Nobody will forget what my soul has said….
💯✊🏿©️ Kai C. 5-23-25
