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