Immigration Poem by Shirley Your Speaker Smith

Immigration is not my his to ry
As I write these words I become emotional
I am the only black person in this class
It seems I must carry the burden of representing all African Americans

How often have I heard the past is the past
The current state of affairs in this country speak to the contrary
I chose to believe you want to believe the past is the past
I need to believe you are sincere
Immigration
not my ancestors

Sometimes It becomes very personal
Sometimes I live the past in 2018 like I did today
Sometimes I see an all too familiar expression flash across a persons face
and then they quickly recover
It is too late
I saw the look
I felt the judge ment
I pretend I did not see the look
She is black
Is she going to live here
Immigration
not my ancestors

In 2007 while I was in Ghana Africa I felt like I was home
I carry many wondrous memories
One memory ins a particular stands out
One day I was at the market place
Looking down the long roll of vendors
I smiled from ear to ear
All the people had beau ti ful dark skin
No mixed heritage
All pure dark chocolate
It is a scene itched into my mind
The people greeted me with an abundance of love
Immigration
not my ancestors

We came in the belly of a slave ship by the thousands chained together
stacked like a can of sardines
Many died during the trip
Immigration
Not my ancestors