Reparations Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

When those days come,
Enabling everyone...
The freedom to discuss,
Openly and honestly...
Their emotional sensitivities.
Connected to keep,
As to how their ancestry...
Had been mistreated barbarically.
To impose endless guilt,
Wanting with this wished...
Identified by others to admit it felt.
For the rest of their lives.
Without teachable lessons,
Dismissing the opportunity to realize...
For one another to learn 'something'.
What is the point being made,
To believe understanding and comprehension...
Deserves attention to be acquired and reached.
If folks who are 'suppose' to have intelligence.
Maturity and advanced mental depth,
Can not bring themselves...
From games of playing hide and seek.
But yet can accuse and blame,
People for what they did or did not do.
In times centuries long to have gone.
But...
Can carry on feelings kept prolonged.
And stereotypical images.
To depict them as offensive.
Although keep them on their minds,
To find reasons why they have been left behind.
Expecting to be sympathized,
For anguish they self inflict.
Every chance they get to be reminded of a past,
Their ancestors had to live.
Yet...
No one confesses to know,
If their ancestors kept their hopes and dreams,
Wishing their future generations...
Would one day prioritize sitting on their butts.
Making accusations of how their ancestors,
Lived lives tolerating brutality on a daily basis.
While recreating this torment upon themselves.
And at their own expense.
These days wishing to want repayment.

What is it,
That reparations will fix?
And who is owed?
Those who have died,
Being captives of animalistic minds.
Who can define,
What today reparations even means?
For those of mixed heritage.
When their ancestors were demeaned.
Do those who are white,
Knowing their ancestors gave up their lives...
To sacrifice their own.
Deserves reparations.
Do those who are black yet have passed for white.
Also qualified?
Without proof they have ever sacrificed at all.
What is it,
That reparations will fix?
A truth long deceived to now believe existed.

And who ultimately benefits?
When most living today,
Have had their minds twisted!