The Psychological Scars Of Racism Poem by Hebert Logerie
The Psychological Scars Of Racism
Some scars are pruritic and fresh
Some wounds are dry and old
Most old wounds are joined by new flesh
It is like being recently mauled
By the ferocious teeth of racism
It is like being meticulously shredded
By the deadly claws of nepotism
In a way, we have not ended
The nightmares of the past
Every night, they jumped out of the glass
Regurgitating scenes from old movies
It is hurtful to relive those awful memories.
The vestiges of slavery
And the realities of an antiquity
Which have not died with time
The old wounds of deceit and crime
Committed by perpetrators
Who refused to admit guilt and faults
The grand children, the new aggressors
Deceitfully denied owning the vaults
Full of gold, diamond, sweat and blood
Of the African slaves. The years of hate
Are still alive. The human flood
Is still active. Human flesh is used as bait
To catch domesticated wolves, wild dogs
Vicious cats and malnourished angry hogs.
The mental scars are itchy and very old
Because the wounds are still fresh
They are living in the flesh
Of the descendants, who are bold
Intelligent and strong
The old powerful song
Reverberates in the darkest night
The Negroes could never be right
Even though they were innocent
Brave, laborious, and pleasant
The cicatrices of hate exist today
While we smile as if it were another day.
God is never wrong, but always right
The children of the slaves are never afraid to fight
Against the racists and the bigots
Who are slumbering in the lots
Of our Ancestors
Yet, the children of the oppressors
Are slick, highly skilled and educated
We must defeat hate, complacency, and hatred
By any means necessary
We must end modern slavery
Heal the wounds of racism
Soothe the pain of racism
And erase the scars of nepotism
Regardless, the tattoo is incorporated
In our heart, in our soul, because we were humiliated
Hanged, abused, killed like deer, and exploited.
The old wounds are healed yet painful
The scars are itchy, fresh, and unusual
The freedom's train is not yet at the tall tower
But hope is patiently waiting at the corner
God is with us, the victory is forthcoming
Soon, we'll win the crown and the trophy in the ring.
Copyright © December 2016 Logerie Hébert, All Rights Reserved
Hebert Logerie is the author of several collections of poems.
This poem is dedicated to a little Afro-Brazilian girl, to many other discriminated children, to Teacher Denise Aragao, to Massage Therapist Fatima Souza, to Professor Tony Leiba, and to Poet Frantz Fanon.The story of the little Afro-Brazilian girl was published in Pambazuka News, on the internet. This is a global village, we are fully aware of what's happening in our world.
I wrote the poem and then I found the story of this little Brazilian sister.
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5/5/2024 9:20:00 AM # 1.0.0.1119
I think, Herbert that this is a very important poem. I feel indeed deeply sad that the bigotry and racism of mainly the white population is still not a thing thoroughly locked up in chambers of shame and disgust for any of the white ancestors who were thinking or acting like this. It should be by now healed scars forever etched on humanity, to remind any young person to turn away from any thought of supremacy based on skin colour and to avoid with all their might any false generalizations. And still, Herbert, contrary to what we see in the news, contrary to what Trumpism seems to be, I believe deep in my heart that respect and kindness is on the rise in this world. I believe that the best days for humanity are yet to come and that they may come sooner than we expect. It is more than a simple hope for me, it is at the level of belief. This is a very well written, well rhymed poem, very thought provoking. A superb ten.