America O' America

O’ America what was your name before they stripped you of your identity?

How does it feel with all that blood within your soil? 

Does it displease you that people have ruined your good name?

Giving humans false hope that all is created equal.

But at the foundation of these words on an outdated piece of paper,

we all know that it isn’t true.

People treated like animals instead of basic human beings based on the color of their skin.

All in the name of America, land of the free. 

Some are free I give you that! 

They live in this imaginary world where you are all that is good.

Walking while black can mean the end of your life on your land!

Wearing a hijab can make you a terrorist on your land!

Loving your same sex can ruin your life on this land!

Where are you great?!?

I wish you were, but I know the truth.

Land of the free and home of the brave?

More like the land of the unjust and home of the corrupt!

You have all the potential to be exactly what they've falsely said you are!

For everyone!

So many things have to be undone, have to be answered and made right!

Can you do that? Can you live up to the name your kidnappers gave you?

Can you forgive those people who have done wrong to you?

Set an example for us… 

It’s been 241 years since they’ve fully claimed you, shouldn’t you be over it?

It's funny how the land we walk on holds so much tension, 

and people act as if it comes from nowhere.

O’ Turtle Island I wish you great peace! I know being called America probably offends you.

It should be shocking that what they’ve done to you, they’ve done to others.

But I guess that’s always been the way of the people…

This poem is about: 
Me
My family
My community
My country
Our world
Poetry Terms Demonstrated: 

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