O’America

By: Anab Aden

 

O’ America, the land of the opportunities

They say “anything is possible, if you just believe”

Where people come to be part of communities

Leaving behind everything they believe.

 

Where people come to find freedom of speech

Some fleeing their homes with only hope

For a better condition of life, they preach

Sometimes it’s the only way they can cope.

 

Where those that are meant to protect and serve,

Are the same ones that kill us because of our skin

They tell us everything we get, we deserve,

Not once seeing the soul within.

 

Where lawmakers are easily bought

By interest groups and the rich class

And their constituents easily forgot

The poor and middle class.

 

O’ America, can’t you see the truth

The same policies that are supposed to protect

End up hurting us more than a wisdom tooth,

And not all men and women are treated with respect.

 

A nation that was built by the negroes

The slaves, who fought in the wars with no say.

Yet we let the pain continue and grow

We can’t acknowledge the error in our way.

 

Instead of apologizing as a nation

We claim it was our ancestors’ fault.

Instead of publicly giving out a condemnation,

We just keep it locked up in the vault.

 

O’ America, the land of the free?

Where people get locked up for drugs

And get killed for the skin they be,

While others get probation and hugs.

 

Where being a minority isn’t a walk in the park,

where a cop can feel threaten by a 16-year old boy

And a Muslim woman is forced to remove her spark,

Her hijab because with it, they can’t employ.

 

O’ America, you’re not the greatest nation,  

Your forefathers were immigrants named George and Paul

yet you try to force the ban on immigration,

Yelling “Don’t let them in” and “Build the wall.”

 

O’ America, I am forever grateful and strong

Because of you, I escaped a war torn country.

However, with you, I was told I didn’t belong

And to go back to my “own” country.

 

I know I criticize you, even though,

you’re all I ever known, all I’ve ever seen.

To think, if Trump was President 17-years ago,

I would be banned because of my gene.

 

O’ America, thank you for the lesson plan,

You’ve taught me, that odds are against me,

But a young, educated, Black, Muslim woman can

Defeat the odds and still be carefree.