This is a poem I wrote in response to the disgusting display of white supremacy that took place at the Unite the Right event this past weekend in Charlottesville, VA.
Red, White, and Blood
an original poem by Elayna Mae Darcy
The saddest truth
is that we were never better,
and your “greatness”
is a myth,
a lie,
fed to the
knowledge hungry
minds of children
so often
and so young,
that before
we even knew it,
we were addicts
to the lie
of a free country.
One built on
promise.
One built on
togetherness.
One built on
equality.
You branded it
onto our brains
when you made
us stand
and pledge allegiance
to the flag
made of blood.
Red blood,
for the lives lost,
the people
you slaughtered
to build your picket fences.
Blue blood,
is woven as
the background
to the stars
because you believed
your money
mattered more
than lives.
White blood,
your bigots
who died
“protecting” a culture
that believed
that those
who were
black brown or other
deserved to be ripped
from their mothers
to serve you.
As a child,
I pledged to your
red, white, and blue blood,
not knowing
the truth,
thinking
the star spangled
colors stood
for what’s
good.
I wish I had known
it was lies.
But when
I look to
the truth
with eyes
wide open
I see…
this place
was never free…
So I stand
with the people
who don’t look
like me,
the people
you punished,
trying to make believe
they couldn’t be.
I try
everyday,
to shut up
and listen
to their truth,
their history,
the honesty
classrooms kept
from me,
from the people
who deserve most
to be free.
I cannot change
what’s been done,
but I can help change
what’s to come,
with a heart
open,
with a mind,
ready to become
one.
—
(Cover photo by Filip Bunkens)
