I Matter © 2007
Written by Janice K. Maxwell
You
might not want me here but I am and plan to stay.
No,
I won’t shut up and accept what has been
ascribed,
prescribed
and
described about me to make you feel comfortable, less threated or superior.
For
many reasons, I matter.
I
breathe air and life is still in me.
My
soul has traveled far, so I matter.
I
have survived the middle passage,
endured
the cane fields
media
stereotypes,
sneers
and
slights.
I
am not going away
head
down
or
defeated.
I
am here to stay.
The
voiceless has spoken
And
will
continue to speak
against injustice
ignorance
and
insensitivity.
Yes,
oh
yes,
I
matter.