Duawne shares with us his moving and insightful poem, capturing the essence of the times we live in, as potent today as it was over half a century ago…

You 

You adopt our babies

But you slaughter our men

You’ve desired our ladies

Since time began

You trample our traditions

And you say they are evil

You steal our inventions

But deny that we are equal

You despise our beauty

Yet, you braid your hair 

You’re threatened by our skin

But then you try to compare

You mock our message

And you call it noise

You imitate our culture

And you claim it as yours 

You steal, you cheat 

You lie, and then you cower

When we confront you or challenge you 

With our intellect and power

If my words sting a bit 

Or perhaps cause you pain 

Then it is to you who I have written 

Each verse and this refrain

Stop stalking me 

Stop hunting me 

Stop killing me 

And then blaming me

Duawne Starling 
© 6.1.2020

As Duawne mentioned in our 1st Wow Me Wednesday session, he and his family were embarking on a trip.
Below Duawne shares the first morning of that experience with his Black Rawk Nation family…

Waking Up In Carolina

I am excited about today because I am waking up in South Carolina. My ancestors were brought here in chains from their homeland, Ghana in West Africa. They were ripped from their families and stripped of their identity. Despite being forced into slavery, they lived through the middle passage and arrived here only to realize that they were sentenced to build a country from which they would never benefit.

I do not know their course or the extent of their pain. Nor do I know the depth of what they unwillingly endured. I just know that they survived. I know that they pressed forward. I know that while they wept for home they believed for me. While they worked the cotton fields they dreamed of me. And though they never returned home and were buried in this soil, I was birthed from this soil and did return home. 

How do I thank them? By pursuing my passion with the freedom that was stolen from them. How do I serve them? By teaching my children of their struggle though I may never learn their names. How do I honor them? By following the signs they left me and sharing the truth of their story. I honor them by continuing on the path where their footprints ended. 

Good morning to my past. I’ve been waiting to meet you.

Duawne Starling
7.23.20