My eyes turn southwards
To the United States
As the tears flow
Upon learning
The latest news
Of a sister's death.
Forcing my anger down
Knowing another hate crime
Won't be solved
By the local police.
As I wonder
Why African-Americans
Aren't crying out
At the injustice done
To their Trans sisters.
Given Black Lives Matter
Vocal protests
Against "white society" treatment
Of the "black minority."
Was the 1968 death
Of Rev Martin Luther King Jr
In Memphis, Tennessee
The death knell
For the African-American
Civil Rights Movement?
Turning inwards
In mourning
Over the rising
Vietnam War death toll
And other societal injustices.
Turning aside
Rev King's message
Of love and hope
Into apathy and despair.
Shamefully
The LGBTQ+ community
Hasn't done any better
Supporting trans African-Americans
Or acknowledging this crisis.
Often
Transcommunity is thrown
Under the bus
Greasing the wheels of progress
Advancing Gay/Lesbian rights.
Sparking the formation
And first observation
Day of Transgender Remembrance
In November 20, 1999.
Crossing racial lines
In Boston, Massachusetts
And San Francisco, California
Honouring Rita Hester's life.
Bearing fruit
To Rev King's 1963 speech
That his "dream" is possible
And still alive.
Therisa © 2020
Author’s note: I started writing this poem, in anger, given the growing problem for my African-American transsisters. As the poem progressed, I found myself, in a place where dreams are, the fragile thing that makes hope, come alive.
In today’s newsfeed, I found this article about Caitlyn Jenner. Personally, the only thing in common, we have, is we’re both transgender. Here’s the link :https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/01/caitlyn-jenner-calls-solidarity-among-women-end-violence-trans-women-color/?utm_source=LGBTQ+Nation+Subscribers&utm_campaign=84ec567c4d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_21_05_15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c4eab596bd-84ec567c4d-43183618336183
