Home Sweet Home, Right?

By KW

I thought after Medgar Evers, there’d be no more fear

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after Emmett Till, we shook up the world

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after Fannie Lou Hamer, we were done being sick and tired

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after Eric Garner, we would breathe a breath for relief

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after “Bloody Sunday,” Brother John woke up America

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after Dr. King, there’d be a “Table of Brother-Hood” in a nation
whose people are colorblind

In her home she knew was safe!

I thought after Aretha Franklin, falling in love with ourselves just as we are … is natural

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after Dorothy Heights, greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes
But by the opposition he or she has to overcome to reach his or her goals

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after Sean Bell, before 1 bullet would be sent at least 4 or 9 words would be spoken

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after Philando …Damn.

In her home she knew she was safe!

I thought after?

I thought after?

And that’s the problem!
How many more “Again?” until it ends?
Under our flag we are created equal
How many more “I thought after’s” until
Respect is giving to our flag?
We are killing our own people?
While wearing the flag
Our flag is a symbol of security
Stop killing our people!
Respect the flag, because

In her home she knew she was safe.

God Help America

 

I dedicated this to another American, Atatiana Jefferson, who was unarmed and killed in her home by a rookie police officer. Again?  

14 Comments

  1. Casey on June 1, 2020 at 11:35 AM

    This is so powerful. I love the repetition – the refrain. It’s almost more a sermon than a poem. The way you pull from history and recent events really just slaps the reader. In a good way.

  2. LaTissia Mitchell on June 1, 2020 at 4:55 PM

    KW: I had to stop myself from characterizing this poem as “timely” because you make such a powerful and beautiful statement about how many times we have been here before. It is ALWAYS the right time to recognize and respect black humanity. The use of the refrain “In her home she knew she was safe!” is the necessary reminder that there is no safe place for black lives without the structural changes championed by the activists and artists you cite. I am in awe of the clarity of this poem, the full weight of the history traced within it, and the call being issued for change.

  3. Derek H. on June 2, 2020 at 7:31 PM

    Thanks so much for your words. We must learn from our history if we hope to progress. Also this was my first exposure to the story of Atatiana Jefferson, please keep spreading awareness through your words!

  4. sapphire on June 3, 2020 at 5:24 PM

    This was so powerful. During these hard times with me being a woman of color, this poem really spoke to me. We have seen countless times our people be treated so unfairly. Thank you for your gift and using it to share your thoughts on what is going on right now. I hope you are doing well.

  5. Abby on June 7, 2020 at 7:04 PM

    KW,

    Your poetry speaks volumes. Your use of repetition drives home the point that racism is ever present in our society and we cannot keep waiting for another “again.” I think that your message is delivered in such a way that it is not able to be ignored. Both your message and your poetry are incredibly strong, keep writing.

    Abby

  6. Jaycee Silva on June 19, 2020 at 1:57 PM

    I hear your pain and anger. These words are powerful and we will make change to stop these horrible murders at the hands of police from happening.

  7. Catherine on June 23, 2020 at 8:00 AM

    Honestly, my first thought reading this was how aptly timed it is to read, given the protests currently happening across the country – but my second thought was that it’s really not any more apt now than it would have been before. While police brutality is certainly getting a brighter spotlight than it arguably ever has, these atrocities aren’t new – the police has been highly discriminatroy in their use of force forever, really, as your poem so eloquently states. Your use of repetition is a beautiful way to express your frustration and anger. I sincerely hope this can be the last “after.”

  8. stillplacemd on June 24, 2020 at 10:39 AM

    Thank you for the litany of all of these souls and the prophetic voice you use to call for justice in our land. It is powerful how you repeat “in her home she knew she was safe” over and over and over again and of course, tragic that it rings true for so many people. Thank you for this poem and I hope you write more and more.

  9. Koryana Boyle on June 25, 2020 at 7:12 PM

    The structure of your poem really emphasizes the cyclical nature of torture this government instills. Without even writing Breonna Taylor’s name it is very clear “In her home she was safe” was about her, and all black citizens in all honesty. You raise an important point “How many Agains until it ends?”. I wish I knew the answer to that question, I wish there were no more “agains”.

  10. insertalreadytakentitlehere on June 28, 2020 at 4:35 AM

    Totally agree! Powerful poem

  11. Kellyn on September 29, 2020 at 7:55 PM

    This poem has a very powerful message, and the repetition of the line “In her home she knew she was safe” really drives your point home. I hope that you will continue to use poetry to inspire a desire for social justice in other people.

  12. N. B. on October 16, 2020 at 4:15 PM

    This is a very strong poem that asks us to grapple with a very prevalent question today: Is this truly our home? And implores us, if the answer is “yes,” to think of those who would answer “no.” The structure of the poem is powerful. It begins with the repetition “I thought after…” and ends with “In her home she knew she was safe! ” I thought it would continue through the whole poem, and was jarred when it was cut off by “…Damn.” Then, the whole poem switched to a more (rightfully) accusatory tone, calling out our injustices and hypocrisies, and ends with the plea “God Help America.” This structure ultimately drove home your point, and combined with the historical content and references really asked us to think about the trajectory of the United States, especially with the authors note that yet another Black American was killed in her home by a police officer (again).

  13. Steffy on October 30, 2020 at 2:58 PM

    A home that does not provide the bare minimum of safety or comfort fails as a home. It is truly heartbreaking that all of these situations are so different, but at the same time so alike. The phrase “I thought” might sound desperate, but I would like to believe that it shows the strength and the hope in people’s hearts. Despite everything happening, there is still hope that a brighter future will come. Thank you so much for writing this piece of poetry. Stay strong!

  14. Angela on October 31, 2020 at 4:34 PM

    This poem so accurately captures so many of the problems with our country right now. This is very well written, and I really like the repetition that underscores the poem.

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